DIVISION I BOYS : Mater Dei’s Focus Stays Sharp

IRVINE —  A third season began for Mater Dei Tuesday night, starting much the same as the last one ended.

Yes, the team that rolled through the regular season and the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs gathered no moss Tuesday night. The Monarchs routed Poway, 88-65, in first round of the Southern California Division I boys’ regional playoffs at the Bren Center.

There were dunks and three-pointers and plenty of pressure defense. In short, this was a team possessed. Some teams may be happy to get this far, Mater Dei is only happy when they can go too far.

The intensity was apparent.

“This is the seniors last hurrah,” senior forward Marmet Williams said. “This is our last chance.

Said senior center Terence Wilborn: “We are very focused in what we want.”

That would be another shot at a State title, the one that got away last season. Mater Dei lost to Alameda St. Joseph, 57-39, in the final a year ago.

Two more victories, starting with Thursday’s game against Hanford, and the Monarchs will be back. And that was definitely on their minds.

“We want to get back there and win,” Wilborn said. “But we can only do it one game at a time. We have to be ready because any team can knock us off.”

The Monarchs made sure it was not going to be Poway.

Oh, the Titans had one chance. They took a 6-2 lead and appeared ready to milk the clock with each possession in an attempt to shorten the game.

It was short all right. A flurry of Monarch activity turned it into a rout. They forced nine turnovers--five in a row at one point--and built a 27-8 lead.

They forced 25 turnovers in all and made a show of their dominance.

Twice during the second half, Williams (18 points) went inside for baskets and let loose a primal scream. Later, Wilborn (14 points) finished a fast break with a dunk and was fouled, then got in the face of Poway’s Ryan Huffman.

“I was just pumped up,” Wilborn said. “Coach jumped on me about that one.”

There were less-demonstrative displays, too, like Miles Simon’s poise. He finished with 14 points, including a pair three-pointers. Clay McKnight (11 points) also had two three-pointers and the Monarchs sank six in all.