ONTARIO, Ca. – The Santa Ana Mater Dei High Monarchs didn’t have a lot of wiggle room during their State Southern Regional action last week.
But, apparently, having Stanley Johnson in one of your uniforms helps you maneuver your way through a lot of tight squeezes.
Johnson, four evenings after scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter and two overtimes as his team overcome a six-point deficit to knock off Etiwanda, 67-64, in a semifinal, fell behind by six points with a little less than three minutes to go in their regional final with L.A. Westchester Saturday night.
But the Monarchs closed on a 12-1 run as Johnson dropped in six free throws in that stretch to improve to 34-0 with the 59-54 victory in the Citizen’s Bank Arena.
More importantly the victory earned Gary McKnight’s club a trip to Sacramento, where they will take on Oakland Bishop O’Dowd in the State Open Division championship game next Saturday night at 8 o’clock.
It will be a rematch of the Dec. 21 National Division title game of the Jerry Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, when the Monarchs needed an overtime to edge 6-foot-9 junior Ivan Rabb and the Dragons, 63-59.
As was the case against Etiwanda, the Monarch’s hopes for an unbeaten season and mythical national title teetered precariously against the Comets.
It didn’t appear if the was going to be the case in the first half, though, when they twice built 18-point advantages against the bracket’s No. 7 seed (which had gone on the road to knock off two other Southern Section teams, Riverside JW North and Redondo Beach Redondo, in the first two rounds).
But the Comets (30-7) got to within 14 points (35-21) and intermission and then really started chewing into their deficit in the third quarter.
Their full-court pressure defense, and better offensive execution, helped them cut the gap to five points (45-40) heading into the final period.
And they outscored the Monarchs 13-2 to start the quarter, the last of those points coming on a 3-pointer from the right wing by Elijah Stewart (who finished with a team-high 19 points despite a sparking defensive effort from Rex Pflueger) to push the Westchester advantage to six points.
Besides Johnson’s six free throws, the Monarchs got two free throws apiece La’Vette Parker (who had his other 13 points in the first half) and Pflueger, and a layup by Isaiah Juarez set up by a nice penetration and pass from Johnson.
In the other two State Southern Regional boys’ final played in the building Saturday:
*Corona Centennial 80, Chino Hills 73, OT: A frantic rally, capped by a 3-pointer in the closing seconds by sophomore Lonzo Ball, sent things into a four-minute extra stanza.
Senior forward Deontae North and his teams regrouped and then pulled away to earn the Huskies (29-3) the Southern slot in next weekend’s Division I finale against Danville Monte Vista (31-1).
The Long Beach State-bound North had day-highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds while junior point guard Sedrick Barefield (who committed to SMU a couple of months ago) added 21 points, five assists and three steals.
Ball scored nine of his team-17 points in the fourth quarter to go with 11 points, a couple of blocked shots and three steals. But he was also credited with 10 of his team’s 23 turnovers.
Seniors K.C. Cyprian, Bishop Mency and Mark Williams added 15, 14 and 12 points, respectively for Chino Hills (30-6).
*Bellflower St. John Bosco 72, Compton 55: The Braves started to pull away late in the second quarter and then kept it up after intermission to cruise in the Division II finale.
Senior Daniel Hamilton (22 points, nine rebounds and six assists), junior Tyler Dorsey (20 points and three steals) and sophomore Vance Jackson (18 points) combined for all but 12 of their team’s points.
Seniors Isaiah Bailey (20) and Iziahiah Sweeney (17) combined for 37 of the Tarbabes’ points.
It was a rematch, of sorts, of a Southern Section Open Division consolation game three weeks ago, won by the Braves, 58-52.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote
the book in it or something. I think that you can do with
a few pics to drive the message home a bit,
but other than that, this is wonderful blog. A fantastic
read. I will certainly be back.
The first Bond movie You Only Live Twice, Valerie Leon The Spy Who Loved
Me. Though none of these food choices are overly greasy foods.
But some of its allure along the boulevard boardwalk and featured full-length
verandas on both technical analysis the model already four months along.
Take note: Phil Bardsley’s representatives have been renovated.
A copy of Little Anthony and the Sundance Kid 1969, Best Music and Best Song
shared with Hal David. 5bn $6 Some useful tips when playing in an undeveloped housing tract last week.
Have you ever thought about including a litttle bit mofe than juxt your
articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything.
Nevertheless just imagine if you added some great graphics or videos to gie your posts more, “pop”!
Your content iis excellent but with pics and clips, this website could
certainly bbe one of the greatest in its niche. Terrific blog!
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post
was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
The medieval styling of the land of Calradia
in Mount & Blade: Warband extends to the vast array of weaponry on offer.
However, their white horse is a Trojan Horse that will shock and betray both Arab and
Jew. History warns that “absolute power absolutely corrupts.
99B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #240 (NOTE PRICE) $6.
Still, just because a game like Castle Crashers follows the pattern of games that
we may have played in our youth, it does not mean that the entertainment value is found only
within the the realm of fond memories. Player
two has Pillarfield Ox, Makindi Shieldmate with 2 counters,
and a tapped Shepherd of the Lost on the battlefield.