SANTA ANA, Ca – There were a few precarious moments early in the second quarter and even into the final minute for the host Mater Dei Monarchs Friday night during the first day of the 21st Nike Extravaganza.
But, ultimately, Coach Gary McKnight’s team had too much for the Shadow Mountain Matadors of Phoenix – specifically too much Michael Cage Jr., Spencer Freedman and Harrison Butler – while securing a 79-72 victory.
With senior guard Michael Bibby Jr. hitting four 3s, the visitors took a one-point lead into the second quarter that stretched into seven points (28-21) midway through the second period.
But Freedman (14) and Cage (12) had strong second quarters to finish the half with a combined 26 of the Monarchs’ 43 first-half points.
And the 6-foot-5 sophomore Butler came off the bench to use his size (his height, strength and very long arms) to making good looks at the rim a lot tougher for Bibby the rest of the way.
Bibby had just one short floater in the second quarter and didn’t score again until very late in the third quarter that ended with Mater Dei (22-3) up seemingly comfortably, 56-43.
The operative word is seemingly as the Matadors (top-ranked in Arizona and 21-5 after the loss) finally got their offense untracked against a solid half-court defense to get within six points in the final minute before the Monarchs tacked on free throws in the closing moments.
Cage and Freedman were especially strong over the final four minutes of the first half and most of the fourth quarter, combining for a couple of lob pass-and-dunk sequence, with the left-handed Freedman the lobbing after dribbling through pressure and Cage doing the slamming after catching the passes and punching them through the iron.
Cage finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Freedman added 19 points with five assists. Butler (10) also hit double figures in scoring.
Mater Dei faces McDonald’s All-American T.J. Leaf and El Cajon Foothills Christian Saturday night at 8:45 in the last of nine games to be play on the event’s second and final day.
In the other two boys games played Friday:
*Bellflower St. John Bosco 50, Sun Valley Village Christian 47: The Braves shot a cringe-worthy (for Coach Matt Dunn, at least) 21 percent from the field while falling behind by 12 points to the Crusaders at intermission.
The jump shooters hands got a bit warmer in the second half and they tightened up their defense a bit and held off the team from the San Fernando Valley and improving to 18-7 while looking like a team that stands to make a significant impact on the CIF Southern Section I-AA playoff bracket in a couple of weeks.
Junior J.J. Watson and freshman Makani Whiteside combined to hit just 10 of 33 from the field (including six of 18 from behind the arc) as the guards scored 19 and nine points respectively.
But Dunn’s club got a nice lift from senior forward Eduardo Dalle Torre, who scored 10 of his eventual e 12 points in the first half and finished with a Friday-best (for all teams) of 12 rebounds
*San Juan Capistrano JSerra 83, L.A. Windward 58: The Lions, who have won just one of eight games in the Trinity League, found the competition offered by the squad from the Gold Coast League more hospitable in the first game played Friday afternoon.
The Wildcats (8-14) were up by a three points after the first quarter but junior post Sebastian Much (24 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and a couple of blocked shots) and senior guard Alex Hickman (27 points) pretty much spent the rest of the going anywhere and do anything they wanted to do with the ball in their possession.
The Lions (15-9) return to their reality – the Trinity League – over the final week of the regular season with a home game against St. John Bosco on Tuesday night and a trip to Anaheim to face Servite Thursday.
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