Freshman gives the Lions lift off the bench

• Tweet

• Tweet

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – It was a Trinity League showdown that included two major college-bound, senior centers and two of Southern California’s better juniors.

But it was a freshman who proved the difference as host JSerra knocked off Mater Dei Wednesday night, 60-52.

Six-foot-eight Ryan Doane came off the bench to score 11 points and grab 11 rebounds, with eight and three of those, respectively, coming in the fourth quarter to help the Lions hold off the Luke Barnett-led Monarchs.

Barnett – and 6-3 junior and one of the better jump shooters in the state – missed 11 of 12 shots from the field as the hosts took a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter.

A 3-pointer from B.J. Davis-Ray (who finished with a game-high 20 points, 12 of those in the fourth quarter) pushed the Lions’ lead to 65-53 with 6:52 to go.

Barnett was shadowed most of those first three quarters by the 6-5 Davis, a transfer from Duncanville, TXT who signed with Southern Methodist University in November.

But he finally found some space – and his rhythm – and scored five consecutive buckets in a five-minute stretch.

Two of those were 3s, the second of which got the Monarchs to within 56-52 with 1:46 remaining.

But Barnett missed his final two shots, sophomore guard Earl Bryson maneuvered an off- (left)-handed layup that kissed high off the glass before going through the rim with 44 seconds to go with Davis-Ray sinking free throws for the final points.

Doane (pictured) grabbed seven rebounds, with a block, in a first half that ended with the hosts up, 28-21, by way of 15 points – including three 3s – from Mater Dei transfer Brannon Martinsen, a 6-7 junior playing in his seventh game with his new program since becoming eligible on Dec. 27.

Center Jarne Eyenga (who signed with UNC-Charlotte) posted strong on the right side, took a pass and laid the ball in for what proved to be his only points of the night to give the Lions a nine-point edge to start the third quarter.

But with sophomore forward DeMarcus Henry getting seven of them, the Monarchs scored the next nine points to tie the score.

However, sophomore forward G.C. Eboigbodin – who had missed all four of his shots, from in and around the lane, beforehand – nailed a 3 and the Lions were in front to stay.

The Monarchs – who upset then-No. 2 (in both the CIF Southern Section computer ratings and the BurlisonOnBasketball all-SoCal Top 30) St.  John Bosco, 62-59, last Friday night, fell to 14-5, overall, and 2-1 in league.

The Lions – coming off last Friday’s 21-point loss at Santa Margarita – are 17-4 and 3-1.

They don’ t play against until traveling to Bellflower to taking on St. John Bosco in their final first-round, Trinity game Monday night.

The Monarchs are in Santa Ana to play host to Orange Lutheran Friday night and at North Torrance High on Saturday to face Campbell Hall.