A preview of the CIF Southern California Regional game on Friday.
CIF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIVISION II
ORANGEWOOD ACADEMY (22-9) vs. MATER DEI (23-8)
Where, when: at Vanguard University, Friday, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: After both teams lost their two games in the CIF-SS Open Division bracket, Orangewood Academy and Mater Dei have made the most of their opportunities in the regionals and have done so in similar fashion. Both squads play with a tremendous amount of defensive intensity, hounding opponents with full-court pressure and traps, while having the ability to deploy either a sufficient man or zone defense in half-court sets. The Monarchs have held their opponents in the regionals to 41.3 points per game, while the Spartans have limited their opponents to 41.6 points. Monarchs senior forward Cydni Lewis and junior guard Nicole Freeman have become more active offensively as secondary scoring options to senior point guard Jayda Adams as Mater Dei adjusts to playing without injured starters Emma Torbert (leg) and Madison Johnson (concussion). Mater Dei is a streaky shooting club but has capitalized on its defensive pressure, converting turnovers into easy baskets. Orangewood Academy appears to have an advantage in the frontcourt with forwards Estefania Giner (13.2 points per game) and Gabriela Rosas (9.6 points per game). With last season’s leading scorer, Jaqueline Saucedo, now active after missing the entire regular season and Southern Section playoffs with a knee injury, the Spartans have three capable scorers in the post. The key will be whether guards Carolina Montes and Wendy Duran can knock down jumpers and handle the length of Adams and Freeman.
