SANTA ANA – The county’s top-ranked boys basketball team got off to a shaky start against visiting JSerra, giving up the first eight points of Friday’s Trinity League contest.
Mater Dei quickly responded, going on a 15-3 run to close out the first quarter, and did not look back from there.
The Monarchs pulled away for a 78-60 victory over the Lions to improve their record to 96-1 in the Trinity League since the beginning of 2006.
“We didn’t seem to take care of the ball too well early,” Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said. “I think we got to get the ball a little bit more into MJ (Cage) and get him some baskets early.”
The Monarchs (7-0, 20-3) picked up the pace in the second quarter, scoring 29 points, more than the Lions scored in the entire half (24). Mater Dei extended its lead in the third quarter, outscoring JSerra, 21-14. The Lions won the fourth quarter while Mater Dei dug deep into its bench.
Cage, who has already signed with Oregon, air-balled his first two field-goal attempts, but was efficient the rest of the game, finishing with 11 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. He sat out the fourth quarter with the game in hand.
Harrison Butler came off Mater Dei’s bench to lead all scorers with 19 points, and Justice Sueing (11) and Spencer Freedman (10) joined Butler and Cage in double figures.
Sebastian Much led the Lions (1-6, 14-8) with 17 points, and Jake Bailey added 13.
