The run started with all five of Mater Dei’s starters watching from the bench.
Trailing by 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter, Monarchs sophomore sub Sarah Rahon drilled a 3-pointer from the wing.
She added another 3-pointer 30 seconds later, and sank her third consecutive 3 one minute into the final period.
Rahon’s heat check was precisely the spark top-ranked Mater Dei needed against No. 4 Fairmont Prep, riding the hot hand to navigate a 50-47 comeback victory on Saturday afternoon in the seventh annual Tony Matson Memorial Classic at Orange Lutheran High.
“Our bench has been huge for us all year,” Monarchs coach Kevin Kiernan said. “You try to play 10 or 11 kids, and Sarah Rahon finally got going. We’re not a great shooting team, but we were really bad in that first half.
“You kind of just got to go down that bench until you find somebody who’s on.”
The Monarchs (21-2) shot 16 percent from the field in the first half, making just four of their first 25 attempts. Conversely, Fairmont Prep (16-5) buried six 3-pointers in the first two quarters and took a 27-14 lead into the intermission.
The Huskies maintained a double-digit edge throughout the third, and led 37-27 before Rahon’s barrage of 3s tightened the game in the opening minute of the fourth.
“It’s all about the fundamentals,” Fairmont coach Dave Esparza said. “When Sarah made those 3s, we’ve got to stop her before we hope she misses.”
Mater Dei’s full-court pressure in the fourth stunned the Huskies, who had trouble inbounding the ball, let alone getting it across half court. Fairmont’s seven turnovers in the first four minutes of the fourth resulted in eight Monarchs points.
Jayda Adams’ first field goal of the game came with 3:41 to play and put Mater Dei ahead, 44-43, for the first time since the opening possession.
Ally Rosenblum finished with a game-high 18, but no bucket was more pivotal than her final one, putting Mater Dei ahead by three late.
Cierra Hall finished with 14 points for the Huskies, but her desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer missed.
Also in the Matson Memorial Classic:
No. 2 Brea Olinda 45, Windward of Los Angeles 42: The Ladycats opened the fourth quarter on a 13-1 run, turning a two-point deficit into a 10-point lead with 4 minutes to play. Sophomore forward Tyiona Watkins scored seven of her team-high 17 points in the final period. Reili Richardson (16) and Jasmine Rachal (10) also finished in double figures.
Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth 40, No. 5 Orange Lutheran 37: Alexis Griggsby’s 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in the Trailblazers’ victory over the host Lancers. Orange Lutheran overcame a 10-point halftime deficit by outscoring Sierra Canyon, 17-5, in the third, but it could not hold a slim fourth-quarter lead. Taelor Griffin was the only Lancer in double figures, putting up 11 points.
Canyon 42, No. 9 Santa Margarita 38: The Comanches found their shooting touch in the fourth quarter, sinking four 3-pointers in the final period to edge the Eagles. Annika Rae led Canyon with 13 points.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
