Johnson refuses to let Mater Dei fall

A referee calls for a jump ball between Mater Dei's Rex Pflueger and Etiwanda's Kenny Barnes during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Rex Pflueger, left, and Isaiah Juarez battle for a rebound with Etiwanda's Kenny Barnes during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's MJ Cage is fouled by Etiwanda's Kameron Edwards during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei cheerleaders perform during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's MJ Cage blocks a shot by Etiwanda's Kenny Barnes during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei fans cheer on their team during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei fans cheer on their team during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez and a freind look concerned during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory over Etiwanda in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Etiwanda coach David Kleckner argues for a foul during his team's 67-64 double-overtime loss to Mater Dei in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei head coach Gary McKnight questions a call during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory over Etiwanda in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson shoots past Etiwanda's Kenny Barnes during the Monarchs' 67-64 victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Etiwanda's Jordan McLaughlin scores past Mater Dei's Isaiah Juarez, Stanley Johnson and Rex Pflueger during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's La'vette Parker tries to score past Etiwanda's Jordan McLaughlin during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's M.J. Cage blocks a shot by Etiwanda's Jordan McLaughlin during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson drives past the Etiwanda defense during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson, center, helps Rex Pflueger, right gather up a loos ball during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory over Etiwanda in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson is fouled by Etiwanda's Delewis Johnson during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Rex Pflueger, center, claps after Etiwanda's Jordan McLaughlin, left, lost possession in the closing seconds of the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson scores through Etiwanda's Kameron Edwards during the Monarchs' 67-64 double-overtime victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.
Mater Dei's Isaiah Juarez scores past Etiwanda's Kenny Barnes during the Monarchs' 67-64 victory in the semifinals of the Open Division in the CIF Southern Section Regionals at Mater Dei High Tuesday night.

By Steve Fryer | sfryer@scng.com | Orange County Register

March 19, 2014 at 12:55 a.m.

SANTA ANA – All this talk about Stanley Johnson being the best player in Orange County boys basketball history might be inaccurate.

The talk might be inaccurate because it might be incomplete.

Stanley Johnson also might be the most clutch player in county history.

In his final game at Mater Dei’s home gym, Johnson scored 38 points to lead the Monarchs to a 67-64 double-overtime win over Etiwanda in a CIF Southern California Regionals Open Division semifinal.

Mater Dei (33-0) will play Westchester (30-6) in the Regionals Open Division final Saturday at 8 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. The winner of that game advances to the CIF State Championships Open Division game March 29 in Sacramento.

Mater Dei is trying for a fourth straight state championship.

Johnson scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and 15 points over the two overtime periods. He contributed 28 of the Monarchs’ 31 points over the final 16 minutes.

A Mater Dei starter for all four of his years, Johnson said this one was as important as a game could be for him.

“It’s the biggest game for me,” said Johnson, a 6-foot-7 senior who signed with Arizona. “It’s real personal, with Etiwanda.”

That’s because Etiwanda beat Mater Dei in last year’s CIF-Southern Section finals.

And then there was the other great senior player on the court. Etiwanda’s Jordan McLaughlin, a 6-foot guard who signed with USC, did his bit. McLaughlin, in his second game back from a shoulder injury that had shelved him for a couple of weeks, scored 21 and made his share of crucial shots.

“This was just a tight, close game against a great player,” Johnson said, “against another great school and another great coach.”

Trying to list the number of great shots Johnson made Tuesday would be like compiling the number of great songs recorded by the Beatles.

With Mater Dei facing its largest deficit of six points in the fourth quarter, Johnson scored the Monarchs’ next nine points including a 3-pointer to tie the game, 47-47.

With 19 seconds to go, and Mater Dei ahead by one, McLaughlin had two free throws and a chance to win the game. He made only one. So the game went into the first overtime at 50-50.

Johnson made the first two baskets of the first overtime. McLaughlin came through for the Eagles, too, including a game-tying drive with 39 seconds to go to make it 58-58. Johnson tried to win it on a baseline drive, but his shot went off the side of the backboard at the buzzer.

The second overtime featured perhaps Johnson’s best shot of the night. He made a deep 3-pointer to beat the shot clock to give Mater Dei a 64-61 lead with 36 seconds to go.

Johnson made a free throw with 18 seconds left to make it 65-61. McLaughlin was not done, though. He made a running, 27-foot 3-pointer to cut the Monarchs’ lead to 65-64 with nine seconds left.

Etiwanda stole Mater Dei’s inbounds pass, lost it in a scramble, got the ball back and lost it again. In the scrum, Johnson was fouled and me made two free throws with four seconds to go to make it 67-64.

After taking the ensuing inbounds pass, McLaughlin lost control of the ball while hurrying to front court. The ball bounced out of bounds with one second to go.

Mater Dei sophomore MJ Cage scored 13 points with 14 rebounds. Johnson also had 14 rebounds.