BELLFLOWER – The line of Mater Dei doubters got a little shorter Wednesday night, and rightfully so.
Having suffered three losses in nonleague games – a rarity for the national powerhouse – questions arose whether another team could steal the Trinity League crown from the Monarchs this season.
Playing with a chip on their shoulder, the top-ranked Monarchs demonstrated they are still the class of the league, going on the road to earn a 62-52 victory over St. John Bosco.
Mater Dei guard Rex Pflueger led all scorers with a game-high 21 points and four steals, and junior center MJ Cage added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
“We wanted to come out here and try to make a statement,” Pflueger said. “We had a couple losses early in the season. Those were just learning moments for us. We knew we could play better, and that’s what we came out and did.”
The Monarchs (12-3, 1-0) extended their Trinity League winning streak to an 39 games. The team’s last league loss was Jan. 7, 2011.
“Anytime you win on the road in the Trinity League it’s a big win,” Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said. “You got five games on the road, and you have to win as many as you can. We were the only (Trinity League) teams to play tonight – us and (Bosco) – so it’s nice to get off to a good start.”
Having finished second behind Mater Dei each of the past three seasons, Bosco (9-5, 0-1) seemed the likeliest of candidates to end the Monarchs’ league win streak, playing at home and boasting a lethal scoring duo in Vance Jackson and Rodney Harrison.
The pair went into the matchup averaging a combined 38 points, but Pflueger and teammates limited the duo to 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
“We’ve been going at it since seventh grade,” Pflueger said of Jackson. “I just love the dude, and it was great competition.”
After taking a 26-19 lead into the break, Cage established himself in the post in the third and scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half.
Mater Dei held Bosco to eight third-quarter points and took a 17-point lead into the fourth.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com