CIF-SS BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
OPEN DIVISION
BISHOP MONTGOMERY OF TORRANCE (26-2) VS. MATER DEI (31-1)
Where, when: Honda Center, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Mater Dei shoots for its 23rd CIF-SS championship. The Monarchs’ only loss was to Chino Hills in Las Vegas in late December. They defeated Chino Hills last week in the semifinals. Mater Dei, seeded third, defeated Crossroads of Santa Monica in the first round and Roosevelt of Eastvale in the quarterfinals. Bol Bol, a 7-foot junior who transferred from Kansas and became eligible in early January, is averaging 18 points and nine rebounds a game. Cal-signed senior forward Justice Sueing is averaging 17 points. Junior point guard Spencer Freedman averages 15 points and six assists. Mater Dei is No. 2 in this week’s CalHiSports.com California top 20. Bishop Montgomery is No. 1, having defeated previous No. 1, Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, in the semifinals. The Knights have excellent shooters, including senior guard Ethan Thompson, who signed with Oregon State, and junior guard David Singleton III. They went 8-0 in the Del Rey League. In the playoffs, fourth-seeded Bishop Montgomery defeated Oak Park in the first round and Santa Margarita in the quarterfinals. The Knights have won six CIF-SS championships including the Open Division title in 2015. Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight sees a lot of his own team when he studies the Knights. “We’re very similar,” McKnight said. “They play very, very good defense.”
Contact the writer: sfryer@scng.com
