FULLERTON – Mater Dei’s girls basketball team started strong against undefeated Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, but the Monarchs ran out of steam in the final quarter and ended up losing, 53-43, Friday night in the Troy Classic at Troy High.
Early in the fourth quarter, Sierra Canyon senior Alexis Griggsby put her team ahead for good. She drove to the basket, sank a shot and drew a foul to give the Trailblazers a 40-37 lead that they never gave back.
Although proud of his team’s first-half effort, Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan said missed free throws and turnovers cost his team in the second half.
“Our kids’ effort was unbelievable. We were all over the place. That’s the way we need to play,” Kiernan said about the first half. “But we’ve had trouble doing it for four quarters.
“Against good teams, if you don’t put them away, it’s going to come down to the mentally toughest team wins, and right now we’re working on our mental toughness.”
Mater Dei (4-3), ranked No. 3 in the county, had trouble containing Griggsby in the second half. She finished with three 3-pointers and 19 points.
Sierra Canyon (5-0) blunted the effort of Mater Dei standout senior Jayda Adams, limiting her to 3-of-11 shooting and six points.
“She’s finding out that with the schedule we’re playing, she’s the focus with the other team’s defense,” Kiernan said
Senior Cydni Lewis scored a team-high 12 points for the Monarchs.
Mater Dei trailed by one point near the middle of the final quarter, but Sierra Canyon junior Ryann Payne stole a pass and turned it into a basket that pushed her team’s lead to 42-39.
The Monarchs play Etiwanda today in the tournament’s third-place game.
