ROADBLOCK: Mater Dei's Gary Franklin looks to pass after finding his path to the basket blocked by Santa Margarita's Klay Thompson during Friday's game. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Mater Dei-Santa Margarita videoTo see a video of Friday night's game between Mater Dei and Santa Margarita, click on this link |
Mater Dei loses star but beats Santa Margarita
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David Wear makes sure Monarchs win, 74-61, in his brother's absence.
SANTA ANA Two Wears can be too much. Friday night, one was enough.
With his twin brother Travis out because of an injury, David Wear led Mater Dei to a 74-61 victory over Santa Margarita in a Trinity League game at Mater Dei. It was a battle of the top two ranked boys basketball teams in Orange County.
David Wear made his first four shots, had 15 points at halftime and finished with 21. Sophomore teammate Gary Franklin also scored 21 with six assists, and junior Andy Brown added 16 points.
Travis Wear, like David a 6-foot-10 junior, suffered a slight tear of a muscle near his right shin Wednesday during the Monarchs' victory over JSerra.
Travis, who with David committed to North Carolina last week, said the injury does not require surgery. He expects to be able to play after four weeks of rest and physical therapy.
Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, beat No. 2 Santa Margarita for the sixth time in a row. The Monarchs improved to 18-0 overall and 3-0 in league. Santa Margarita is 17-2 and 2-1.
The Eagles' loss was worsened by an injury to senior guard Zack Zaragoza. In the fourth quarter, Zaragoza went up with Wear on a lob pass to Wear. They banged heads, with Zaragoza suffering cuts above and below his left eye.
Zaragoza left the game and did not return. After the game, he became dizzy and experienced difficulty breathing. He was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.
Mater Dei junior Jamaal Trice was assigned to guard Santa Margarita standout senior Klay Thompson. Trice held Thompson to 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting. Thompson, a Washington State signee who is a son of Lakers broadcaster and former NBA player Mychal Thompson, also committed 9 turnovers.
“I just forced him to go right,” Trice said, “because he likes to go left. Once I did that, I could straight-up defend him.”
Wear's 9-of-14 shooting performance included a pair of left-handed jump hooks (he's right-handed) and a variety of jumpers, including two bank shots, from various spots 15 feet and closer.
Jaime Serna was the most effective player for the Eagles. Serna, a 6-8 senior who signed with UC Santa Barbara, was 9 of 11 for 20 points. He was 4 of 4 in the second quarter.
Mater Dei had a one-point lead after the first quarter and led 35-32 at halftime. In the final seconds of the first half, Thompson weaved through three Monarchs to score on a buzzer-beating drive.
Two 3-pointers by Franklin and back-to-back jumpers by senior Blake Arnet in the third quarter guided the Monarchs to an 11-point lead going into the fourth. In that quarter, Andy Brown was 4 of 4, including three 3-pointers, to keep Mater Dei in control.
“Andy's 3s,” Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said, “and those two shots in a row by Blake were big.”
Trice said he and his teammates challenged themselves to make sure Travis Wear's absence would not be a factor.
“We all stepped up,” he said. “The starting five, the bench, everybody.”
The next Mater Dei-Santa Margarita game is Jan. 30 at Santa Margarita.
Mater Dei's next game is at St. John Bosco of Bellflower on Wednesday, the first of three consecutive league road games for the Monarchs. The Eagles, whose other loss this season was to Campbell Hall of North Hollywood last month in the Tournament of Champions at Ocean View, plays host to Orange Lutheran in a league game Wednesday.
Related
• More David Wear stats, stories and photos
• More Travis Wear stats, stories and photos
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
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