McKnight sets CIF-SS record for most wins

Click here to see a slide show of Gary McKnight's Top 15 players.

Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight pulled the starting five early in Wednesday's game against Norwalk with the Monarchs leading by just four points.

That would hurt most teams, but Mater Dei is not most teams.

The lead increased with the second unit on the court, and the Monarchs coasted to a 116-53 victory in the Loara Invitational at Loara High to give McKnight the 830th victory of his career, moving him into first, all-time in the Southern Section.

He is now 13 victories shy of the all-time state record, held by former Bishop O'Dowd of Oakland coach Mike Phelps.

"It means I'm old," McKnight said jokingly. "I've had a lot of great players and coaches who have helped me."

"I started when I was 29, I was the youngest coach in Orange County. Now, I'm 57. ... I've been very fortunate over the years. Hopefully, God-willing, I can coach another 10 years or so."

Mater Dei (2-0) will face Canyon in the semifinals Friday at 8 p.m.

Tyler Lamb (UCLA) led the Monarchs with 24 points. Keala King (Arizona State) added 21, and Gary Franklin (Cal) added 12 points.

The Monarchs shot 55.3 percent from the field.

Katin Reinhardt led the reserves with 14 points. Eli Stalzer added 13.

"When he pulled us, he really didn't say anything," Franklin said. "I guess he was trying to make a point."

It worked.

Once McKnight reinserted the starters back in the game, the Monarchs took off. They led by 20 late in the second quarter.

Canyon 65, Servite 48: Chris Anderson led the Comanches (2-0) with 17 points. Trevor Lampe added 12. Phil Ferragamo had eight points and 14 rebounds in the victory.

Canyon blew the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Servite, 20-5, to take a 52-29 lead into the fourth quarter.

"This team is learning how to win games," Canyon coach Nate Harrison said. "We came out with no sense of urgency. I think they take for granted that we're good, but we're not good enough to win without playing really hard."

Garden Grove 81, Whittier 74 (2 OT): Jimmy Biggs hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime for the Argonauts (1-1), who went on to win the John Glenn Tournament game in double-overtime. Biggs finished with 21 points, while Greg Long and Efrain Robles added 17 points apiece.