Boys’ basketball: Mater Dei wins 1AA title
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Santa Ana Mater Dei hung on for a 63-59 victory over Long Beach Poly in the Division 1AA championship game. Stanley Johnson clinched the victory by making a free throw with three seconds left. He had missed five consecutive free throws in the final 16 seconds.
What a night for 6-7 Colorado-bound Xavier Johnson. He had 19 points and 20 rebounds. Mater Dei had 21 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Jackrabbits, 44-32. That’s pretty stunning considering Poly had a height advantage.
‘That’s unheard of,’ Poly Coach Sharrief Metoyer said of the offensive rebounds by the Monarchs (29-2).
Chris Croom had an outstanding game for Poly, contributing 19 points. Roschon Prince added 16 points.
Katin Reinhardt scored 17 points, Stanley Johnson 14 and Eli Stalzer 11. It was the 21st section title in 30 years of coaching for Gary McKnight. Poly was trying to earn its 20th section title.
‘They’re historic battles us and Poly,’ McKnight said.
-- Eric Sondheimer