SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Stanley Johnson had 25 points and eight assists to lead Mater Dei’s to a 71-61 victory over Bishop O’Dowd in the California Open Division boys’ championship Saturday at Sleepy Train Arena.
M.J. Cage added 16 points for the Mater Dei Monarchs (35-0) of Santa Ana. The victory gives Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight his 11th state title in 32 years.
“I’m so proud of these kids,” McKnight said. “To go undefeated with this group … I would’ve never guessed it. Everybody stepped up and it took a group effort.”
Paris Austin had 23 points and Ivan Rabb added 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Bishop O’Dowd Dragons (28-5) of Oakland.
Both teams had a slow start, but Bishop O’Dowd worked toward a 13-10 lead to end the first quarter. They took advantage of the Dragons’ turnovers with an 11-3 run to end the half leading 28-21.
Bishop O’Dowd cut the Monarchs’ margin by six points early in the third quarter. But Johnson made a 3-point shot to give Mater Dei a 45-32 edge with 1:42 to play in the quarter. The Monarchs led 45-34 after three quarters.
Charles Pflueger’s 3-point shot put Mater Dei up by 16 points midway through the fourth quarter.
Bishop O’Dowd never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
“I thought our defensive schemes did a great job,” McKnight said of the Monarchs.
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