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SHERMAN OAKS — There were 10 players on the court Saturday at the start of the CIF State Division I Regional semifinal boys basketball game between Notre Dame and Mater Dei at Notre Dame High School.
But there was only one player who stole the show Saturday night and helped lead his team to the regional final, and that was Mercy Miller.
The junior guard displayed every weapon in his arsenal, knocking down 3-pointers, getting to the paint and making tough shots, a smooth transition game and shot a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.
He scored eight of the Knights’ first 12 points and half of the team’s points in the first half, finishing with a game-high 28 points in Notre Dame’s 81-59 victory over Mater Dei.
“My last game I came out kind of slow and sluggish,” Miller said, “so I made it a goal myself and with my coaches that I’m going to come out strong and with energy to help us get to the next round and go for the state championship.”
While Miller paced Notre Dame in the first half, his teammates Caleb Foster and Dusty Stromer got in on the action in the second half, pouring in a combined 34 points.
Foster made four 3-pointers and Stromer added two to go along with Miller’s three made shots from distance.
“I agree with that one,” Miller said when asked if the trio of Foster, Stromer and himself is the best threesome in the state. “We just all love the game and love playing with each other. We’re a family, so when guys like that enjoy playing with each other big things can happen.”
The 22-point win didn’t represent the first three quarters of the game, which saw the teams battling back and forth in a tight contest.
Mater Dei took a 46-41 point lead midway through the third quarter, leading Notre Dame head coach Matt Sargeant to take a much-needed timeout.
From that point on, Notre Dame’s defense locked in while the offense…
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