SANTA ANA – Mater Dei’s boys basketball team again got huge contributions from multiple players Saturday in a 79-71 win over Notre Dame in a CIF Southern California Regional Division I semifinal at Mater Dei High.
The Monarchs (29-5) will play at St. John Bosco (26-7) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks finished the season 31-4. The Knights won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.
Mater Dei 6-5 junior Brandon Benjamin had one of his better games in his first year with the team. Benjamin, the Orange County player of the year last season at Canyon, scored 23 points with nine rebounds and six assists. He has scored 52 points in Mater Dei’s three regional games.
Monarchs 6-4 sophomore guard Luke Barnett had another spectacular outside-shooting game. He made six 3-pointers, including two from 30 feet away from the basket, and finished with 21 points. Barnett has made 14 3s in the three regional games.
Mater Dei 6-9 junior forward Blake Davidson scored 13 points, including two 3-pointers, with 10 rebounds. Davidson has 30 rebounds in the three regional games.
Monarchs 6-2 senior point guard Brady Karich had five assists Saturday to give him 27 assists in the regional playoffs.
Postgame with Mater Dei junior Brandon Benjamin who scored 23 points with 9 rebounds and 6 assists as MD beat Notre Dane/Sherman Oaks 77-71 in a CIF SoCal Regional D1 semifinal (MD at Bosco Tuesday) … pic.twitter.com/ZOsdZ8SMVR
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) March 3, 2024
Notre Dame 6-4 senior guard Mercy Miller scored 29 points. He had 13 points in the first quarter and 17 at halftime, scoring on 3s and drives and mid-range jumpers while asserting himself as the best player on the court.
Miller, who has signed with the University of Houston, slowed down in the second half, limped through the fourth quarter and made only 3 of his 10 second-half shots.
Junior point guard Angelino Mark scored 26 points for the Knights, including 19…
Read the full article here
