SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The CIF Southern California Regional playoffs can be a second chance for teams.
Mater Dei’s boys basketball team is making the most of that second chance.
The Monarchs beat Trinity League rival JSerra, 64-60, on Thursday in the second round of the Division I playoffs at JSerra High.
Mater Dei, seeded 16th in the 16-team CIF SoCal Division I field, beat No. 1-seeded La Mirada, 86-79, in the first round Tuesday.
Mater Dei (22-15) will play another Trinity League team, St. John Bosco (23-9), in a regional semifinal Saturday at 7 p.m. at St. John Bosco High. St. John Bosco beat Chula Vista Victory Academy, 78-51, on Thursday.
The Monarchs lost their two games with St. John Bosco this season, 85-64 and 72-66.
Mater Dei was knocked out of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs by a loss to Hesperia, 57-52, in the semifinals on Feb. 20.
“We know this is our last chance to make a run,” Mater Dei guard Richie Ramirez said. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season.
“We know we’re that team. We proved it against La Mirada and proved it today.”
JSerra lost to Crean Lutheran 59-52 last week in the CIF-SS Division 1 final. The Lions beat Francis Parker 60-59 of San Diego in the first round of regional play.
Ramirez made the biggest shot of the game, a 3-point basket that broke a 57-57 tie with 23 seconds remaining.
Monarchs 6-4 senior guard Luke Barnett made two free throws with seven seconds left to extend the lead to 62-57.
JSerra senior guard Jaden Bailes banked in a long 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to go to trim Mater Dei’s lead to 62-60.
JSerra immediately fouled Barnett upon Barnett receiving the inbounds pass. Barnett made two free throws for the final score, 64-60.
Barnett, who signed with the University of Kansas, led Mater Dei with 25 points. He was 5 of 9 on 3-point shots, including a couple of successful efforts launched from the 25-30 foot range. Barnett also had seven rebounds.
Barnett suffered a shoulder injury diving for a loose ball during the Trinity League Tournament. in Thursday’s game, he was zooming around the court and shooting with confidence like he has for most of his career at Mater Dei.
Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said Barnett has returned to form. Barnett scored a team-high 22 points with six 3-point baskets in the win over La Mirada on Tuesday.
“It’s been two-and-a-half weeks (since the injury),” McKnight said. “He’s just now starting to feel good. He wanted it.”
Mater Dei 6-8 junior forward Zain Majeed scored 20 points with seven rebounds. Ramirez scored 14 points.
Bailes led JSerra (24-14) with 25 points including four 3-pointers. He was the only Lion to score in double figures.
JSerra made only 19 of its 56 shots (38 percent).
JSerra beat Mater Dei in their regular-season meeting, 67-66, and in the Trinity League Tournament, 87-66.
JSerra 6-6 junior Godschoice Eboigbodin scored 46 points in the tournament game. Guarded mostly by Majeed, Eboigbodin was limited to nine points Thursday.
The score was tied eight times Thursday and the lead changed hands nine times.
Mater Dei led, 35-32, at halftime.
Bailes made two free throws with 2:28 to go in the fourth quarter to give JSerra a 55-54 lead. Barnett then made a long 3 to put the Monarchs back on top, 57-55. Bailes made two free throws with 46 seconds remaining to tie it, 57-57.
Ramirez followed with his 3-pointer for Mater Dei’s 60-57 lead.
The win Thursday was the 1,316th of McKnight’s coaching career. All of those wins are at Mater Dei. The national record for career coaching wins in boys basketball is 1,333 by Robert Hughes, who coached in Texas (1959-2005).