ORANGE COUNTY ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAMES : North’s Jackson Has a Ball : Boys: Mater Dei senior enjoys himself as his team defeats the South, 91-74.

COSTA MESA — Not many basketball players have enjoyed a senior season the likes of Mater Dei’s Shaun Jackson.

He was key member in the Monarchs’ drive for the Southern Section Division I-A championship and the State Division I title. Saturday, he ended it all with a dominating performance in the 30th Orange County All-Star game.

Jackson had 19 points and nine rebounds in the North’s 91-74 victory at Orange Coast College. The outcome wasn’t in doubt from midway through the first half on, but the entertainment was Jackson’s performance.

He hit a three-pointer one minute into the game--a spot he rarely shot from for the Monarchs.

“I’ve always been able to shoot from out there,” said Jackson, a 6-foot-7 forward. “They just needed me to play inside at Mater Dei.”

Said Monarch teammate Clay McKnight: “If he shot from out there, (our coach) might have shot him.”

But Jackson, who has signed with Wyoming, also did the things Saturday that helped the Monarchs win the State title. He averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds, and was unstoppable inside at times this season.

Jackson was just that Saturday. He made nine of 11 shots, including five dunks. He also won the slam dunk contest at halftime.

“The season ended when we won the state title,” Jackson said. “This was a nice way to say farewell.”

Jackson did not play until the last 10 minutes of the second half, but scored 10 points. He had back-to-back dunks at one point and finished by out-jumping two defenders for a tip-in.

The North had it as easy. They led by as many as 26 points in the second half, overwhelming the South at every position.

Mark Seaton (6-9) and Craig Clark (7-0) were too strong inside for the North. Seaton had nine points and six rebounds. Clark had eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Guard Jeff Sand had 15 points, mostly on jumpers.

The North put the game away early. Jackson scored five points to get the North off to a 9-0 lead and it never trailed.

Kevin Byrne scored 10 first-half points to help the South stay close for a time. The South trailed, 21-18, with 12 minutes left.

Sand, a reserve, scored 11 points as the North’s depth took its toll. Sand made three of four shots, with his only miss a half-court attempt at the buzzer.

Jackson’s reverse dunk gave the North a 31-18 lead. And it got worse. Jackson had nine by halftime and the North led, 48-30.

Byrne and Rob Warnick each had 15 points for the South.