Tritons Hang Tough to Beat Mater Dei

San Clemente made three of four free throws with less than 10 seconds remaining to clinch a 60-54 victory over Mater Dei in the Southern Section Division I-A girls’ basketball quarterfinals Saturday night at San Clemente High.

It was the Tritons’ fourth consecutive victory over the Monarchs and payback for last season when Mater Dei beat San Clemente four times.

Last season’s sweep was listed in the Monarch program as sophomore guard Maile Shimoda’s greatest achievement. It made it into the hands of San Clemente players, and Triton Coach Mary Mulligan proudly displayed the bulletin-board material at the end of the game.

With 15 seconds left, Mulligan was not so sure she would be able to show off the memento, when Mater Dei guard Kyra Melville dropped in a layup, closing the gap to 57-54 San Clemente.

Triton guard Debby Caine was called for traveling and Melville missed a shot, grabbed the offensive board and was fouled. After Melville missed both free throws, Mulligan let out a sigh of relief.

A free throw by Caine gave San Clemente a 58-54 lead and after junior Colleen Turnbull blocked Shimoda’s three-point attempt with five seconds left, Jacobs put the game away with two free throws.

“It’s so hard to play somebody four times,” Mulligan said. “[Mater Dei] has been playing better and better. They are peaking right now.”

The Monarchs (15-14), who upset top-seeded Cerritos Wednesday, took control of the game early, taking a 14-8 first-quarter lead, but San Clemente rallied with aggressive play by Caine. She scored eight of her 18 points, making two three-pointers, in the quarter. She also had two steals and three assists, as the Tritons took a 27-26 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Mulligan pulled her defense back allowing Mater Dei to shoot--they couldn’t. Mater Dei made three of 13 shots, turned the ball over five times and committed 10 fouls.

“The third quarter killed us,” Mater Dei Coach Geri Campeau said. “It’s not what they did to us, it’s what we did to ourselves.”

San Clemente will play Moreno Valley in the semifinals on Tuesday.

In another Division I-A game:

Marina 68, Alhambra Keppel 42--Marina outrebounded third-seeded Keppel, 45-20, and had four score in double figures to advance to the semifinals for the fourth time in seven years.

Chanda McLeod led Marina (25-4) in rebounding with 13. Natalie Nakase finished with 15 points and nine assists for the Vikings, who broke a school record for most victories in a season.

In Division I-AA:

Long Beach Wilson 56, Esperanza 52 (2 OT)--Heidi Hill stole an inbounds pass with three seconds left and scored, forcing overtime for Esperanza (20-9).

The Aztecs were ahead, 49-47, when Crystal Givens scored with 12 seconds left, forcing double overtime for Wilson (23-3).