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Mater Dei girls basketball player Lani White usually plays with a ton of energy but she had a few extra reasons to be enthusiastic Thursday night.
The Utah-bound senior played only her second game since coming back from COVID-19 and an eye poke.
And there was the enticing matchup with the top-ranked Monarchs playing host to No. 2 Rosary for sole possession of first place in the Trinity League.
“I’ve been itching to get back,” White said. “It was really hard to watch these past couple games.”
White showed her desire by scoring a career-high 27 points and adding seven rebounds and a huge blocked shot to lead the Monarchs to an 80-65 victory.
Point guard Caia Elisaldez also provided a spark with 22 points and nine steals. The junior helped lead the Monarchs’ full-court press while White attacked the basket for layups, rebounds and also contributed to the press.
White scored all of her points off the bench after entering in the first quarter.
“Lani is a handful,” Rosary coach Richard Yoon said. “She’s a long guard who can shoot over you.”
“Lani was very active,” Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan added. “Couldn’t take her out once we brought her in.”
“She’s quick, fast and she’s deceptively strong. She’s a tough kid, too. She’s doesn’t take any crap out there.”
White scored nine points in the pivotal third period. The Monarchs capitalized after Rosary point guard Kaylee Byon headed to the bench with four fouls with 6:25 left in the quarter.
Mater Dei (12-3, 3-0) went on an 8-0 run to open a 52-39 lead. Freshman guard Shaena Brew sparked the surge with a corner 3 and White added a foul shot and a putback basket before Brew fed sophomore center Jenessa Cotton for a baseline jumper.
“She’s a mini-Lani,” Kiernan said of Brew, who had four points, five rebounds and two assists off the bench. “She’s very aggressive, and she’s a heck of a freshman.”
Rosary snapped the run by reinserting Byon with for a basket with about 3 1/2 left in the third but Mater Dei gained the separation it needed.
“The foul trouble hurt us,” Yoon said. “When we got into foul trouble, we couldn’t be aggressive on defense.”
Sophomore Allison Clarke, matched up against White throughout the game, led Rosary (7-6, 2-1) with 23 points, including a season-high seven 3 pointers. Byon added 22 points and five assists.
Rosary finished 12 of 24 on 3-pointers (50 percent). Mater Dei went 6 of 19 from beyond the arc (32 percent) but forced more turnovers and won more of the hustle plays.
The Monarchs’ led by as many as 21 briefly in the third before Clarke closed the frame with a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 64-46.
“Our biggest motto is (going from) good to great,” White said. “We’re on our path from good to great and I think we’re really close. Of course, everyone has room for improvements.”
Mater Dei led 38-32 at halftime on a putback basket by Soleil Montrose (nine points) at the buzzer.
The Monarchs’ press produced several fast-break baskets off 11 turnovers in the first half. Elisaldez led the defense with six steals while Hannah Vela (12 points) added two.
Vela often picked up Byon full-court, forcing the ball into the hands of other Rosary players. Mater Dei also doubled-team the Utah Valley-bound Byon, who scored 30 points last week against Santa Margarita.
Rosary countered by making 7 of 12 shots from beyond the arc in the first half. Clarke sank 4 of 6 attempts, including three in the opening period.
The score was tied tied 19-19 after the first period and three times in the second.
“I thought we played a great first half,” Yoon said. “I’m looking forward to the matchup at our place (Jan. 31).”
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Mater Dei is scheduled to close the week by playing host to Division 1 contender Viewpoint of Calabasas on Saturday.
On Monday, the Monarchs are scheduled to take on Santiago of Corona at the Presion Showcase at Orangewood Academy at 4:30 p.m. Rosary will follow by playing fellow Division 1 contender Chaminade at 6 p.m.
In another Trinity League game:
Orange Lutheran 55, JSerra 46: Taliyah McFerson scored 12 points and Ashari Cassell added 11 to lead the Lancers.
In a nonleague game:
Orangewood Academy 71, Santa Margarita 56: Hannah Stines had 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Spartans, who led 60-40 after the third quarter.