Orange Lutheran guard Cassidy Driscoll fights off a steal attempt by Mater Dei defender Amaya Williams in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Kelly Garrity tries to shoot over Mater Dei defender Devyn Kiernan in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Sheridan Kennedy goes up for a shot over Mater Dei’s Amaya Williams in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei forward Kaeli Wynn, center, battles with multiple Orange Lutheran defenders in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Kelly Garrity drives around Mater Dei forward Kaeli Wynn in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
The Mater Dei bench celebrates after one of the many three point shots scored by the team against Orange Lutheran in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Amaya Williams takes a shot against Orange Lutheran in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Princess Cassell, right, blocks a shot from Mater Dei’s Amaya Williams in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Amaya Williams fights for the ball with an Orange Lutheran player in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei assistant coach Jody Wynn shouts encouragement during a Trinity League girls basketball game against Orange Lutheran at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei forward Jenessa Cotton drives to the basket around Orange Lutheran’s Sheridan Kennedy in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei forward Jenessa Cotton collides with Orange Lutheran guard Princess Cassell in a Trinity League girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei head coach Kevin Kiernan gestures at his players during a Trinity League girls basketball game against Orange Lutheran at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
SANTA ANA — The Mater Dei girls basketball team opened up a double-digit lead late in the first quarter of its Trinity League game against Orange Lutheran on Thursday at Mater Dei High School.
The Monarchs, who are ranked No. 1 in Orange County and No. 5 in Division 1 of the CIF Southern Section, just created more and more separation the rest of the way, cruising to a 75-40 victory.
The Monarchs (17-6, 5-0) are now sitting comfortably in first place in the Trinity League with a two-game lead over the second-place Lancers (15-7, 3-2) with three league games remaining.
Mater Dei is looking to go undefeated in the Trinity League for the second consecutive season.
“I liked the way we played tonight,” Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan said. “We were locked in. We were really focused. We’re getting better and if we can just build on this as we move toward the rest of the league and the playoffs, that would be awesome.”
When Mater Dei and the Lancers faced off in their first meeting at Orange Lutheran on Jan. 2, the Monarchs trailed by six at the half and one point after three quarters before going on an 18-7 run in the fourth for a 66-57 victory.
“We’ve been talking about this game since the last game,” said Kaeli Wynn, who scored 18 points to lead the Monarchs. “We said when we play them on our own court, they don’t even have a chance. We were so determined, we were so focused this week of practice.”
Emily Shaw scored 17 for the Monarchs, including three 3-pointers, and Janessa Cotton finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Princess Cassell led the Lancers with 12 points.
Shaw stepped in as a starter after Addison Deal, the reigning Orange County girls basketball player of the year, became sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining an ankle injury on Dec. 21.
The Monarchs were the faster, stronger team against Orange Lutheran, were dominant under the basket and gave the Lancers trouble with their signature full-court press.
“We’re just learning to trust each other more, especially with losing Addy,” said Wynn, who is the daughter of Mater Dei assistant coach Jody Wynn.
“It was hard the first few games without Addy,” Wynn added. “But I think we’re finally back in our groove. I’m excited. I think we can go far in CIF and state.”
