Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
SANTA ANA — Mater Dei’s girls basketball team absorbed another injury to its starting lineup Wednesday but showed plenty of fight to answer a major challenge by Fairmont Prep.
Sophomore guard Harmony Golightly came off the bench to sink three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and teamed with seniors Addison Deal and Nohe’alani Stores to lead the Monarchs to a 69-56 victory in a CIF-SS Open Division Pool B game at Mater Dei High.
In a game that was much closer than the final score might suggest, Mater Dei (28-2) lost guard Devyn Kiernan in the middle of the second period after the senior took a blow driving to the basket.
Mater Dei, which recently lost sharp-shooting junior Kaeli Wynn to a season-ending knee injury, united to score 26 points in the fourth quarter to notch its 17th consecutive victory.
“They’re a group of resilient young women who care a lot about what’s written across the front of chest every day and playing for the legacy and the tradition of Mater Dei girls basketball,” said first-year Mater Dei coach Jody Wynn, whose team improved to 2-0 in pool play.
“As (acclaimed) as some of them are, they care about winning, and doing things for each other.”
Third-seeded Mater Dei certainly showed that in the fourth quarter as it advanced to Saturday’s final round of pool play at Etiwanda, the reigning Open Division champion for the section, regional and state.
With the score tied 43-43 entering the fourth period, the Monarchs quickly set the tone with consecutive 3-pointers from Golightly and Iowa signee Deal.
Mater Dei entered the final frame 1 for 9 from beyond arc but sank 4 of 6 3-pointers in the final eight minutes.
But even with the Monarchs shooting better, No. 7 Fairmont Prep (20-11) still had a chance for a go-ahead basket with four minutes left.
Trailing 53-52, the Huskies missed a fastbreak opportunity and Mater Dei capitalized with two foul shots and a 3-pointer by Golightly to seize a 58-52 lead.
“This game was definitely a grinder,” said Deal, who led Mater Dei with 23 points and seven assists. “I’m really proud how we just kept going, didn’t let anything affect us. We had a lot of people really step up.”
“(Stores) played amazing,” she added. “Harmony played really good. Having those people step up was huge for us.”
Stores finished with 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the floor.
Golightly, who replaced Kiernan after the injury, delivered deep into the fourth period.
With about two minutes left, she sank a 3-pointer, stole the ball on ensuing possession and passed to Deal for a layup. Mater Dei took a 65-53 advantage with 1:35 left.
“We executed really well down the stretch on both sides,” said coach Wynn, whose team outscored Fairmont Prep 26-13 in the fourth.
Wynn described Kiernan’s status as “day by day.” The coach added that the training staff was being “cautious” with Kiernan’s status.
“(Etiwanda is) a huge challenge,” Wynn said. “They have two McDonald’s All-Americans. It’s at their house.”
The winner of Saturday’s Pool B finale will advance to the Open final on March 1 at Toyota Arena in Ontario.
Adyra Rajan scored a game-high 24 points, including three 3-pointers, and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Fairmont Prep. The junior pushed her single-season county-record for 3-pointers to 147.
Sarah Aldeguer added 16 points for the Huskies.
Fairmont Prep showed its staying power by leading 38-37 with 2:37 left in the third quarter. The Huskies’ largest deficit in the first half was four points.
“Every game that we play, we believe we can win,” said second-year Fairmont Prep coach Josh Lozano, whose team fell to 0-2 in pool play. “That’s what makes this group special. Not the tallest. Not the biggest. Not the most athletic but they have the biggest heart. They all just believe.”
Fairmont Prep plays at Windward on Saturday.
Related Articles
Portola girls basketball goes the distance to beat Buena Park in 2AA quarterfinals
Sierra Canyon girls basketball ready for top-seeded Ontario Christian after rout of Sage Hill
Tony Davis will not return as boys basketball coach at Servite
Albano’s Fab 5: Orange County girls basketball standouts last week, Feb. 19
CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs: Tuesday’s scores, updated schedule for Friday’s semifinals