No. 3 St. Mary's girls hold off No. 7 Mater Dei

BERKELEY, Calif. — St. Mary's (Stockton) girls basketball coach Tom Gonsalves had an epiphany driving to Haas Pavilion Saturday.

"This is the biggest game in our school's history," he said.

Considering the Rams, ranked third in the country, had already won seven state titles and taken on all-comers over the years, that was quite a realization.

But, for all the fans who witnessed his team's remarkable 75-69 victory over Mater Dei (Santa Ana,) in the California Open Division title game, it was no exaggeration.

Not only did the Rams play like it, but so did seventh-ranked Mater Dei, which shot 50 percent from the field (29 of 58) and outrebounded St. Mary's 41-27.

That combination of numbers almost always guarantees a victory, but the Rams (34-1) made 12 of 27 three-pointers (44 percent), forced 19 turnovers and committed just nine while fighting back from a 10-point deficit to the delight of the almost entire St. Mary's crowd.

By the end of the game, which started 30 minutes late due to an earlier double-overtime contest, Haas was nearly three-quarters filled. And the fans were loud.

They cheered on truly balanced and superb efforts by the Rams, led by 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists from junior guard Mi'Cole Cayton, 15 points by Aquira Decosta and 13 from sharpshooter Kat Tudor, who made four three-pointers.

"St. Mary's is relentlessly good," Mater Dei coach Kevin Kernan said. "They never go away. Usually if we score 63, 65 points, we should win. But they made 12 threes and that's incredible."

The Monarchs (31-3) were shabby themselves.

Andee Velasco, a nifty 5-8 senior guard, had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Besides being very clever with the ball, she can also shoot long range. She made four three-pointers.

Ally Rosenblum, a 6-3 center who has already committed to UCLA, had 20 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

And the National Player of the Year, 6-3 Katie Lou Samuelson, fought off foul trouble to score 19 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists.

When Mater Dei took a 10-point lead in the second quarter, the Northern California champs looked in trouble. But the Rams turned up the heat on defense, penetrated beautifully and then kicked it outside.

"As the game got closer, we got more energy," Gonsalves said. "We needed it because we beat a great team. … It was a great high school basketball game with great teams."

Gonsalves said he didn't like his team's body language early.

"We showed some immaturity but got out of it. I knew girls wanted it so bad. We saw the whole thing change, and all of a sudden, we're back in business."

And business meant fun for all lucky enough to watch it.

Carlissa Shipp and driving layup by Naje Murray gave St. Mary's a 59-57 lead. Mater Dei counted with layups from Emma Torbert and Velasco, to go up 61-59.

Cayton and DeCosta responded with buckets to put St. Mary's up, but Rosenblum and Samuelson came right back with putbacks to give Mater Dei the lead 65-63.

But St. Mary's went on a 10-2 run to put it away. Three-pointers by Shipp and Tudor sent Haas into a frenzy.

"It was an amazing game," Tudor said. "It was so fun to make big shots like that and to feel that energy. It's the best feeling ever."

St. Mary's 76, Mater Dei 69

MATER DEI (31-3)

Jayda Adams 1-4 0-0 2, Andee Velasco 8-15 0-2 20, Ally Rosenblum 8-12 4-4 20, Katie Lou Samuelson 8-15 1-2 19, Emma Torbert 4-4 0-0 8. Totals 29-58 5-8 69.

ST. MARY'S (34-1)
Naje Murray 2-5 0-0 5, Kat Tudor 4-7 1-3 13, Sierra Smith 0-1 1-2 1, Mi'Cole Cayton 7-17 6-12 21, Aquira Decoste 7-14 1-2 15, Carlissa Shipp 3-8 1-2 10, Sydney Fadal 1-2 0-0 2, Neenah Young 2-2 0-0 6, Ariel Johnson 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 27-60 10-22 76.

Mater Dei 17 21 18 12 — 76
St. Mary's 11 22 21 22 — 69

3-point goals: Velasco 4, Samuelson 2, Tudor 4, Shipp 3, Young 2, Murray, Cayton, Johnson. Rebounds: Mater Dei 41 (Rosenblum 11), St. Mary's 27 (Cayton 7). Turnovers: Mater Dei 19, St. Marys' 10.