Bozeman Gives Mater Dei Final Touch

Cedric Bozeman, Santa Ana Mater Dei’s standout guard, plopped down exhausted on the team bench and was barely able to speak after leading the Monarchs to a 72-64 victory over Westchester Friday night in a Division I semifinal of the Southern California regional of the state tournament.

Maybe that’s because Bozeman expended more than his share of energy on the court, collecting 33 points as Mater Dei rallied from a two-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to grind down the Comets at Huntington Beach Ocean View High.

“This is what Mater Dei basketball is all about,” said Bozeman, a junior who put the Monarchs ahead to stay with a short jumper off the glass early in the fourth quarter. “It’s a very big win.”

Top-seeded Mater Dei (34-1) advanced to play Fresno Clovis West tonight at the Great Western Forum. Clovis West defeated Long Beach Poly, 90-68, in the other semifinal.

Mater Dei’s victory was in doubt until late in the fourth quarter, when Westchester (24-7) missed four shots on the same possession. Mater Dei center Jamal Sampson finally came down with a rebound and was fouled with 26 seconds left. He made one of two free throws to put the Monarchs comfortably ahead and take a sliver of revenge from his former team.

“I felt I could have got more playing time [at Westchester] there than I did,” said Sampson, who attended Westchester as a freshman before transferring to Mater Dei. “This was a great win because for a while I didn’t know whether we’d pull it out or not.”

Sampson picked up his fourth foul on a charging call early in the third quarter. Seven of his 11 points came on free throws.

Sampson, usually a poor free-throw shooter, made six of 10 shots from the line in the last 4:50 to help seal the victory.

He said winning a game from the free-throw line was “the last thing I expected.”

Luckily for the Monarchs, guard Steve Scoggin scored 14 points and reserve Christian McGuigan hit a crucial three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

Westchester, the City Section champion, looked superior for much of the second and third quarters.

Jason Breland, who scored 23 points, and Brandon Heath, who had 17, were unstoppable at times.

The Comets, however, cooled down considerably after shooting 53.1% in the first half.

After Mater Dei guard Ricky Porter scored on a putback midway through the third quarter to put the Monarchs ahead, 44-40, Westchester went on a 9-0 run sparked by a Breland steal and dunk.

Mater Dei came back to tie the score, 49-49, on a spectacular baseline drive and jam by Bozeman. After Breland converted a putback, the Monarchs went on a 7-0 run. McGuigan’s three-pointer put Mater Dei ahead, 56-51, and Scoggin followed with a layup for a 58-51 advantage.

“That was a great performance,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said, “to come back from going down and Jamal being out [in foul trouble].”

In the other Division I semifinal:

Clovis West 90, Long Beach Poly 68--The Golden Eagles (37-2) took command in the second quarter en route to the victory at home.

Junior guard Tyrone Jackson scored 25 points, sophomore center Charlie Rodriguez had 24 and junior guard Chris Hernandez added 16 for Clovis West.

Clovis led, 16-12, at the end of the first quarter. The Golden Eagles increased their lead to 47-27 by halftime.

Wesley Stokes scored 15 points and Markee White added 13 for Poly.