Sampson Propels Mater Dei to Victory

The coronation started in grand style, with a breathless run bookended by a slam dunk and a three-pointer that served as precursors of things to come.

It continued with fancy moves to the basket, hustling defense and--with the exception of one mini-lapse in the third quarter--heads-up play.

And by the time it concluded Saturday night, with Mater Dei High Coach Gary McKnight hoisting the Southern Section Division I-A boys’ basketball championship plaque, Simi Valley had long been drained of its spirit and will to compete.

Top-seeded Mater Dei toppled third-seeded Simi Valley, 53-39, before an estimated crowd of 7,500 at the Pond for its second consecutive title and eighth in nine years.

Because the result was never really in doubt after the Monarchs’ initial charge, the postgame celebration was subdued.

“I’m happy but I’m not jumping up and down or anything like that,” said Mater Dei guard Cedric Bozeman, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. “But it is the CIF championship and the right start to a new millennium.”

Monarch center Jamal Sampson was selected by the media as his team’s player of the game after getting 17 points, 18 rebounds and eight blocked shots. McKnight called it just a typical game for the 6-foot-10 Sampson.

“Jamal had a good night,” McKnight said. “I don’t think he had anything special.”

Sampson was the key component of a Mater Dei defense that stifled Simi Valley’s top players, Brett Michel and Branduinn Fullove, to a combined 12 points on three of 31 shooting. The Pioneers (28-3) shot 24.6% from the floor.

“We didn’t shoot well,” Simi Valley Coach Christian Aurand said. “A lot of it had to do with their defense.”

The Monarchs (32-1) continued their run of dominance against the Pioneers. Mater Dei defeated Simi Valley in a semifinal last year and beat them again at the Torrey Pines tournament in December.

Though Bozeman and Sampson led the way, the Monarchs had many players to thank for the victory. Forward Mike Strawberry, who had six points and nine rebounds, clogged the passing lanes and finished with three steals. Guard Matt Leinart provided a spark off the bench. And small forward Rickey Porter contributed to the strong defensive effort with waving arms and tremendous hustle.

“I think that’s what makes us special,” McKnight said. “We have a lot of guys who can score and a lot of guys who can win games.”

Simi Valley’s only charge came in the third quarter when the Pioneers put together an 8-0 run capped by Fullove’s three-pointer. That cut Mater Dei’s lead to 32-27, but Simi Valley couldn’t get back to within five points until the fourth quarter. The Pioneers would pull no closer the rest of the way.

Mater Dei bolted to an 11-0 lead to open the game on a Sampson slam, a Strawberry bucket inside, a Bozeman layup, a Porter basket underneath and a Steve Scoggin three-pointer.

Simi Valley, making its first appearance in a championship game since 1993, never really recovered.