CHANDLER, Ariz. – Rare is the instance when perennial California powerhouse Santa Ana Mater Dei can claim the underdog role and all the charms that go along with it.
But when Monday’s championship game of the 18th Nike Tournament of Champions hits the court, the Monarchs will be just that – underdogs, facing what many consider to the be nation’s No. 1 team, Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) And one gets the impression Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan doesn’t mind a bit.
“For us, it’s house money,” Kiernan said Saturday after his team held off Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) 60-53 in a semifinal of the elite Joe Smith Division. “We’re playing the No. 1 team in the country. I’ve been in his spot, and it’s no fun at all. We have a lot of respect for Blackman. They’re awesome. But it’s great to take a swing at the No. 1 team in the country. And to not have to play a California team.”
Blackman advanced with a 79-68 victory against St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) in a heavyweight slugfest of a semi, the Blaze surviving 26 turnovers against St. Mary’s relentless pressure.
But it will be Mater Dei’s ability to handle Blackman’s pressure that might be the defining factor in the title game.
“I don’t think we can do what St. Mary’s can do and press and open up the floor like that (against Blackman),” Kiernan said of the first semifinal. “St. Mary’s is great at it. We don’t have the (same) amount of athletes to throw at them. I think we have to compress the floor and try to make them bring it up and make them run their offense. We’re going to try to compress the game and make it a halfcourt game if we can.”
Blackman used its inside presence to subdue St. Mary’s. Posts Jazz Bond (16 points, 15 rebounds) and Middle Tennessee State recruit Alex Johnson (34 points, six rebounds) were on the finishing end of passes from guards KK Williams, Crystal Dangerfield and Jamesha “MeMe” Jackson. The Connecticut recruit Dangerfield had 14 points, while the Tennessee-bound Jackson added eight points and 13 rebounds.
“We had a simple plan. We kept it very simple, and our girls made simple basketball plays, and that’s what helped us win,” Blackman coach Chad Hibdon said. “The only time we got in trouble is when we tried to make something spectacular (happen).”
The Blaze opened a 10-point lead late in the first half as Dangerfield whipped back-to-back, crowd-pleasing passes to teammates for layins, and the margin remained close to double figures the rest of the game. St. Mary’s freshman standout Aquira DeCosta was limited with foul trouble, which further enhanced the Blaze’s low-post game. DeCosta had 13 points and four rebounds for St. Mary’s, which stayed in striking range by drilling 10 three-pointers, four from reserve Carlissa Shipp.
St. Mary’s will face Parkview in the third-place game at 3:40 p.m. Monday before Blackman and defending tourney champ Mater Dei tangle at 5 p.m.
The second semifinal featured a bit more drama than expected. Mater Dei needed an 8-0 run to finish the first half to gain a one-point halftime lead then methodically held off the Panthers’ comeback attempts.
Mater Dei drew heavy minutes from two freshmen (guard Nikki Freeman and post Emma Torbert) and a sophomore (guard Jayda Adams). The team’s youth showed at times against Parkview’s pressure but the Monarchs battled through it.
“We’re kind of here because of (Katie Lou Samuelson) and (Andee Velasco), and the rest of us are really young,” Kiernan said. “We played freshmen and sophomores and they get a little rattled sometimes. And that’s why we’re here, to try to let them grow up.”
Samuelson, the UConn signee, endured an atypical shooting night – 5 of 19 overall, 2 of 8 on threes – before finishing with 21 points and eight rebounds. Loyola Marymount recruit Velasco had 15 points, UCLA-bound Alli Rosenblum had 14 points despite foul trouble and the 6-foot-1 Torbert added eight points and seven rebounds in some quality minutes.
“I’m really surprised we got three (wins here),” Kiernan said. “We were hoping for two. To make the finals again is awesome. But then you look at who you have to play next …
“But when you have a player like Lou, you always have a puncher’s chance. Andee’s playing really well. Emma Torbert played well for us. Her and Alli are a good 1-2 punch.”
Parkview got 22 points and 11 rebounds from Rutgers commit Vickie Harris. Guard Raven Johnson, who missed the team’s quarterfinal victory Friday because of illness, returned to collect 19 points.
