SoCalHoops High School News

adidas SoCal Classic: Mater Dei
Beats Canyon--(Jan. 31, 1999)

We didn't get to see the Mater Dei game yesterday so we don't have pictures from the game,  but we did get the full stats and most of the story, as Mater Dei (21-3) beat Anaheim Canyon (14-7) in the 3:00 p.m. game of the adidas Poly-Artesia SoCal Basketball Classic by a score of 71-55.  Canyon was in the game for the first three quarters, but then in the fourth, Jamal Sampson (6'-10" So. F/C) scored 19 points in what was essentially his debut since playing this summer after transferring from Westchester. Sampson scored 9 points (4 field goals and one free-throw) in the fourth quarter; Derrick Mansell (6'-2" Sr. PG) who finished with 10 points also scored 6 field goals in the fourth quarter, and Mike Bayer who had 17 points, also had 5 in the quarter. In all, Mater Dei outscored Canyon 25-12 in the critical fourth quarter.

Canyon essentially didn't have anyone who could match up with Sampson.  Ryan Romberg, who finished with 8 points (only 2 in the fourth) had all he could handle trying to keep up with Bayer. So Sampson pretty much had an easier time of it in the fourth quarter with no one really able to contain him. And more importantly and beyond just this game, Sampson's return just prior to the playoffs could be huge for the Monarchs.  Sampson came into the game midway into the first quarter, and he hit all five of his shots (three dunks) in the first half . He also had 9 rebounds.

No one thought that Canyon,  which is now 6-0 in Century League play, would be able to hang with the quicker, more athletic Monarchs. But hang they did, at least for three of the four quarters, and even for part of the fourth. While Mater Dei led 40-26 at the half, Canyon outscored the Monarchs 17-6 in the third quarter, and the score at the end of three was Canyon 45, Mater Dei 50, and at one point in the third, the Commanches cut the lead to three, at just 46-43.  But in the fourth, Mater Dei broke away with Sampson's slam on the rebound to open the quarter. Derrek Mansell then hit two field goals and Mater Dei led by 9.

Jamal Taylor (6'-0" Jr. PG/SG) was the bright spot for Canyon, and he finished with 16 points, including 4 three pointers (2 in the fourth quarter). Neil Hammad (6'-2" Sr. SG) was, as always,  fairly steady with 14 points, including 3 three pointers. Roger Hogan (6'-0" Jr. PG/SG) scored 10 points and Ryan Romberg (6'-8" Sr. F) had 8, while Donn Yu (5'-9" Sr. PG) scored 4 points.

For Mater Dei, Mansell had 11, Steve Scoggin (6'-0" Jr. SG) had 10 (2 threes), Mike Bayer had 17, Cedric Bozeman (6'-5" So. F) had  5 points, all in the second half, Mike Strawberry (6'-4" Fr. SG/SF) had 7 (three field goals in the second quarter), Christian McGuigan (6'-3" Jr. SF) had 4 points (all in the second quarter), and Sampson finished with 19, a game high.  Erik Soderberg did not score and neitgher did Imran Sufi.

Here's the scoring by quarters.

We'll have reports on the rest of the games (which we did see) and pictures too, up momentarily.

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