DOMINIC DRURY, BISHOP O'DOWD
Prep2Prep Student Contributor

March 31, 2014

SACRAMENTO - Sleep Train Arena was rocking Saturday night, as the nation’s final high school basketball game for the 2013-14 season featured two of the best teams in the United States.

Mater Dei-Santa Ana (35-0) showed why it is ranked No. 1 in the nation (Maxpreps) coming up with a thrilling 71-61 victory over No. 10 Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (28-5).

O’Dowd was confident coming into the game, knowing that it gave Mater Dei its toughest game of the season, losing 63-59 in overtime in late December at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

However, with Stanley Johnson leading the way, Mater Dei was able to capture its fourth straight state championship, and second consecutive CIF Open Division State title.

“It’s really a dream and a blessing at the same time,” Johnson said. “Our goal is to win every game in a season, and it’s a challenge for me and also my teammates. Today was just a combination of everything that happened during the season, we stayed calm, trusted one another, played hard, and that is what we have been doing all season long. It was just a regular game for us.”

Johnson finished with a game-high 25 points and eight assists for Mater Dei, including an amazing 30-foot 3-pointer as the shot clock was running down in the second quarter.

“We needed to deny him the ball,” said Bishop O’Dowd coach Lou Richie. “We were going to run doubles at him in certain places, but Stanley didn’t hurt us at half court. He got all his points in transitions, and the plan was for guards to take charges.”

The game started with O’Dowd coming out extremely strong, as the Dragons had a quick 12-6 run to start the game. However, O’Dowd has not seen defense like Mater Dei in over three months, as the Dragons began to get sloppy, committing 14 turnovers in the first half (20 in the game).

“We didn’t execute offensively or defensively,” said Richie.

As the game continued, the Dragons usually dominant full-court press was ineffective, as Mater Dei was able to lob the ball to the physical Jonson, who snagged it out of the air and took it down for several fast-break dunks.

Mater Dei began to seize control, taking a 28-21 lead into the break.

Paris Austin, who finished with a team-high 23 points on the night, hit several clutch shots keeping O’Dowd in the game.

“It was a tough loss for me and my brothers tonight,” Said Austin. “I would like to thank everyone who came out and supported us this season.”

It was not a tough decision for the thousands of O’Dowd fans who decided to make the two-hour trip from Oakland, as O’Dowd was trying for its first state title since 1981.

Star Ivan Rabb, who was playing on an injured ankle, was shut down offensively. Rabb, who was tripled-teamed throughout the game, just could not get the ball out to his teammates, as he committed four turnovers on the night.

Despite struggling from the line, Rabb did manage to finish with 10 points and 16 rebounds.

“It was a great season,” Richie said. “This is truly a great bunch of kids, they worked extremely hard. Their legacy and work ethic they brought to Bishop O’Dowd brings the entire community together.”

The Dragons are now 1-8 in CIF state title games, as they have yet bring the state title back to Oakland since the 1981 season. However, things are looking very promising as the Dragons are projected to even better next season with Rabb and Austin, both juniors, returning.

“We will be back next year,” said Austin.

There is no doubt that this year is one of the most memorable basketball seasons for the small catholic school in Oakland. The team has had many amazing moments such as allowing team manager Lucas Cortez to come onto the court and make a basket in final home game of the season. Then, only two weeks later, they handed their NCS Championship medal to the disqualified girls team.

“My brothers played their hearts out,” said senior Alex Kalmbach who is a starting shooting guard on the O’Dowd girls team. “They deserve to hold their heads high; they have had many accomplishments this season.”

With the entire girls team sitting in the front row at Sleep Train, there's no doubt the two teams can’t wait to get back on the court together and make another run at Open Division State title next season.