Watch your passes, be patient on offense, avoid the double teams, protect the basketball and hustle back on defense.
If you don’t do those things playing against a team like Mater Dei, the high school boys basketball powerhouse punishes you.
Dos Pueblos learned that lesson on Saturday night.
The Monarchs used their wealth of talent and towering size advantage to force turnovers and go on huge scoring runs in running away to a 108-50 win over the Chargers at Sovine Gym.
Dos Pueblos coach Joe Zamora said playing Mater Dei is great preparation for Channel League opponents.
“Especially against a team like that, I would say the best part about that was learning the double teams, because when we play a team like Oxnard they’re going to do the same thing to us.
“Seeing that with longer guys that are 6-5 and 6-8 and being able to make adjustments, we couldn’t sustain that for 32 minutes. They’re just too deep and very athletic. But it’s good to see that size and that athleticism going into league.”
The Chargers hung with the defending CIF-SS Division 1 champions for more than half of the first quarter, even taking a 14-13 lead on an Alister Linden three-point play, before a 17-2 run did them in.
“There were possessions where we really took care of the ball and we got wide-open looks, especially against the press. Then there were ones where we were just running across and throwing it up there. Those are possession we can’t have.”
A steal and dunk by Mater Dei’s springy 6-foot-6 senior Scott Belnap ignited a 12-0 run that was fueled by Dos Pueblos turnovers over the last 1:45 of the first quarter. The run gave the Monarchs a 30-16 lead which grew to 60-32 by halftime.
Five players reached double figures for Mater Dei, which has scored over 100 points in its first two games of the season. The team was led by 6-foot-8 sophomore Brannon Martinsen’s 21 points, Blake Davidson, a 6-9 junior, and Luke Barnett, a 6-4 sophomore, each had 20 points, 6-4 junior Owen Verna added 12 points and Belnap chipped in 10, including three impressive dunks.
Seniors Matthew Zamora and Justin Stock, both 6-foot shooting guards, each scored 13 points to lead Dos Pueblos (1-1). Wyatt Gardiner, a 6-4 sophomore added eight points.
Dos Pueblos played without 6-7 Micah Goss, who is sidelined with a leg injury.
“That’s a big component of our team,” said Zamora. “The guys just battled. The guys that came off the bench stepped in. I was really happy the way Shane (Grant) played and I think Jay Coulter and Wyatt, two young sophomores, came in and got really good experience which will help down the road.”
Despite being outsized by at least four inches, DP guards Zamora, Stock and Christian Perez were able to create scoring opportunities before wearing down late in the game. Zamora and Stock knocked down some three-pointers from beyond 25 feet.
“The goal is once again trying to get better for league by playing against teams like this and then, hopefully, we can make it to the playoffs,” said Zamora.
