Mitty Loses to Mater Dei in CIF State Championship Final

Courtesy: San Jose Mercury News

The San Jose Archbishop Mitty Monarchs lost to the Santa Ana Mater Dei Monarchs 50 – 45 in the inaugural Open Division CIF State Championship Finals.  Mater Dei (34 – 2) won its 3rd consecutive state championship, (the first two were Division I), while foiling Mitty’s (28 – 6) attempt at their 3rd consecutive state championship (the first two were Div. II).

Mitty’s 6’8″ senior forward Aaron Gordon ended his decorated high school career in disappointing fashion, despite his typically stellar performance of scoring 22 points and 20 rebounds.  However, Mater Dei’s 6’7″ junior forward Stanley Johnson outshined Gordon with 26 points and 12 rebounds, including five 3-pointers.  Both nationally-ranked players were also teammates on the Oakland Soldiers AAU team, but tonight, only Johnson can claim being a state champion.

Mitty out-rebounded Mater Dei 47 – 31, but the game was won and lost with the disparity in turnovers, as Mitty committed 22 turnovers compared to Mater Dei’s nine.

This officially ends the California high school basketball season.  Official attendance at the Sleep Train Arena was 13,591.