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SANTA ANA — Mater Dei’s girls basketball team and Iowa-bound guard Addison Deal received some additional support Wednesday as they advanced in the CIF Southern California Regional.
Versatile senior guard Devyn Kiernan returned from a one-game absence to help the No. 3 seeded Monarchs defeat No. 6 Bishop Montgomery 76-40 in an Open Division first round game at Mater Dei High.
Kiernan scored nine points and had four rebounds and two assists as Mater Dei (29-3) followed Deal’s 27 points to reach the semifinals at reigning CIF State Open Division champion Etiwanda (25-5) on Saturday.
“It was really good to be back,” said Kiernan, who was shaken up against Fairmont Prep in CIF-SS Open Division pool play on Feb. 19. “We all felt great. My teammates were hyping me up and making sure I was OK throughout the whole game. It was a great environment.”
Mater Dei made six of its nine 3-pointers in the first half, including one by Kiernan, to open a 42-21 lead at intermission.
Kiernan, who signed with Southern Utah, helped highlight the Monarchs’ 22-point second period by sinking a 3-pointer, grabbing a defensive rebound on the next possession and feeding sophomore Harmony Golightly for another 3.
The Monarchs could use Kiernan’s well-rounded contributions against Etiwanda, which beat Orange County’s top-ranked team 63-60 in the Open Division semifinals. Playing without Kiernan, the Monarchs trailed by almost 20 points at one stretch before tightening the score late in the fourth quarter.
“(Kiernan) brings a lot of intangibles,” first-year Mater Dei coach Jody Wynn said. “No. 1, it’s her IQ. She’s a kid that understands rotations. She understands spacing. She understands everything we’re trying to do offensively and defensively. And No. 2, she’s gritty.”
Deal, who was named to the Naismith second-team All-America squad earlier in the day, had 18 points at half. She finished with seven rebounds and four assists.
Grand Canyon-bound guard Amaya Williams added eight points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals as several of the Monarchs’ seniors shined in potentially their final home game.
Sophomore Stella Hoss impressed for Mater Dei with nine points, including two 3-pointers, and two blocks.
Mater Dei has lost four consecutive games against No. 2 seed Etiwanda, which had a bye Wednesday after falling to Ontario Christian 65-63 in the section final.
The Monarchs’ last win against Etiwanda came in 2021.
“It’s a new day, a new game,” Wynn said of Saturday’s regional semifinal. “I’m not into comparison scores because I think different teams matchup differently against different opponents. I’m grateful to be playing another game. … It’s win and advance, or lose and go home.”
“If anything, I want to just help (us) defensively,” Kiernan added of the matchup. “Getting the passes, getting my teammates open by setting screens. Hitting the open shot when I can. Just doing anything I can to help.”
Rice commit Jordin Blackmon overcame an early injury to score 14 points, including three 3-pointers in the second half, for Bishop Montgomery (22-6). Senior Atiya Watson added 13 points for the Knights, who claimed the CIF State Division I title last season.
Bishop Montgomery made eight 3-pointers but struggled with turnovers against the Monarchs.
