RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Santa Margarita’s boys basketball team is closer to making some school history.
The Eagles beat Mater Dei 87-75 in a Trinity League game Monday at Santa Margarita High.
The win improves Santa Margarita’s league record to 7-2. They can clinch a share of their first Trinity League boys basketball championship with a win at Servite (0-9 in league) on Tuesday, the final regular-season date for all Trinity League teams.
Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey, right, gets high-fives from forward Dallas Washington, left, after sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half in a Trinity League boys basketball game against Mater Dei in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Brayden Kyman, right, tries to get a shot over Mater Dei guard Malloy Smith in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey drives to the basket in a Trinity League boys basketball game against Mater Dei in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita forward Dallas Washington, left, keeps Mater Dei guard Demarcus Henry from taking a shot in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Rodney Westmoreland, right, makes a move past Mater Dei guard Demarcus Henry to score a basket in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The referee breaks up a fight between Mater Dei guard Demarcus Henry, left, and Santa Margarita forward Dallas Washington, second from right, in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei guard Luke Barnett, left, flies past Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey to score in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei forward Blake Davidson, left, slaps the ball out of the hands of Santa Margarita forward Dallas Washington in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei guard Demarcus Henry, left, has his shot tipped away by Santa Margarita forward Dallas Washington in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita forward Drew Anderson, right, and forward Dallas Washington hug after winning their a Trinity League boys basketball game against Mater Dei in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Rodney Westmoreland, center, keeps control of the ball as he moves between Mater Dei forward Blake Davidson, left, and guard Malloy Smith, right, in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A Santa Margarita fan reacts to a play during a Trinity League boys basketball game against Mater Dei in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei guard Lucas Gaspar, center, sees and opening and puts up a shot past Santa Margarita guard Rodney Westmoreland, left, in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey, left, takes a shot past Mater Dei guard Malloy Smith in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The referee, along with Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey, third from left, and Mater Dei guard Luke Barnett, second from right, try to keep Santa Margarita forward Dallas Washington, right, away from Mater Dei guard Demarcus Henry, left, during an altercation in the fourth quarter in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Brayden Kyman, center, celebrates after scoring a basket against Mater Dei in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Brayden Kyman, center, blocks a shot by Mater Dei forward Blake Davidson, left, in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey, forward Drew Anderson, and forward Douglas Nilsen, from left, celebrate after winning their Trinity League boys basketball game against Mater Dei in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita forward Drew Anderson, center, keeps a rebound away from Mater Dei guard Malloy Smith, left, and guard Lucas Gaspar, right, in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey, right, gets high-fives from forward Dallas Washington, left, after sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half in a Trinity League boys basketball game against Mater Dei in Santa Margarita on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco, which is also 7-2 in league, plays at JSerra (6-3 in league) on Tuesday.
Mater Dei (5-4 in league) plays its final league game Tuesday at Orange Lutheran (2-7 in league).
Santa Margarita is No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section computer rankings that were released Monday. The Eagles (21-5 overall) will be in the elite Open Division when CIF-SS boys basketball playoff brackets are released Saturday at noon.
The number of teams in the Open Division has not been announced; it was an eight-team division last season.
Mater Dei is in fourth place in the six-team Trinity League. The top three teams in the Trinity League receive guaranteed playoff berths, so the Monarchs (19-8 overall), who are 12th in the CIF-SS rankings, are looking at an at-large berth as their way to get into the playoffs – if the division they are placed in, which is likely top be Division 1, has room for at-large teams.
They have never missed the playoffs in Gary McKnight’s previous 42 seasons as Mater Dei coach.
Mater Dei and Santa Margarita split their two league encounters.
All five Santa Margarita starters in Monday’s game scored in double figures. Junior guard Kaiden Bailey and senior forward Dallas Washington scored 22 points each. Junior guard Rodney Westmoreland scored 17 points, junior guard Brayden Kyman scored 13 points and junior forward Drew Anderson scored 12 with eight rebounds.
Mater Dei junior guard Luke Barnett scored 21 points, 11 of those in the first 68 seconds flurry to start the fourth quarter. Monarchs sophomore forward Demarcus Henry scored 17 points with nine rebounds, sophomore guard Lucas Gaspar scored 15 points and senior forward Blake Davidson scored 14 with six rebounds.
Washington said the Eagles’ successful season is in large part because of how well the players work together.
“I love this squad,” said Washington, who signed with Long Beach State. “We’re a tight unit, we’re all brothers. No matter what, we stay consistent, we stay with our morals and we just play our game.”
Washington made two 3-point baskets in the first couple of minutes and Santa Margarita blazed to an 8-0 lead. The Monarchs got it together to trail by five 19-14 going into the second quarter.
The Eagles outscored the Monarchs 27-15 in the second quarter including a buzzer-beating 40-foot 3-pointer by Bailey for a 46-29 halftime lead.
Kyman opened the third quarter with a 3 for a 20-point Eagles lead. Santa Margarita took a 64-50 lead into the fourth quarter.
Barnett hit a couple 3s to open the fourth quarter, was fouled on a 3-point try for three free throws that he made, and suddenly it was a five-point game 66-61. The Monarchs got as close as four points with 1:19 to go. But the Eagles again pulled away, with Westmoreland, Anderson and Bailey making free throws in the final minute to secure the Santa Margarita win.
Santa Margarita coach Justin Bell was pleased with how the players did not get ruffled when Mater Dei made its early fourth-quarter move.
“Once our guys calmed down … they matured and did what they were supposed to do,” Bell said. “I’m proud of our guys, proud of our team. They did a great job tonight.”
