Mater Dei Gets Past Brea Olinda

SANTA ANA â€”  There was not a second’s hesitation in Lori Hurlbut’s response. This birthday, her 18th, was her best ever.

Hurlbut, who made her reputation in last year’s playoffs as a clutch performer, more than doubled her scoring average Saturday night to help fifth-ranked Mater Dei to a 64-61 overtime victory over top-ranked Brea Olinda.

An upset? Hurlbut (25 points) and her teammates were the only ones who thought they had a chance. Brea Olinda (13-2) was ranked No. 8 in the USA Today girls’ basketball national poll and had defeated several teams with stellar credentials while playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules.

The Monarchs (12-4), defending state champion who lost four starters to graduation, shocked Brea by performing the way the Ladycats usually do in critical situations.

“I thought [Brea’s] experience in big games was going to hurt us down the stretch,� Mater Dei Coach Mary Hauser said.

The Ladycats couldn’t overcome Hurlbut, whose eight-footer gave Mater Dei a 59-57 lead in the opening seconds of overtime, and whose free throw with four seconds remaining (after Marissa Bradley fouled out with 19 points) provided the final score.

In between, Brea’s Stephanie Wettlin (12 points, 10 rebounds) missed two free throws and the Ladycats missed their first five shots over the four-minute extra period. Brea went 7:33 without a field goal until Rochelle Anthony (15 points, eight rebounds) scored with 57 seconds left in overtime.

Mater Dei got a basket by Mary Neff and a steal and layup by Tina Garcia (13 points) to take a 63-57 overtime lead before Anthony scored.

A steal and basket by Jennifer Saari (seven points, six steals) cut the deficit to 63-61 with 41 seconds remaining.

“We were outplayed in every facet of the game and we beat ourselves,� said Brea Coach Jeff Sink, who watched his team commit 24 turnovers against the Monarch defense and blow an eight-point fourth-quarter lead, including a 54-49 cushion with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.

But Mater Dei went on an 8-0 run, and only Saari’s three free-throws with 1:43 left prevented the Monarchs winning in regulation.