Prep Basketball : Angelus League : Mater Dei Finishes Off Servite : Rigdon Leads Third-Quarter Run for 79-56 Victory

Servite High School started something it couldn’t finish against Mater Dei Friday night.

The Friars kept close to Mater Dei, the second-ranked team in Orange County, through the first quarter and into the second.

But Mater Dei took control late in the first half, and then Dylan Rigdon scored 17 third-quarter points to lead the Monarchs past Servite, 79-56, in front of 1,500 at UC Irvine.

Mater Dei (20-2, 4-0) remained in first place in the Angelus League. Servite dropped to 11-7, 2-2.

“We didn’t have any letdowns,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “We struggled a bit early but then we got things going.”

Rigdon, a 6-foot 4-inch senior guard, had 31 points to lead all scorers.

Mike Morris, who had 15 points, opened the game for Mater Dei with a 3-pointer.

Chris Johnson, who led the Friars with 15 points, answered with a 15-footer, prompting the Servite fans to litter the court with streams of toilet paper.

A technical foul was called on Servite. Rigdon made both shots and Mater Dei was on its way to an early lead.

Servite rallied to get within 2 points twice, late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter.

But Mater Dei took control of the boards in the second quarter and went on a late run, including a free throw by Rigdon and stolen pass and basket by Dan O’Neil at the buzzer, for a 37-22 halftime lead.

Rigdon then started his assault with about 6 minutes left, hitting a 10-foot jump shot. He ended the quarter scoring 5 points within the closing seconds.