Mater Dei Counts On Gerrity’s Toughness

There’s never any hesitation when Mike Gerrity of Santa Ana Mater Dei steps in the path of a dribbler to take a charging foul or makes an all-out drive to the basket.

Yes, a collision could be imminent. Yes, some muscular defender might try to foul him hard to deny a basket. But neither threat will prevent Gerrity from proceeding full speed ahead.

“I’m not afraid of a little contact,” he said.

Gerrity exudes an aura of toughness because that’s the way he plays. Whether he’s diving for a loose ball or hustling for a rebound, everyone knows he never stops competing until the whistle sounds.

It seems as if Gerrity, a 6-foot senior, has been Mater Dei’s starting point guard for a decade. He has started every varsity game since his freshman season except one.

And it’s the one missed game that leads to a discussion of the most uncharacteristic moment of his basketball career.

Gerrity quit the team last January after a game against Bellflower St. John Bosco.

Quitting isn’t part of his value system, so when word spread of what happened, the shock reverberated around Orange County.

Less than 24 hours later, Gerrity had rescinded his decision. He missed the next game against Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, but he has started every game since.

He’s reluctant to go into detail about what provoked him.

“It was a miscommunication between Coach and I,” he said. “I wasn’t a happy camper after the game. I snapped a little bit.”

A coach is only as successful as his point guard, which is why Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight trusts Gerrity completely.

“Our relationship is as strong as ever,” McKnight said.

Whatever friction occurred vanished as quickly as it came because Gerrity and McKnight are as loyal as father and son.

“I probably could have communicated better,” McKnight said. “I didn’t realize he was frustrated.”

Said Gerrity: “We’ve moved on. He’s in my corner, I’m in his corner. Ever since I stepped on campus, he’s had great respect for my game and respect for me as a player and person.”

Maybe Gerrity was feeling the burden of an underachieving team last season. Maybe he was taken for granted because he has been around so long and fulfilled his tasks without complaint. Whatever transpired, he was immediately back to his hard-nosed, never-give-up style of play.

This season, Gerrity has helped Mater Dei get off to a 7-1 start. The Monarchs have been playing this week in a tournament in Fort Myers, Fla., but return to compete in the Orange tournament beginning Monday. The team has needed him to score more, and he has delivered, averaging 21 points and proving he’s an accurate outside shooter.

“I have a whole new mind-set going into this year,” he said. “We have a bunch of young guys, and I want to be the leader they can hopefully look up to.”

There’s no one playing high school basketball in Southern California who has faced the likes of NBA players Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, as Gerrity has.

Gerrity was a freshman starter when Mater Dei defeated Anthony and Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill in 2002. Gerrity was a sophomore starter when Mater Dei lost to James and Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary at Pauley Pavilion in 2003.

He understands the mental and physical toughness required to compete against top teams. And he knows the expectations of playing for Mater Dei.

“I’m at a program that’s about excellence,” he said. “We’re expected to win.”

Gerrity has found a comfort level this season, fueled by a feeling of mutual respect.

“Every time I step onto the court, I’m having fun,” he said.

It also helps that some have doubts whether Mater Dei can win a Southern Section Division II-A championship and compete against Compton Dominguez for a state title.

“We’re trying to prove people wrong and show we can play against the best,” he said.