January 21, 2011, almost two years ago, was the last time the St. Mary’s Lady Knights basketball team lost a game. On Friday at the Nike Tournament of Champions at Hamilton at High School, the reigning national champion Knights took on a former national champion, the Mater Dei Monarchs from Santa Ana, California.
In one of the better high school basketball games you will see with loads of division I talent on both sides of the floor, Mater Dei was able to shoot past St. Mary’s ending their 49 game winning streak, winning 57-54.
“It was a heavy weight battle,” said St. Mary’s head coach Curtis Ekmark after the game. “I don’t remember anything like that when I was in high school. That was an amazing game.”
Mater Dei came out on fire behind four first half three’s from Karlie Samuelson.. She finished with 18 in the game. St. Mary’s trailed by as much as 17 in the first half.
“You know I don’t remember them being down 17 points maybe ever,”Ekmark explained. “But this group came back and never quit and played as hard as they could possibly play.”
And the lady did fight back fueled by a 15-4 run in the third quarter which would tie the game. Courney Ekmark, the UConn commit lead the team with 16 points and great work from Chantel Osahor in the post added 14.
But Mater Dei would get clutch shots and ket stops down the stretch and would come away the winner. They play for the division title against Riverdale Baptist from Maryland on Saturday.
“I told the girls that I don’t think we lost the game I just think we ran out of time, and fouls,” Ekmark mentioned. “Mater Dei is really really good. I mean that is a great team.”
Jared Cohen
