St. John Bosco beats Mater Dei 71-68 in overtime inferno to take second SoCal regional — live update recap

Elzie Harrington, Brandon McCoy makes four key free throws each in overtime, leading the host Braves to the thrilling victory

The CIF Regional finals are here on Tuesday, including the boys Southern California Division 1 championship pitting third seed, the Mater Dei Monarchs (29-5) at the No. 1 St. John Bosco Braves (26-7). Tip-off is 7 p.m.

In a see-saw affair never separated by more than four points after halftime — and that was only once (53-49)  — St. John Bosco escaped with a wild 71-68 overtime victory. there were 24 lead changes in the game and 13 ties.

Four straight free throws by Elzie Harrington (24 points) in overtime helped give Bosco a 69-68 lead, and two more by Brandon McCoy (14 points) gave the Braves a three-point edge. 

• CALIFORNIA SCOREBOARD

But with seven seconds left, McCoy missed free throws which opened the door for the Monarchs.  

Elzie Harrington (3), St. John Bosco / File photo: Heston Quan

Mater Dei had an open look at the top of the key for 3, but it missed and the Braves advance to Golden 1 Center to play for a state title 8 p.m. on Friday against San Ramon Valley, a 58-55 winner over Granada in the NorCal D1 finals.

Bosco won its only state-finals appearance in 2014, taking the D2 title with a 63-54 win over Folsom. 

Live updates: 2024 CIF State boys basketball playoff regional finals — Scores, matchups, game times (3-5-2024)

Jack Turner added 14 points for the Braves (27-7) and Chris Komin contributed 10 including a 3-pointer to open the overtime. Scott Belnap had 17 points, Brady Karich 16 and Brandon Benjamin 13 points for Mater Dei (29-6), which for the last month has played without the team's leading scorer Brannon Martinsen, out with a broken tibia. 

With him, the Monarchs might have persevered to win an on-going 17th regional title. 

• CALIFORNIA SCOREBOARD

Read below for our live updates recap from the SoCal D1 boys championship game Tuesday.

Live updates: 2024 CIF State boys basketball playoff regional finals — Scores, matchups, game times (3-5-2024)

OVERTIME UPDATES

St. John Bosco 71, Mater Dei 68: Brandon McCoy makes two more free throws, two of eight made by the Braves in overtime.

SJB 69, Mater Dei 68: Two more free throws by Harrington puts Bosco back in front. 

Mater Dei 68, St. John Bosco 67: Scotty Belnap scores six straight points for the Monarchs. 

St. John Bosco 63, Mater Dei 60: A 3-pointer by Chris Komin gives the Braves the first lead in overtime.  

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES

Bosco 60, Mater Dei 60: Elzie Harrington answers with a tough left-handed layup. 17 ticks left.  Heading to overtime 

Pretty move and LH LU by Harrington with 17 seconds left. Going to OT. Tied at 60-60. pic.twitter.com/XZZAxDeZa3

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) March 6, 2024

Mater Dei 60, Bosco 58: Two free throws by Benjamin with 33 seconds left. 

Bosco 58, Mater Dei 58 (1:30): Harrington answers with tough 2. 

Mater Dei 58, Bosco 56: Brady Karich with long 3, ties it up.

SJB 56, Mater Dei 55: Jack Turner again for bucket. 

THIRD QUARTER UPDATES

St. John Bosco 50, Mater Dei 47 (end of 3): Brandon McCoy with a long 3-pointer from the corner gives Bosco the lead heading into the fourth. 

McCoy 3-pointer gives Bosco 50-47 lead after 3 over Mater Dei. pic.twitter.com/3aALXPcAej

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) March 6, 2024

St. John Bosco 47, Mater Dei 47: Two free throws by Harrington - he has 10 points in the quarter - ties the game. 

Mater Dei 47, St. John Bosco 45: After Scott Belnap bucket, Benjamin connects on a free throw. 

St. John Bosco 45, Mater Dei 44: A 3-pointer by Harrington - his second of the quarter from NBA range — gives Bosco the lead in back-and-forth affair.  

SECOND QUARTER UPDATES

Mater Dei 33, St. John Bosco 30 (Halftime): After a Jack Turner bucket cut the lead to one, Mater Dei's Brandon Benjamin gives Monarchs a 33-30 halftime with his second bucket of the half.  

Mater Dei 26, St. John Bosco 23: Emphatic dunk by Elzie Harrington cuts Mater Dei's lead to three. 

Mater Dei 26, St. John Bosco 21: Blake Davidson with fastbreak hoop for Mater Dei. 

FIRST QUARTER UPDATES

Mater Dei 19, St. John Bosco 14 (end of 1): 3-pointer by Mater Dei's Luke Barnett extends Monarchs lead to five after one. 

Mater Dei 16, St. John Bosco 14 (6:48): Max Ellis 3-pointer for St. John Bosco. 

Mater Dei 14, St. John Bosco 9: A 5-point spurt by the Monarchs, capped with 3-pointer by Brady Karich breaks the third tie of the quarter. 

PREGAME NOTES

Mater Dei, who lost leading scorer, sophomore Brannon Martinsen with a a broken tibia about a month ago, is going after its on-going record 17th regional championship. St. John Bosco is after its second.

Despite having the lower seed and the home court, the Braves lost two previous Trinity League games to Mater Dei, 83-62 and 72-66. These two schools are often more known for their football rivalry, but Bosco has risen its bar on the hardwood.

• WATCH ON NFHS

Last season, the Braves beat the Monarchs in their only two meetings. Mater Dei, which owns a 33-6 edge in victories over the last 20 years, could take back the upper hand with a win tonight. The Monarchs are led by the winningest coach in California history Gary McKnight (see video above). He entered the season with 1,243 victories, almost 200 wins over No. 2 Mike LeDuc, who is still coaching at Damien.