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SANTA ANA A collection of frustrating obstacles stood in the way of Mater Dei’s girls basketball team and a historical victory at the Nike Extravaganza on Friday night. Illness, turnovers and a young Bishop Gorman squad were wreaking havoc in the spotlight game.
The top-ranked Monarchs needed some steady play if they wanted to earn Coach Kevin Kiernan his 800th career victory as a girls basketball coach.
His carpool buddy for the past four years arrived right on cue.
Kiernan’s senior daughter Camryn Kiernan made two key 3-pointers in the first half and a steal in the third quarter to offer stability in her complimentary role.
A burst to open the fourth quarter took care of the rest.
Mater Dei scored the first 11 points of the final period and finally dispatched Nevada powerhouse Bishop Gorman 61-46 to give Kiernan another coaching milestone,
The 60-year-old became the first girls coach in California history to reach 800 victories.
“It means a lot (to him), especially having a daughter on the team,” Camryn Kiernan said of her father, who also has coached at La Quinta and Troy. “I’m glad I got to do that with him.”
The Concordia-bound Kiernan played almost 20 minutes and mostly avoided the turnovers that plagued both teams. But she also made her share of plays en route to eight points.
She opened the game with a 3-pointer and sank another with about 20 seconds in the half to tie the score at 21.
In the third, she made a steal that led to a breakaway and two made free throws. Mater Dei’s combination of Kiernan, Alyssa Durazo-Frescas (12 points, three 3-pointers), Brooke Demetre (14 points, eight rebounds) and Anaya Johnson combined to go 8 for 8 from the foul line in the period.
“Cam’s strength is her steadiness,” Coach Kiernan said. “She’s not going to blow you away with speed or quickness but she does everything pretty good. Shoots the ball good. Plays good defense. Is a great teammate. She’s steady.”
And on a night in which Bishop Gorman forced 25 turnovers and the Monarchs played through illness, that steadiness was a big part of the winning equation.
Mater Dei (25-2), ranked 18th in the nation, led 39-34 entering the final period but tightened its full-course press to spark the burst.
The Monarchs got two baskets off quick turnovers under the Gaels’ basket and capped the 11-0 run with a 3-pointer by Anna Bradley, who made it 50-34.
Mater Dei forced 29 turnovers and got six fourth-period points from Soleil Montrose.
“They knew that they had to play better,” Coach Kiernan said. “Instead of playing great for 32 minutes, they had to at least get eight. … We know we have to be better Wednesday (against JSerra).”
But for Mater Dei’s father and daughter duo, that day will be special no matter the outcome. They’ll again carpool to and from Mater Dei, their cherished tradition for four years.
“It’s been a great experience,” said Coach Kiernan, whose wife Christine will coach Camryn at Concordia. “As a father, I’ll look back at that forever. It’s irreplaceable.”
Mater Dei counted its blessings Friday. The Monarchs prayed for Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash.
Kiernan also expressed his gratitude after reaching No. 800. He thanked his assistant coaches and credited his past and present players. But he seemed a bit irreplaceable himself.
He and his wife have an eighth-grader daughter Devyn who will be a freshman basketball player at Mater Dei next year. She wears size 11 shoes and is feisty, according to Camryn.
And there’s fifth-grader daughter Kaidyn, who also plays basketball. Dad already calls her “fierce”.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Coach Kiernan said with a laugh. “Where can I go? No where to go — as long as they’ll have me (here).”
The carpool is covered.