Mater Dei- Servite Rivalry Will Continue

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Servite-Mater Dei basketball rivalry, which was considered over when the teams joined different public leagues this season, will continue when they meet Dec. 7 in the Tournament of Champions at Ocean View High School.

“Both coaches agreed to the game, and this will ensure a good crowd for the first night of the tournament,” said Jim Harris, Ocean View coach and tournament director.

Before this year, the teams had traditionally met twice in the Angelus League in front of large crowds at Cypress College and UC Irvine’s Bren Center. But school administrators were unable to schedule a nonleague game this year when Servite joined the Sunset League and Mater Dei was added to the South Coast League.

“A first-round game against Mater Dei indicates our level of talent and my level of intelligence,” said Scott Hamilton, Servite’s first-year coach. “But we want to play the best, and I don’t think anyone will argue with the fact that Mater Dei is the best.”

Mater Dei returns four starters from a team that finished 34-2. Servite beat Mater Dei, 50-49, in 1990-91 to break a 16-game losing streak against the Monarchs.