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    • New-look Mater Dei is driven by the same lofty goals – Orange County Register
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    New-look Mater Dei is driven by the same lofty goals – Orange County Register

    Harry Posted on

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    A resurgent standout player. A new indoor presence. A new coach. Same high expectations.

    Mater Dei’s girls basketball program has gone through many changes in the offseason but remains an Orange County powerhouse heading into the 2024-25 season.

    When the Monarchs begin their campaign in Hawaii in about three weeks, they will look different but certainly formidable.

    Addison Deal, Iowa’s committed quarterback who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, will return.

    Jody Wynn, who was an assistant last winter, will coach. He will replace longtime coach Kevin Kiernan, who remains athletic director.

    There are questions about post-play following the graduation of OC player of the year Jenessa Cotton (Duke), but Mater Dei looks to compete with defending state champion Etiwanda and rising Ontario Christian in the CIF-SS Open Division.

    “We are definitely viewed as the underdogs (against these schools), but I have full faith in our team,” Deal said. “We definitely have a good chance of winning the whole thing this year. We’re really excited to get started and play and show everyone what we can do.”

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    Mater Dei girls basketball players Amaya Williams, Addie Deal, Kaeli Wynn and Devyn Kiernan, from left, at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. (Photo: Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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    The team’s dynamic will include All-County forward Kaeli Wynn playing for her mother as head coach.

    “It’s very spicy,” the junior said with a smile that made it seem like she was playing for her mother, a former women’s college coach at Washington and Long Beach State. “Fun. New. They have good days. He has bad days. “It’s different for me.”

    “He’s been really good for our team,” Kaeli Wynn added. “He is the best person to prepare us all for college.”

    Jody Wynn said he will try to build on the legacy of Kiernan, who is the state’s all-time leader in victories. Mater Dei reached the semifinals of the Open Division last season and finished 25-8.

    “We all took (the coaching change) well,” said senior Devyn Kiernan, one of Kevin Kiernan’s daughters.

    In addition to the deal, the team also offers college commitments in Amaya Williams (Grand Canyon) and Kiernan (Southern Utah). All three seniors are versatile guards.

    Sophomore Harmony Golightly and Sonora transfer Amiah Lewis are other guards to keep an eye on for a team that can excel in transition offense.

    The questions will be in the article, but there are options. There’s Nohe’alani Stores, a 6-foot-4 senior from Milpitas in Northern California, and Stella Hoss, a 6-foot-10 sophomore.

    “It’s going to be a big change,” Williams said of playing without Cotton. Nessa played a big role in our offense, our defense, everything. “He was an important factor in our team and we will miss him very much.”

    “But we have some new players this year and I think they will be good for the team,” he added.

    SHORT SHOTS

    The Villa Park/Portola Kickoff Classic begins November 18th with JSerra and San Clemente among others. …

    Villa Park’s upgrade brings back four starters and could make five young starters. The Spartans also have a strong freshman forward in Lauren Wolfe. …

    The Troy Classic runs December 2-7 and will include Mater Dei, Fairmont Prep and Ontario Christian, among others. …

    Esperanza will host a show to honor the late teen actress Maya Enomoto on December 14th. Mater Dei will play Sage Hill to highlight a six-game lineup. …

    Mater Dei will host a new event – Kiernan Klassic – on January 4th. The Denning Play4Kay event will be on January 11. …

    Canyon has several transfers, including sisters Legacy and Cori Benjamin from Ontario Christian. They are the daughters of former NBA player Corey Benjamin. Comanche coach Sara Brown said Zulymar Velazquez, a transfer from Northwood, is serving as the starting point guard. …

    Royals coach Leslie Aragon said the Rosary will host a performance on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 20.

    OK PRE-SEASON TOP 10

    1. Mater Dei: The Monarchs bring back several strong guards but will have a new look in the role. Transfer Nohe’alani Stores is a candidate to watch in the painted area, but is expected to apply for a tight end in the CIF Southern Division.

    2. Sage Hill: The Lightning will need to make some early adjustments following the recent departures of siblings Mei-Ling and Aoki Perry. Lightning coach Kerwin Walters said Princeton provided valuable depth in the seniors and freshmen but left for La Jolla Country Day.

    3. Fairmont Preparation: The Huskies return sharpshooter Adyra Rajan and 6-foot-5 post Sarah Aldeguer (both juniors) to a mix that also includes Orangewood Academy transfer Maria Mejia.

    4.San Clemente: The Tritons are on the rise with the addition of some key returning players and transfers Quinsey Bryan (Crean Lutheran) and Andrea Rico (Capistrano Valley Christian). Bryan will observe the residence permit period. The team has good size and balance.

    5.JSerra: Watch out for Young Lions. They returned the entire starting unit from their CIF-SS Division 3A championship team and added two transfers who were All-County last season. Highly rated Kayla Rice hails from Dana Hills and recruits Vivian Grenald from Orangewood Academy. Rice will observe the residence permit period.

    6. Buena Park: The Coyotes received All-County players Bella Harmon and Alana White from St. Louis. Even though he went to St. Joseph, he still looks solid. Senior guards Gloria Barrera and Mya Barnes return as experienced scorers. Point guard Hannah Fuentes is back from a knee injury, but her minutes will be monitored.

    7. Portola: The Bulldogs look well-balanced with perimeter shooters in Nina Saiki and Kara Niho to compliment the interior presence of Amelia Booth and Bianca Morrell. Saiki and Niho made a total of 148 three-pointers last season. Maddy Nguyen, a transfer from Crean Lutheran, will strengthen the defense after observing the waiting period.

    8. Esperanza: The Aztecs lost All-County point guard Madi Lam to Santa Margarita, but were able to maintain their cohesive play under coach Jimmy Valverde. They are expected to start twins Miyatake and Muller along with athletic forward Ellie Frazier.

    9. Orange Lutheran: Retooling, the Lancers face an early question with guard Kelly Garrity. The team may not be at full strength at the start of the season as the senior player has a knee injury. Junior post Emalynn Vong is a key returning player and will team with developing sophomores Lexi Joko and Jocelyn Thompson and three strong freshmen.

    10. Eldorado: The Golden Hawks have several talented guards with the return of Bianca Carter and Delaney Shiring and the addition of Orangewood Academy transfer Kennedy Wood. Sofia Shine is a must watch. The Crestview League looks tough, but El Dorado is on the rise.

    Also taken into account: Canyon; Crean Lutheran; Simile; San Juan Hills; Sonora; Villa Park

    TOP 10 PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Gloria Barrera, Buena Park: The 6-foot-2 senior guard knows how to score. Last season, he averaged a team-high 19.9 points and added 8.1 rebounds.

    Addison Agreement, Mater Dei: Iowa’s determined guard is back after missing most of his junior season with an ankle injury. The 6-foot-10 Deal is The Register’s 2023 player of the year.

    Vivian Grenald, JSerra: The 6-foot-4 transfer to Orangewood Academy will be fascinating to watch. She led the Spartans in scoring (13.9) and rebounds (9.0) as a freshman, but must adjust to a team that returns five starters and added Kayla Rice from Dana Hills.

    Micaela Hanning, Crean Lutheran: The transfer from Calvary Chapel is an explosive point guard who can shoot from the perimeter and drive to the basket. The 1.80-meter-tall senior player also adds energy to the defense.

    Amalia Holguin, Sage Hill: The 6-foot-10 junior point guard continues the Mambas’ legacy at Sage Hill following the graduation of four graduates of Kobe Bryant’s youth team. We expect Holguin’s scoring average of 12.4 last season to increase significantly.

    Maria Mejia, Fairmont Prep: Huskies coach Josh Lozano said the senior transfer from Orangewood Academy will play point guard. Mejia, who is 1.80 meters tall, could be an excellent choice with his passing ability and height. He left Seattle last month.

    Adyra Rajan, Fairmont Prep: Rajan, a 1.80-tall junior guard, is one of the most dangerous shooters in the county. Last season, he averaged 19.9 points and was the nation’s leader with 113 three-pointers.

    Rosie Santos, JSerra: The 1.80-meter-tall point guard plays bigger than himself, and this shows in his versatile game. A talented shooter, the sophomore averaged 13.1 points and 5.1 assists with nearly 6 rebounds last season.

    Anna Shreeve, San Juan Hills: The 6-foot-2 senior forward is committed to Utah Valley. Arguably the nation’s top leaping player, he averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and an eye-popping 4.5 steals last season. Shreeve is effective defensively, especially in the full-court press.

    Kaeli Wynn, Mater Dei: The 1.80-tall young forward made significant progress last season, averaging 14.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. He is a strong perimeter shooter but is also skilled at the rim. Wynn also has strong leadership skills.

    Harry
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