Mater Dei girls basketball team responds with inspiring effort following Kaeli Wynn injury in victory against Rancho Christian; Ontario Christian rolls again

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Mater Dei continued its unbeaten run in January with an 82-43 victory Saturday night in the Public vs. Private girls basketball showcase at Los Osos High.

But the Monarchs might have endured the biggest loss of their season in the process, with junior standout Kaeli Wynn suffering a right leg injury on a non-contact play less than a minute into the second half that caused her to fall to the floor in significant pain and required the 6-foot-1 forward to be carried from the court to the Mater Dei bench.

Post-game interviews

Following a lengthy delay, Wynn was also carried out the back door of the Los Osos gymnasium to the adjacent parking lot, where she was immediately transported to Children’s Hospital of Orange County for further evaluation by an orthopedist.

Kaeli Wynn of Mater Dei, with Jody Wynn, left | Erik Boal photo

Mater Dei (23-2), which led 39-27 with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter when Wynn suffered the injury, responded with one of the most inspiring performances of its season in her absence by scoring 15 unanswered points during a five-minute stretch.

The Monarchs had five players score in double figures, including 10 first-half points from Wynn, but it was the efforts of sophomores Stella Hoss and Harmony Golightly, along with seniors Addie Deal, Nohe’Alani Stores, Devyn Kiernan and Amaya Williams that contributed to Mater Dei outscoring Rancho Christian (18-6) by a 43-16 margin following the departure of their teammate.

Stores, a UC Irvine commit, contributed 14 points, the Iowa-bound Deal added 13 points, with Golightly and Hoss both scoring 11 points apiece for Mater Dei, which extended a 15-point halftime advantage into a 60-31 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Kiernan, a Southern Utah commit, and the Grand Canyon-bound Williams both had eight points for the Monarchs, who won their 12th consecutive game, including all eight in January.

Julia Wilson scored 13 points, Ebony Taylor-Smith had 10 points and freshman Naomi Kemle contributed nine points for Rancho Christian, which trailed by a 21-11 margin following the first quarter.

The Eagles have four regular-season contests remaining, including Feb. 1 at Etiwanda and Feb. 3 against Moreno Valley in a game that is expected to decide the Ivy League title.

Mater Dei, which hasn’t lost since Dec. 20 against Archbishop Mitty in the Vincent Cannizzaro Division at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, has three Trinity League contests left against Santa Margarita, JSerra and Orange Lutheran.

The Monarchs are hoping Wynn’s injury isn’t as serious as the setback endured Jan. 4 by Archbishop Mitty junior forward McKenna Woliczko, who suffered a torn ACL in her right knee on a non-contact play in a loss to Ontario Christian at the Sabrina Ionescu Showcase at Carondelet High, resulting in her being sidelined for the rest of the season.

Ontario Christian 85, La Jolla Country Day 35: The top-ranked Knights (24-1) built a 25-5 advantage following the first quarter Saturday in the Public vs. Private Showcase and never relinquished control at Los Osos High.

Kaleena Smith, a sophomore, had 37 points and six assists, with freshman Sydney Douglas adding 21 points, eight rebounds and five blocks for Ontario Christian, which held a 51-15 lead at halftime.

Tatianna Griffin, a freshman, contributed 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds, with Dani Robinson producing six points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Knights, who extended their winning streak to 10 in a row.

Mei-Ling Perry, a junior, and freshman Aoki Perry both scored seven points apiece for La Jolla Country Day (12-8), which received six points each from Safiyah Sugapong and Kennedy Walton.