Mater Dei Catholic High School girls basketball head coach David Monroe has helped put a very successful face on the Lady Crusaders’ program in his 20 years of service. That success has included one state championship, two regional runner-up trophies, two section championships and three CIF runner-up finishes.
He recently passed 400 career wins to set a school record.
“It makes you feel worthy of all the hard work, all the sleepless nights, making you want to get that pay-off,” he said.
Those sleepless nights have continued this season after fifth-seeded Mater Dei Catholic upset No. 1 Southern California regional seed Pacific Pallisades, 57-55, in Saturday’s semifinals to advance to Tuesday’s regional final at No. 2 El Camino Real.
The Lady Crusaders remained hungry with a 51-38 win at El Camino Real (16-15) to advance to Friday’s Division III state championship game in Sacramento.
The score is not a misprint.
Mater Dei Catholic (21-13) will meet NorCal champion Marin Catholic (25-11), which topped No. 4 seed Justin-Siena, 65-54, in Tuesday’s regional final.
Game time Friday is 4 p.m.
The Lady Crusaders) haven’t stopped winning since falling, 61-46, to second-seeded Victory Christian Academy in this year’s Division I section semifinals on Feb. 26. That was four games ago as fifth-seeded MDC has continued to run the table in the SoCal regionals with wins over No. 12 Bakersfield Liberty (66-40 on March 4), No. 4 Carlsbad (59-52 on March 6) and lastly No. 1 Pallisades and No. 2 El Camino Real.
“The girls are putting it all together now, this is no surprise to me that they could play this way,” Monroe said. “It is just a matter of jelling and trusting each other.
“The key to beating Pallisades on Saturday was being aggressive and the defense applied in the fourth quarter, especially in the last minute of the game where we had multiple stops to maintain the lead.”
Leading scorers has been sophomore Jordyn Worley, averaging 15 points per game, followed by junior Promise Martin, averaging 12 points per game. Worley had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the game against Carlsbad.
Martin is averaging a double-double — 12 points and 12 rebounds per game. She had 19 rebounds in the game against Pallisades.
The Lady Crusaders have company heading to the state capitol this weekend.
Rancho Bernardo (26-7) defeated No. 1 Monache, 35-25, in the Division II regional final on Tuesday to advance to Saturday’s state championship game against Caruthers (25-6). Tip-off is 2 p.m.
RB finished as the No. 8 seed in the section’s Open Division playoffs.
The Lady Crusaders won the Division IV state championship in 2009.
SoCal Final: Junior Promise Martin keyed fifth-seeded Mater Dei Catholic (21-13) to a 51-38 victory at No. 2 seed El Camino Real on Tuesday to land the Lady Crusaders in Friday’s Division III state championship game.
Martin poured in 19 points and had 16 rebounds as MDC reeled off a 20-0 run to snap an early 7-7 deadlock. Sophomore Jordyn Worley tacked on 13 rebounds while senior Melissa Ruiz and sophomore Jarika Chan each had eight points.
Photo Gallery by Phillip Brents
2025 CIF Basketball State Championships Schedule – Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
Friday, March 14
10:00 a.m. Division V Girls – Rosamond (29-7) vs. Woodland Christian (30-6)
12:00 p.m. Division V Boys – Diamond Ranch (23-14) vs. International School of San Francisco (23-12)
2:00 p.m. Division III Boys – San Gabriel Academy (20-13) vs. The King’s Academy (27-4)
4:00 p.m. Division III Girls – Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista (21-13) vs. Marin Catholic (25-11)
6:00 p.m. Division I Girls – Sage Hill (23-11) vs. Carondelet (29-6)
8:00 p.m. Division I Boys – Sierra Canyon (26-7) vs. Lincoln, Stockton (31-4)
Saturday, March 15
10:00 a.m. Division IV Girls – Whitney, Cerritos (27-9) vs. Half Moon Bay (23-7)
12:00 p.m. Division IV Boys – Fresno Christian (30-6) vs. Priory (25-6)
2:00 p.m. Division II Girls – Rancho Bernardo (26-7) vs. Caruthers (25-6)
4:00 p.m. Division II Boys – Chatsworth (26-8) vs. Jesuit (26-9)
6:00 p.m. Open Division Girls – Etiwanda (27-5) vs. Archbishop Mitty (27-3)
8:00 p.m. Open Division Boys – Roosevelt, Eastvale (34-2) vs. Archbishop Riordan (29-1)
SAN DIEGO SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFF LOG
Boys Teams
Open Division
Seeds: 1. Montgomery, 2. Carlsbad, 3. San Marcos, 4. Mission Bay, 5. Torrey Pines, 6. Cathedral Catholic, 7. Santa Fe Christian, 8. Francis Parker
Quarterfinals: Feb. 21
(1) Montgomery 86, (8) Francis Parker 37
Semifinals: Feb. 25
(1) Montgomery 63, (4) Mission Bay 52
Championship: (1) Montgomery 53, (2) Carlsbad 45, Feb. 28 at Frontwave Arena
Division I
Seeds: 1. La Jolla Country Day, 2. St. Augustine, 3. San Diego Cavers, 4. Victory Christian Academy, 5. Mission Hills, 6. Sage Creek, 7. El Camino, 8. Rancho Buena Vista, 9. University City, 10. La Costa Canyon, 11. Vista, 12. Mater Dei Catholic, 13. Del Norte, 14. Scripps Ranch, 15. Lincoln, 16. Hoover
First round: Feb. 18
(5) Mission Hills 52, (12) Mater Dei Catholic 49
Quarterfinals: Feb. 21
(4) Victory Christian Academy 63, (5) Mission Hills 47
Semifinals: Feb. 26
(4) Victory Christian Academy 59, (1) La Jolla Country Day 54
Championship: (2) St. Augustine 59. (4) Victory Christian Academy 42, March 1 at Mater Dei Catholic High School
Division II
Seeds: 1. Olympian, 2. Mira Mesa, 3. Christian, 4. Bonita Vista, 5. Madison, 6. Bishop’s, 7. Eastlake, 8. Poway, 9. La Jolla, 10. Eastlake, 11. Westview, 12. Vincent Memorial, 13. Patrick Henry, 14. Helix, 15. Canyon Crest Academy, 16. Ramona
First round: Feb. 18
(1) Olympian 86, (16) Ramona 63
(4) Bonita Vista 72, (13) Patrick Henry 35
(10) Steele Canyon 75, (7) Eastlake 67
Quarterfinals: Feb. 21
(1) Olympian 89, (8) Poway 44
(5) Madison 63, (4) Bonita Vista 61
Semifinals: Wednesday, Feb. 26
(1) Olympian 64, (5) Madison 59
Championship: (1) Olympian 54, (2) Mira Mesa 46, March 1 at Canyon Crest Academy
Division III
Seeds: 1. Southwest (San Diego), 2. Pt. Loma, 3. Maranatha Christian, 4. Rancho Bernardo, 5. Calexico, 6. Central Union, 7. Coronado, 8. Fallbrook, 9. Valhalla, 10. Imperial, 11. Canyon Hills, 12. Mt. Miguel, 13. Oceanside, 14. Clairemont, 15. High Tech High Chula Vista, 16. Valley Center
First round: Feb. 18
(1) Southwest 75, (16) Valley Center 55
Quarterfinals: Friday, Feb. 21
(1) Southwest 63, (8) Fallbrook 50
Semifinals: Feb. 26
(1) Southwest 59, (4) Rancho Bernardo 56
Championship: (3) Marathana Christian 47, (1) Southwest 44, March 1 at Otay Ranch High School
Division IV
Seeds: 1. Tri-City Christian, 2. Crawford, 3. Brawley, 4. Army-Navy Academy, 5. Escondido Charter, 6. Del Lago Academy, 7. Granite Hills, 8. Foothills Christian, 9. Kearny, 10. Calipatria, 11. Morse, 12. Mar Vista, 13, West Hills, 14. Calvin Christian, 15. Palo Verde Valley, 16. San Diego Jewish Academy
First round: Feb. 18
(5) Escondido Charter 74, (12) Mar Vista 59
Championship: (1) Tri-City Christian 53, (6) Del Lago Academy 49, Feb. 27 at Sage Creek High School
Division V
Seeds: 1. Pacific Ridge, 2. High Tech high Mesa, 3. Chula Vista, 4. Sweetwater, 5. O’Farrell Charter, 6. Preuss UCSD, 7. Escondido, 8. Santana, 9. Bayfront Charter, 10. High Tech High North County, 11. Classical Academy, 12. Holtville
First round: Feb. 18
(8) Santana 80, (9) Bayfront Charter 42
Quarterfinals: Feb. 21
(3) Chula Vista 48, (11) Classical Academy 40
(5) O’Farrell Charter 58, (4) Sweetwater 31
Semifinals: Feb. 25
(3) Chula Vista 68, (7) Escondido 46
Championship: (1) Pacific Ridge 46, (3) Chula Vista 38, Thursday, Feb. 27 at Mater Dei Catholic High School
Division V-AA
Seeds: 1. Cambridge School, 2. Southern California Yeshiva, 3. San Diego Academy, 4. Escondido Adventist Academy, 5. Warner, 6. Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, 7. Liberty Charter, 8. Horizon Prep Academy, 9. Logan Memorial, 10. Monarch School, 11. Cristo Rey, 12. Ocean View Christian Academy
First round: Feb. 18
(5) Warner 39, (12) Ocean View Christian Academy 33
(11) Cristo Rey 41, (6) CVLCC 36
Quarterfinals: Friday, Feb. 21
(3) San Diego Academy 56, (11) Cristo Rey 43
Semifinals: Feb. 25
(2) Southern California Yeshiva 51, (3) San Diego Academy 24
Championship: ((1) Cambridge School 50, (2) Southern California Yeshiva 36, Thursday, Feb. 27 at MiraCosta College
Girls Teams
Open Division
Seeds: 1. Francis Parker, 2. La Jolla Country Day, 3. Mission Hills, 4. Westview, 5. Grossmont, 6. Cathedral Catholic, 7. El Capitan, 8. Rancho Bernardo
Championship: (3) Mission Hills 60, (1) Francis Parker 51, Friday, Feb. 28 at Frontwave Arena
Division I
Seeds: 1. Rancho Buena Vista, 2. Victory Christian Academy, 3. Scripps Ranch, 4. Torrey Pines, 5. Carlsbad, 6. Mater Dei Catholic, 7. San Marcos, 8. Morse, 9. Oceanside, 10. Helix, 11. Fallbrook, 12. Poway, 13. La Costa Canyon, 14. Olympian, 15. Del Norte, 16. Bonita Vista
First round: Feb. 19
(1) Rancho Buena Vista 62, (16) Bonita Vista 28
(6) Mater Dei Catholic 67, (11) Fallbrook 38
(2) Victory Christian Academy 53, (15) Del Norte 28 (Feb. 18
Quarterfinals: Feb. 22
(6) Mater Dei Catholic 47, (3) Scripps Ranch 38
(2) Victory Christian Academy 64, (7) San Marcos 32
Semifinals: Feb. 26
(2) Victory Christian Academy 61, (6) Mater Dei Catholic 46
Championship: (2) Victory Christian Academy 52, (1) Rancho Buena Viata 41, March 1 at Mater Dei Catholic High School
Division II
Seeds: 1. Bishop’s, 2. Imperial, 3. Otay Ranch, 4. Vincent Memorial Catholic, 5. 6. West Hills, 7. St. Joseph Academy, 8. University City, 9. San Diego, 10. Mira Mesa, 11. Granite Hills, 12. Mt. Carmel, 13. Steele Canyon, 14. Vista, 15. Eastlake, 16. Calexico
First round: Feb. 19
(5) Montgomery 74, (12) Mt. Carmel 48
(3) Otay Ranch 63, (14) Vista 23
Quarterfinals: Feb. 22
(3) Otay Ranch 41, (6) West Hills 38
(5) Montgomery 56, (4) Vincent Memorial Catholic 49
Semifinals: Feb. 26
(3) Otay Ranch (25-4) 48, (2) Imperial 45
(1) Bishop’s 63, (5) Montgomery 55
Championship: (3) Otay Ranch 45, (1) Bishop’s 29, March 1 at Canyon Crest Academy
Division III
Seeds: 1. Christian, 2. Escondido Charter, 3. Central Union, 4. La Jolla, 5. San Dieguito Academy, 6. Valley Center, 7. Hoover, 8. Mission Vista, 9. Santa Fe Christian, 10. Classical Academy, 11. High Tech high San Diego, 12. Madison, 13. El Camino, 14. Pt. Loma, 15. Valhalla, 16. Canyon Crest Academy
Semifinals: Feb. 26
(1) Christian 70, (4) La Jolla 42
Championship: (1) Christian 71, (2) Escondido Charter 69, March 1 at Otay Ranch High School
Division IV
Seeds: 1. Patrick Henry, 2. Tri-City Christian, Seeds: 3. Horizon Prep Academy, 4. El Cajon Valley, 5. Canyon Hills, 6. Brawley, 7. Crawford, 8. Escondido Adventist Academy, 9. Escondido, 10. Kearny, 11. Cambridge School, 12. Hilltop, 13. Rock Academy, 14. Chula Vista, 15. Mission Bay, 16. Calipatria
First round: Feb. 18
(5) Canyon Hills 39 (12) Hilltop 37
(14) Chula Vista 44, (3) Horizon Prep 35
Quarterfinals: Feb. 20
(6) Brawley 54, (14) Chula Vista 44
Championship: (7) Crawford 38, (9) Escondido 37, Feb. 27 at Sage Creek High School
Division V
Seeds: 1. Coronado, 2. Santana, 3. O’Farrell Charter, 4. Del Lago Academy, 5. Southwest (San Diego), 6. Coastal Academy, 7. San Pasqual, 8. Mountain Empire, 9. High Tech high North County, 10. Castle Park, 11. Orange Glen, 12. Preuss UCSD/High Tech High Mesa (play-in game)
First round: Feb. 19
(5) Southwest 56, (12) High Tech High Mesa 25
(7) San Pasqual 65, (10) Castle Park 24
Quarterfinals: Feb. 22
(4) Del Lago Academy 45, (5) Southwest 31
Championship: (2) Santana 46, (4) Del Lago Academy 26, Feb. 27 at Mater Dei Catholic High School
Division V-AA
Seeds: 1. Warner, 2. Foothills Christian, 3. San Diego Academy, 4. School for Entrepreneurship & Technology, 5. Ocean View Christian Academy, 6. Liberty Charter, 7. West Shores, 8. Calexico Mission, 9. San Diego Jewish Academy, 10. Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, 11. Bonsall
First round: Feb. 18
(10) CVLCC 50, (7) West Shores 34
Quarterfinals: Feb. 20
(3) San Diego Academy 52, (6) Liberty Charter 20
(2) Foothills Christian 54 (10) CVLCC 11
(4) School for Entrepreneurship & Technology 33, (5) Ocean View Christian Academy 13
Semifinals: Feb. 25
(2) Foothills Christian 28, (3) San Diego Academy 26
Championship: (4) School for Entrepreneurship & Technology 24, (2) Foothills Christian 21, Feb. 27 at MiraCosta College
