There's no place like home for the Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders, who bounced back after a tough loss on the road last Wednesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 45-43 win over Eastlake on Friday. That result was just more of the same for these two, as Mater Dei Catholic also won the last time the pair played back in February of 2023.
Mater Dei Catholic's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Otilia Sua, who scored 13 points along with eight rebounds. Sua is trending in the right direction, as she's improved her point production for three games straight. Promise Martin was another key contributor, dropping a double-double on 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Eastlake's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Catrice Chan, who scored 13 points along with three steals. Chan hasn't dropped below two steals for three straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Mia Jones, who scored 13 points along with five rebounds.
Mater Dei Catholic pushed their record up to 9-11 with that win, which was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 56.0 points per game. As for Eastlake, they have traveled a rocky road recently, as they've lost three of their last four matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 12-12 record this season.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Mater Dei Catholic will take on Bonita Vista at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Bonita Vista knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with flashy point totals in its past three matches -- so hopefully Mater Dei Catholic likes a good challenge. As for Eastlake, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Olympian at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
