Mater Dei boys basketball advances in Trinity League tournament

Monarchs roll past Orange Lutheran in first round

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Mater Dei's boys basketball team bounced back from two tough losses last week with a 92-65 win over Orange Lutheran in the first round of the Trinity League tournament. Three Mater Dei players scored over 20 points, led by junior guard Richie Ramirez with 28 points. The Monarchs quickly built a big lead and never looked back.

Why it matters

The Trinity League tournament is an important event for Mater Dei, as the top three teams earn automatic bids to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. After going 2-3 in league play during the regular season, Mater Dei needs a strong tournament showing to secure its playoff spot and continue its long streak of postseason appearances under coach Gary McKnight.

The details

Mater Dei jumped out to a 23-6 lead by the end of the first quarter and stretched it to 43-18 at halftime. The Monarchs had three players score over 20 points: Ramirez (28), senior guard Luke Barnett (24), and junior forward Zain Majeed (22). Orange Lutheran played better in the third quarter, outscoring Mater Dei 28-26, but the Monarchs' lead was too large to overcome.

  • Mater Dei played the game on Monday, February 2, 2026.
  • The Trinity League tournament semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and the championship game is on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Mater Dei

A high school boys basketball team that has qualified for the playoffs every season since Gary McKnight became the school's coach in 1982.

Richie Ramirez

A junior guard for Mater Dei who scored a game-high 28 points in the win over Orange Lutheran.

Luke Barnett

A senior guard for Mater Dei who signed with Kansas and scored 24 points in the game.

Zain Majeed

A junior forward for Mater Dei who scored 22 points in the victory.

Orange Lutheran

The high school boys basketball team that lost to Mater Dei in the first round of the Trinity League tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's in the back of my mind obviously. The main thing we're focused on is winning the tournament and then everything will work itself out.”

— Luke Barnett, senior guard

What’s next

The Trinity League tournament semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, with Mater Dei facing St. John Bosco and JSerra playing Santa Margarita. The championship game will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The takeaway

Mater Dei's dominant win over Orange Lutheran in the Trinity League tournament first round shows the Monarchs' determination to secure a playoff spot after two tough losses last week. With three players scoring over 20 points, Mater Dei demonstrated its offensive firepower and will be a tough out in the remainder of the tournament.