You don't have to tell Mater Dei head coach Gary McKnight how good J.W. North is. He's already aware.
"They've never lost on the court," McKnight said of the Huskies.
As far as he's concerned, Tuesday's Open Division semifinal will be a matchup between two undefeated teams.
There is some truth to that. J.W. North (25-2) has not lost a game on the court this season. Both of their losses have come by forfeit.
They were able to get past Corona Centennial in overtime last Friday and will travel to Santa Ana to face a Mater Dei team that is certain to be ready for them. The overtime scare against Cantwell-Sacred Heart was so 10 days ago for the Monarchs.
Stanley Johnson's 42-point outing in a 77-59 "statement" win over Mayfair last Friday is proof of that.
"We just wanted to come out and show people that we're as good as advertised," Stanley Johnson said following the quarterfinal win over Mayfair.
While some doubted the undefeated Monarchs, they were busy going through what they call the best week of practice they've had all season. While McKnight admitted he didn't have his team's attention in the first round, he certainly had it as they prepared to dismantle the Monsoons.
Still, despite being undefeated and considered by many as the No. 1 team in the nation, the Monarchs (29-0) continue to carry around a Santa Ana-sized chip on their shoulder. It's been there all season.
"A lot of people thought we were going to be in trouble (at the start of the season) and they were 29-0," McKnight said. "I don't know if we could do that again but it's sure nice.
"This group has played so well this year as a unit and I'm so proud of them. It's just putting the pieces together and these kids have really responded."
There were plenty of questions for this team entering the season with the graduation of Elijah Brown and Jordan Strawberry along with the transfer of Jayce Johnson and later Mario Soto.
It's also forced Johnson to run the point as the team's primary ball handler. If you look at wins and losses alone, that transition has been, well, perfect.
And it's Johnson who's taken it personal whenever his team is doubted.
"We just wanted to come out and show people that we're as good as advertised," Johnson said following the win over Mayfair. "We needed another scare. We needed somebody else to make us know we're not good. We're just good enough, still."
The other Open Division semifinal matches Redondo Union (24-4) visiting Chino Hills (25-4) in a meeting between two teams few expected to get this far.
Redondo, the defending Division II state champions, are the No. 6 seed while Chino Hills is the No. 7 seed.
The Huskies were able to upset reigning Division I-AA champion Etiwanda on the road last Friday, 59-48. The Seahawks, meanwhile, also posted an 11-point win over Loyola.
