Mater Dei Is 63-57 Winner Over Fremont

Brad Williams, a standout lineman on the football team, made the biggest fumble recovery of his career Thursday night.

The starting center on the Santa Ana Mater Dei High boys’ basketball team made a diving grab of a loose ball in the Fremont key with 25 seconds left in overtime to help the Monarchs preserve a 63-57 victory in a State Southern Regional Division I semifinal at the Bren Center.

Mater Dei (34-1) trailed most of the game until David Castleton’s three-point play with 1:05 remaining in overtime put the Monarchs ahead, 58-57.

Fremont wanted to set up for the last shot, but a back-handed pass from guard Danny Walker to Matthew Hollyfield was deflected inside the key. That sent the 6-foot-5, 262-pound Williams sprawling to the floor, earning a jump ball with the possession arrow in favor of Mater Dei.

Castleton made one of two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 59-57 lead, then stripped Fremont guard Dony Wilcher of the ball with 3.3 seconds left.