High School

CIF girls basketball playoffs: Etiwanda, Ontario Christian set for Open Division final clash

Etiwanda will play in its fourth straight Open Division final on March 1.

Tarek Fattal

Etiwanda’s Grace Knox helped to guide the Eagles to a fourth straight CIF Southern Section Open Division final with a win over Mater Dei Saturday night.
Etiwanda’s Grace Knox helped to guide the Eagles to a fourth straight CIF Southern Section Open Division final with a win over Mater Dei Saturday night. / Tarek Fattal

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA — It’s a rare sight to see in any sport at the high school level, but leave it to the hotbed of Southern California to produce three McDonald’s All-Americans in one game.

Etiwanda’s Grace Knox and Aliyahna Morris, along with Mater Dei’s Addison Deal, will play in April’s prestigious game. But on Saturday night, the three delivered a thriller with a chance to play in a CIF championship on the line.

Etiwanda’s Arynn Finley hit a running bank shot with 10 seconds left to lift the Eagles to a 63-60 victory over Mater Dei in the final game of Open Division pool play which grants Etiwanda a berth to the Southern Section Open Division final on March 1 at the Toyota Arena.

Etiwanda will take on Ontario Christian — 62-52 winners over Sierra Canyon — in its fourth straight Open Division final appearance under coach Stan Delus. The Eagles are 2-1 in its previous three final appearances, including last year’s victory over Sierra Canyon.

Finley led Etiwanda with 17 points. Morris and Shaena Brew each scored 13. Mater Dei’s Nohelani Stores, Amaya Williams, Harmony Golightly, and Deal each had 14 points in the set back.

Despite the losses Saturday, Mater Dei and Sierra Canyon — along with all the girls basketball teams in the Open Division — will await their seeding in the CIF State playoffs on Sunday, March 2.

KALEENA SMITH DELIVERS

Ontario Christian’s Kaleena Smith scored 21 points in its victory over Sierra Canyon. Tatianna Griffin added 19 and Alanna Neale had 12. Jerzy Robinson had 24 points for Sierra Canyon, including 15 of 16 free throws.

Smith is widely known as the No. 1-ranked sophomore in the country. Robinson is the No. 1-ranked junior in the country.

DIVISION 1

Rancho Christian 60, Harvard-Westlake 44: Julia Wilson led Rancho Christian with 29 points. Bell Spencer led HW with 18. Rancho Christian will play in the Division 1 final against Brentwood.

Brentwood 77, Moreno Valley 65: Reena White and Lev Feiman scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, for Brentwood.

GIRLS PLAYOFF SCORES, BRACKETS

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Tarek Fattal, SBLive Sports
TAREK FATTAL

Tarek Fattal has been covering high school sports since 2015 in Southern California and primarily in Los Angeles, covering notable athletes such as Bronny James, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alyssa Thompson. He was with the LA Daily News for eight years, which included being the beat reporter for the UCLA men's basketball team. Tarek can be seen on TV regularly on CBS/KCAL as a sports analyst with Jim Hill.

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