Consecutive wins over Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon and Torrey Pines catapults Etiwanda to a much elusive regional championship.
After five failed previous attempts, the boys basketball team at Etiwanda finally got over the hump Saturday night by winning its first Southern California regional championship with a 68-65 Open Division win at previously unbeaten Torrey Pines. With the victory, Etiwanda also earned the season-ending top spot in the MaxPreps California Top 25 rankings.
According to the
Press-Enterprise,
Marcus Green had 22 points and
Jahmai Mashack added 21 as Etiwanda (14-2) took a commanding 17-point halftime lead before holding on in the title game. It came just two days after upsetting three-time defending regional Open champion Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 82-76, and five days after defeating the state's winningest program, Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 71-62.
Nick Herrmann had a game-high 24 points in the championship game for Torrey Pines, which entered the game 30-0.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Eagles, who had lost some previously painful regional finals, particularly the last two seasons, squandering big second-half leads to Sierra Canyon and Chino Hills.
In the final rankings, Etiwanda earned the No. 1 spot, edging No. 2 Torrey Pines which had earlier in the year defeated Southern Section Open champion Centennial (Corona). The Huskies finished No. 3 based upon their win over No. 4 Sierra Canyon in the SS Open championship game.
Due to the pandemic and four of the five Northern sections not even attempting playoffs, there were no state championships for a second straight year. See all
12 Southern California regional brackets and champions crowned.
Marcus Green, Etiwanda
File photo by Louis Lopez
Record: 14-2
| Fact: Beat teams with combined records of 73-4 in the regional.
3. Centennial (Corona)Record: 21-2 |
Fact: Opted out of the Southern California regional for players to focus on college recruiting.
6. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)Record: 27-4 |
Fact: Lost its final two games, including 71-62 to Etiwanda in first-round regional.
7
. Damien (La Verne)Record: 29-4 |
Fact: After 102-71 first-round win over St. Joseph, lost Open regional semifinal to Torrey Pines, 63-42.
8. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City)Record: 17-6 | Fact: Third seed in 1-AA regional, beat San Joaquin Memorial, 78-70, before ousted by St. John Bosco, 63-56.
9. Campolindo (Moraga)Record: 15-0 |
Fact: Played all but few games without top player Aidan Mahaney, a top 2022 recruit.
10. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)Record: 16-1 |
Fact: Pepperdine signee Mike Mitchell led the charge in CCS final, with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
12. Ribet Academy (Los Angeles)Record: 13-5 |
Fact: Won two 1-AA regional games, including 89-56 over top-seed Westchester before dropping 78-68 final to St. John Bosco.
14. St. Joseph (Santa Maria)Record: 27-3 |
Fact: Won Central Section Open championship; Five players averaged at least 12 points per game.
20. Chaminade (West Hills)Record: 21-4 |
Fact: Eliminated in Southern California 1-A Regional by Capistrano Valley, 76-64.
22. San MarcosRecord: 25-2 |
Fact: Won 25 straight before SDS loss to Cathedral Catholic (58-48) and regional defeat to Ribet Academy (68-60).
23. Jesuit (Carmichael)Record: 16-0 |
Fact: Averaged 72.0 points per game, led by sophomore Andrej Stojakovic's 17.4 per outing.
24. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro)Record: 13-3 |
Fact: Dropped 2-AA regional semifinal to Santa Margarita, 52-44.
25. Clovis West (Fresno)Record: 20-5 | Fact: Lost in 1-A regional semifinal to eventual champion Santa Fe Christian, 72-70.
