It wasn't pretty, but it didn't have to be. No. 6
Etiwanda knocked off No. 1
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 55-54 on Tuesday night in the CIF Southern California Open Division regional final.
Junior
Kennedy Smith was steady all night, finishing with 21 points. But it was the play of sophomore point guard
Aliyahna "Puff" Morris that set the tone for the Eagles. She scored 19, including seven in the fourth quarter as Puff slayed the dragon.
With just over 1:20 left,
Juju Watkins hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 52 before Smith gave Etiwanda the lead back with a bucket in the paint. After a series of fouls by Sierra Canyon to extend the game and put Etiwanda on the free throw line, Morris missed the front end of the one-and-one.
Watkins raced down court and tied the game with a jumper from the elbow. But Morris, as she did all night, pushed the pace and was fouled on the baseline. She made the first, giving the Eagles a 55-54 lead, before missing the second.
When Watkins' desperation heave from three-quarter court fell short, the Etiwanda faithful breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated.
Etiwanda's Alyahna "Puff" Morris led the No. 6 Eagles to a 55-54 upset win over No. 1 Sierra Canyon on Tuesday in the CIF Southern California Open Division regional finals. Morris had 19 points, including the go-ahead free throw with less than a second remaining. (Photo: Justin Fine)
While unbeaten and No. 1 Sierra Canyon going down might come off as a huge upset, don't tell that to Stan Delus' Etiwanda Eagles.
Tuesday's win was the second in four finals meetings for Etiwanda (30-3) in the past two seasons. The Eagles, however, flipped the script from 2022 where they beat Sierra Canyon in the Southern Section Open Division finals only to lose in the state Open Division regional finals. This year, Etiwanda lost 70-57 on Feb. 25 to the Trailblazers only to bounce back Tuesday, figuring out how to limit top-ranked Watkins.
Etiwanda employed a smothering 2-3 zone on Tuesday, the same tactic it used Saturday to down La Jolla Country Day 74-42 in the regional semifinals. The win was redemption for a 70-65 loss to the Torreys on Jan. 28.
Watkins finished with 16 points on only three field goals.
Izela Arenas added 17 while sophomore
Leia Edwards contributed 12.
