The stage is set for the third meeting between No. 1
Ontario Christian (Ontario) and No. 7
Etiwanda — this time with a berth in the California Open Division finals on the line.
The top-ranked Knights needed overtime to beat No. 10
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 69-57 in one Southern California Open Division regional semifinal. The Eagles, the two-time reigning Open Division state champion, dispatched No. 8
Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 67-57 in the other SoCal semifinal.
The final meeting of the trilogy is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Ontario Christian and Etiwanda met March 1 in the Southern Section Open Division championship with freshman
Tati Griffin coming up big with 29 points to lead the Knights to their first section crown 65-63. The other meeting was a 74-66 Ontario Christian victory before Thanksgiving.
The Knights outscored Sierra Canyon 14-2 in the overtime period as Griffin and Nebraska commit
Alanna Neale played key roles and sophomore
Kaleena Smith capped the victory with free throws down the stretch. She finished with a game-high 29 with 10 assists as Griffin had 19 points and 13 rebounds while Neale added 18.
Jerzy Robinson had 27 for Sierra Canyon in the loss.
Kaleena Smith and No. 1 Ontario Christian needed overtime on Saturday to beat No. 10 Sierra Canyon 69-57. The Knights advance to a rematch with No. 7 Etiwanda in the Southern California Open Division regional final after the Eagles beat No. 8 Mater Dei. Ontario Christian beat Etiwanda 65-63 on March 1 for the Southern Section Open title. (FILE PHOTO: Kevin Ballton)
led the Eagles with 32 points while
Addison Deal dropped 27 for the Monarchs.
Etiwanda is playing for its third straight trip to the Open Division finals — as well as an unprecedented third straight title in California's highest classification. The Knights, who have been No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 since Jan. 7, look to make their first appearance in a state final.
In Northern California, the regional final also is a sequel as No. 8
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) takes on No. 19
Clovis West (Fresno). The two met last year in the NorCal regional title game with the Monarchs advancing.
Sue Phillips' Mitty crew is looking for a fourth straight trip to the finals, but their first title. The Monarchs have lost to Etiwanda in each of the past two seasons and to Juju Watkins and Sierra Canyon in 2021.
On Saturday, Mitty handled a physical
McClatchy (Sacramento) team 71-48 as
Devin Cosgriff had 24. Clovis West beat
San Ramon Valley (Danville) 69-62 as Alexis Swillis led the way with 21 points.
