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Etiwanda girls basketball team holds off Ontario Christian in CIF State Open Division regional title game – San Bernardino Sun

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ONTARIO — Two times, 10 days apart, the defending national champion Etiwanda girls basketball team held a late lead with a chance to knock off this year’s No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Ontario Christian.

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Ontario Christian’s Alanna Neale passes during their CIF State Open Division girls basketball regional championship game in Ontario CA on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Etiwanda won 67-62. (James Quigg, Contributing Photographer)

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The first time, Kaleena Smith got to the free throw line and Ontario Christian pulled out the victory in the CIF Southern Section championship game.

Tuesday night, Etiwanda’s defense held strong.

Leading by three points, the Eagles forced Smith into a traveling violation with 2.3 seconds left and Etiwanda went on to a 67-62 victory in the CIF State Open Division regional final at a sold out Knights Center.

Etiwanda (27-5), the South region’s No. 2 seed, advances to the state final where for the third straight year the Eagles will face San Jose Archbishop Mitty (27-3) on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Etiwanda defeated Mitty by two points two years ago and by 12 points last season.

“They showed me their heart today,” Etiwanda coach Stan Delus said. “This one (regional title) was similar to the one two years ago because we weren’t supposed to be here (in the state finals). We were the underdog. Last year, it was us. The year before, it had a similar quality. But we had (three) 6-2 kids two years ago. These were all 5-6, 5-5 guards. That’s what makes this one special.”

Aliyahna “Puff” Morris led Etiwanda with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Arynn Finley scored 11 of her 16 points in the second half, and Chasity Rice scored 11 points for the Eagles.

Ontario Christian (30-2) was led by Smith, who had 22 points and five assists, and Tati Griffin, who had 16 points and eight rebounds.

“It’s hard to beat a team three times regardless of whether you’re playing at home or away,” Ontario Christian coach Aundre Cummings said. “That team (Etiwanda) is experienced and they knew they had to play team defense today and they did it… I’m excited for them because they earned it.”

Ontario Christian defeated Etiwanda in each of the first two meetings between the teams this season, 74-66 on Nov. 23, and 65-63 on March 1.

Etiwanda led almost the entire way Tuesday. The Eagles’ largest lead was 37-28 when Shaena Brew made a 3-pointer 2 seconds before halftime.

Ontario Christian came out in a zone defense in the first half and the Eagles made them pay, making 8-of-9 shots from 3-point range. Six players made at least one 3-pointer in the first half for Etiwanda, including three by Morris.

“We played as a team. We didn’t go rogue,” Delus said. “We played solid as a unit. We are a tough guard in a zone. If you zone us, it doesn’t matter. We can shoot.”

The Knights went back to a man-to-man defense in the second half, but the Eagles still made 5 of 8 from behind the arc after halftime.

Yet Ontario Christian rallied and the Knights took their first lead of the game at 57-56 on a Smith layup with 4:27 to play and led again moments later 59-58.

That’s when the Rice and Finley made back-to-back 3-pointers to give Etiwanda a 64-59 lead with 1:21 to play.



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