Etiwanda girls basketball team ends Incarnate Word Academy’s national high school record 141-game winning streak at Hoophall Classic

Etiwanda knows all about significant winning streaks, boasting one of the longest girls basketball runs in California prep history, which reached 142 consecutive Baseline League victories Friday.

Before returning to league competition, the Eagles made sure the national high school girls basketball record belonging to Incarnate Word Academy of Missouri wouldn’t extend to the same level Monday at the Army National Guard Hoophall Classic presented by Spalding.

Aliyahna “Puff” Morris scored 12 of her 26 points in the first quarter, with the Cal signee earning most valuable player honors for the contest, as Etiwanda produced a 74-65 victory to snap Incarnate Word Academy’s 141-game winning streak at Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.

Aliyahna ” Puff” Morris of Etiwanda | Photo courtesy of Hoophall Classic

Incarnate Word Academy (10-1) endured its first setback since a 46-44 loss Feb. 8, 2020 against Missouri rival Rock Bridge, a run that surpassed 1,800 days and eclipsed the previous national 5-on-5 girls basketball record of 138 consecutive victories achieved by Central Plains High in Kansas from 2016-21.

Nevaeh Caffey, an Indiana commit, had 32 points and seven rebounds for the Red Knights, including a pair of free throws with 3:42 remaining to cut the deficit to 63-60.

But LSU signee Grace Knox responded with a layup and 3-pointer, followed by a basket from sophomore Aliyah Phillips, as the Eagles (16-4) built their biggest lead, grabbing a 10-point advantage with 1:21 left.

Caffey helped Incarnate Word Academy make one last push with five unanswered points, but Morris – who sank three free throws with 4:33 remaining after being fouled on a 3-point attempt – punctuated Etiwanda’s 12th straight win by hitting four free throws in the final 45 seconds to account for the final margin.

Morris added five rebounds and four assists, Phillips had 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots, with Knox contributing 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Eagles, who held a one-point lead at halftime and increased the advantage to 53-50 entering the fourth quarter.

Etiwanda girls basketball | Photo courtesy of Hoophall Classic

Incarnate Word Academy led 45-44 with 2:43 left in the third quarter, but Etiwanda scored nine of the next 11 points to seize momentum, before Ava Albanese connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Red Knights.

Arynn Finley produced nine points, five assists and four rebounds, with Shaena Brew adding seven points and four assists for Etiwanda, which benefited from 20 second-chance points, in addition to accumulating 23 points off 15 Red Knights’ turnovers.

Nevaeh Lucious contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, with Peyton Hill scoring 11 points for Incarnate Word Academy, which struggled from behind the 3-point arc, making only one of 11 attempts, in comparison to Etiwanda hitting six 3-point field goals, led by four from Morris.

The Eagles earned their fourth victory in six days against Incarnate Word Academy and return home to compete in three more games during a four-day stretch, including league contests against Los Osos and St. Lucy’s, before squaring off Saturday against Moreno Valley (16-5), which has won six in a row.