Etiwanda girls basketball team relies on strong third quarter to overcome 3-point shooting of Adyra Rajan, Fairmont Prep

ANAHEIM – Adyra Rajan and the Fairmont Prep girls basketball team showcased again Thursday the fearless approach and effective 3-point shooting that has allowed the Huskies to compete against every elite program in Southern California during the past two months.

Aliyahna “Puff” Morris and her Etiwanda teammates demonstrated once more that they are capable of executing at a level that few lineups in the state can match, in addition to having the ambition to conquer the biggest challenges they can find all across the country.

Rajan scored a game-high 31 points, highlighted by six 3-pointers to help the junior standout add to her state lead, but the Cal-bound Morris responded with 19 of her team-high 29 points in the second half to help Etiwanda extend a five-point advantage at the break and secure a 90-67 nonleague victory.

Post-game interviews

Not only did the Eagles (14-4) win their 10th in a row, playing on the second of three consecutive days as part of a more significant stretch of seven contests in an 11-day span, but they also achieved a season-high scoring output to continue to build momentum toward one of the most meaningful opportunities in program history in Massachusetts.

Etiwanda, which squares off Friday against Baseline League opponent Upland (11-10), is scheduled to compete at 9 a.m. EST Monday at the Army National Guard Hoophall Classic presented by Spalding at Blake Arena in Springfield.

The Eagles will take on Incarnate Word Academy of Missouri (10-0), looking to halt the national high school girls basketball record 141-game winning streak achieved by the Red Knights, who produced a 68-31 victory Thursday against Mater Dei from Illinois.

Etiwanda didn’t want to get caught looking ahead against Fairmont Prep (15-6), which is the only program in the CIF Southern Section this season to play against Open Division contenders Ontario Christian, Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon, Bishop Montgomery, Sage Hill and the Eagles.

Fairmont Prep girls basketball | Photo courtesy of Fairmont Prep

Rajan had 20 points, including four 3-pointers, in the first half and the Huskies remained within striking distance at 36-31 entering the third quarter.

But Etiwanda scored 10 unanswered points in the first two minutes of the second half and never looked back, stretching the lead to 68-45 following three quarters.

Rajan produced her sixth game of the season with at least 30 points and surpassed 100 3-point field goals for the second year in a row for Fairmont Prep.

Rajan remains atop California with 104 3-pointers in 21 games – following a career-high 12 3-point field goals in Tuesday’s victory against Catalina Island Avalon – after hitting 113 from beyond the arc during her sophomore season. She already surpassed 1,000 career points Nov. 21 against Santa Margarita.

The Huskies celebrated another milestone Thursday as senior guard Maria Mejia scored eight points to also eclipse the 1,000-point barrier for her career.

Mejia made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to reach the mark and added a three-point play with 4:40 remaining to give her 1,003 points overall.

Sarah Aldeguer contributed 12 of her 15 points in the second half for Fairmont Prep, with fellow junior Lesina Afu adding 13 points for the Huskies, who rebounded from a difficult third quarter to play Etiwanda even in the fourth.

Grace Knox, an LSU-bound forward, overcame a slow start after reaggravating a previously injured ankle in the first two minutes of the contest, finishing with 16 points for the Eagles.

Aliyah Phillips, a sophomore forward, had 14 of her 21 points in the opening half for Etiwanda, which led 15-14 following the first quarter.

The Eagles looks to extend their Baseline League winning streak to 142 in a row Friday against Upland, before trying to prevent Incarnate Word Academy from increasing its overall run to 142 straight in Monday’s showdown.