Ontario Christian girls basketball prevails at Sabrina Ionescu Showcase in rematch with Archbishop Mitty, which loses McKenna Woliczko following injured right leg

CONCORD – In the second girls basketball showdown of the season involving top-ranked Archbishop Mitty and No. 2 Ontario Christian, both teams had to deal with adversity.

Ontario Christian’s adversity was limited to the game Saturday. Mitty’s could have an impact for far longer this season.

Ontario Christian (20-1) pulled away in the fourth quarter to record a 61-44 victory as part of the fourth annual Sabrina Ionescu Showcase at Carondelet High.

Post-game interviews

But perhaps even more significant was what happened with 5:30 to play in the second quarter.

That’s when Mitty’s star 6-foot-2 junior, McKenna Woliczko crumpled to the floor clutching her right leg, and could only get off the floor with significant help. Woliczko did not return to the game.

“It’s difficult in that situation to compartmentalize and focus on the task at hand, which is to compete against a really good Ontario Christian team,” Mitty coach Sue Phillips said. “We beat them two weeks ago and knew they were going to come in with fresh legs and renewed sense of purpose and they played like it. We had some great spurts, but obviously missing a huge component of our team, (we were) trying to find our way.”

Phillips did not have any further information regarding the specifics or extent of Woliczko’s injury.

Ontario Christian coach Aundre Cummings admitted that wasn’t the way the Knights wanted to beat Mitty.

“I’ll take the win, but I pray we see them in state. I hope we can get there and see them, full strength,” Cummings said.

The Monarchs (9-1) had just taken their first lead of the game, 19-17 on a Ze’Ni Patterson three-point play when Woliczko – who had scored four points – suffered her injury.

Cummings did not huddle with his team, instead instructing them to take a knee. The standing-room-only crowd went silent when Woliczko went down.

The Knights’ adversity Saturday had to do with star freshman Tatianna Griffin, who scored 14 points, but missed significant stretches of the game after she was charged with her third foul early in the second quarter and her fourth foul with 5:59 to play in the third.

Tatianna Griffin of Ontario Christian, left, and Tiera McCarthy from Archbishop Mitty | Photo courtesy of Sabrina Ionescu Showcase

Griffin never fouled out and scored nine points in the second half.

Ontario Christian struggled at times with Griffin out of the game and the Monarchs did cap a 12-point run to take a 40-38 lead late in the third quarter.

But the Knights’ 2-3 zone defense they employed seemed to give Mitty trouble. Mitty made just one of 14 shots in the fourth quarter, and one of seven free throws.

Ontario Christian’s lead was still just 47-43 before the Knights ended the game on a 14-1 run over the final four minutes.

Sophomore point guard Kaleena Smith was Ontario Christian’s game MVP with 23 points, 16 of which she scored in the first half.

Sabrina Ionescu, left, with Kaleena Smith of Ontario Christian | Photo courtesy of Sabrina Ionescu Showcase

Freshman Sydney Douglas had nine points and 10 rebounds, sophomore Dani Robinson contributed eight points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks, with senior Alanna Neale adding seven points.

Robinson’s increased role in handling the ball was a big reason why Smith felt she had a much better game than the 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting produced in the 59-34 Mitty win Dec. 21 in the Vincent Cannizzaro Division final at the Nike Tournament of Champions at Skyline High in Mesa, Ariz., when the Knights entered the contest unbeaten and ranked No. 1 nationally.

“(Robinson) is a great defensive player, but she can handle the ball,” said Smith, who has helped Ontario Christian win six in a row since its lone setback.

“Having her and Tati (Griffin) handle the ball, takes a lot of focus from me.”

Patterson and freshman Maliya Hunter scored 11 points apiece to lead Mitty. Hunter also had eight rebounds.

“I feel like we played really well, just trying to push through our feelings and emotions,” Patterson said of playing after Woliczko’s injury. “We just have to get back in the lab and get back to practicing.”