Mater Dei girls basketball team survives significant test against Fairmont Prep in CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs; Etiwanda, Ontario Christian, Sierra Canyon also victorious

Mater Dei didn’t need a reminder of the challenges presented by competing in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division girls basketball playoffs prior to their showdown against Etiwanda, but just in case the third-seeded Monarchs felt like they hadn’t been a battle-tested group in clutch situations in recent weeks, No. 7 Fairmont Prep was more than willing to apply the pressure in Wednesday night’s pool-play matchup.

Mater Dei was tied entering the fourth quarter and held a one-point lead with four minutes remaining, before scoring 12 of the next 13 points and holding the visiting Huskies without a field goal for more than three minutes down the stretch to secure a 69-56 victory at the Meruelo Athletic Center.

Post-game interviews

Addie Deal, a McDonald’s All-American and Iowa commit, had 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds, with UC Irvine-bound senior forward Nohe’Alani Stores adding 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Monarchs (28-2), who extended their winning streak to 17 in a row.

Mater Dei earned a second victory this season against Fairmont Prep (20-10) – along with a 65-46 triumph Dec. 10 – ahead of Saturday’s long-awaited battle at second-seeded Etiwanda (24-4) that will determine which team advances to the Open Division final March 1 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Etiwanda, which has won 20 consecutive games, ended Mater Dei’s season last year with a 76-58 victory in the regional semifinals of the Open Division state playoffs.

The Monarchs have lost three straight matchups against Etiwanda, with Mater Dei’s last win coming in an Open Division pool-play game in the 2021 playoffs.

Fairmont Prep, making its first appearance in the Open Division playoffs since 2017, rebounded from a 96-57 pool-play loss Saturday at Etiwanda to grab a one-point lead following the first quarter Wednesday.

Adyra Rajan and Sarah Aldeguer, both juniors, helped the Huskies remain within striking distance throughout the contest, as Mater Dei held a 30-26 halftime advantage.

Rajan scored 10 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter, as Fairmont Prep pulled even at 43-43 entering the fourth.

Rajan, who also contributed nine rebounds, added to her state-leading 3-point field goal total, hitting three 3-pointers to give her 147 for the season and 313 during her career.

Rajan ranks No. 3 for a single season in Southern Section history for 3-point field goals and is tied for No. 8 all-time in the state for a one-year total. Rajan’s career 3-pointers are already in the top 35 in California prep history prior to her senior season.

Rajan produced a layup to cut the deficit to 53-52 with four minutes remaining, but sophomore Harmony Golightly hit a pair of timely 3-pointers during Mater Dei’s run and finished with three in the final quarter to score 11 points off the bench for the Monarchs.

After Mater Dei missed its first five 3-point field goal attempts and made only one of nine shots from behind the arc during the first three quarters, Deal and Golightly were able to rise to the occasion in the most meaningful moments, combining for four 3-pointers in the fourth for the Monarchs.

Amaya Williams, a Grand Canyon commit, added a pair of free throws during the run for Mater Dei, with Deal hitting all four of her free-throw attempts in the last minute to help the Monarchs score 16 of the game’s final 20 points, even more impressive considering Southern Utah-bound senior Devyn Kiernan was sidelined early in the contest after being struck in the nose and held out for precautionary reasons the rest of the way.

Williams had 12 points for Mater Dei, with Aldeguer scoring 16 points and Lesina Afu contributing seven points for Fairmont Prep, which plays Saturday at No. 6 Windward in its final Open Division pool-play game before the state playoffs begin.

Windward has been outscored by a 140-72 margin in its first two Open division pool-play contests.

Etiwanda 78, Windward 37: The second-seeded Eagles (24-4) scored the first 16 points and built a 41-15 halftime advantage in their Open Division pool-play victory against the No. 6 Wildcats (18-9).

Etiwanda girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Etiwanda

Aliyahna “Puff” Morris, a Cal commit, scored a game-high 23 points and fellow McDonald’s All-American and LSU signee Grace Knox added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Etiwanda, which won its 20th game in a row.

Arynn Finley contributed 14 points and six rebounds for the Eagles, who won their fourth consecutive showdown against Windward.

Samari Bankhead had 10 points for the Wildcats, who trailed by a 61-26 margin after three quarters.

Ontario Christian 72, Bishop Montgomery 52: Top-ranked Ontario Christian (27-1) overcame a six-point deficit following the first quarter to grab a 28-25 halftime advantage and eventually created some breathing room with a 25-point third-quarter performance in the Open Division pool-play victory against No. 5 Bishop Montgomery (21-5).

Ontario Christian girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Ontario Christian

Alanna Neale, a senior, had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, with Sydney Douglas adding 16 points and five rebounds, in addition to fellow freshman Tatianna Griffin contributing 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for Ontario Christian.

Kaleena Smith, a sophomore, produced 14 points, 13 assists, five steals and four rebounds for Ontario Christian, which will square off Saturday against No. 4 Sierra Canyon (27-1), with the winner advancing to the Open Division final March 1 at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Jordin Blackmon, a Rice commit, led Bishop Montgomery with 19 points and five rebounds, and Armanyie Reed added 16 points and four assists.

Bishop Montgomery plays host Saturday to No. 8 Sage Hill (19-10).

Sierra Canyon 69, Sage Hill 33: The No. 4 Trailblazers (27-1) won their 22nd consecutive game, relying on 29 points, nine rebounds and four steals from junior Jerzy Robinson in the Open Division pool-play victory against No. 8 Sage Hill (19-10).

Sierra Canyon girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Sierra Canyon

Ashley Redd scored 10 points for Sierra Canyon, which led 26-14 at halftime.

Payton Montgomery contributed eight points and eight rebounds, with Leia Edwards producing five points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Trailblazers, who play Saturday at top-seeded Ontario Christian (27-1).