Etiwanda girls basketball team achieves historic three-peat by sweeping trilogy with Archbishop Mitty in Open Division state finals

SACRAMENTO – In the heavyweight trilogy that has showcased two of the best girls basketball programs in California prep history squaring off for supremacy in the Open Division state championship, Etiwanda earned a last-second knockdown of Archbishop Mitty two years ago, followed by an early flurry of offense in the rematch that left the Monarchs reeling on their way to suffering their lone loss last season.

But the Eagles were even more relentless Saturday night, answering every challenge presented by Archbishop Mitty, and only getting stronger the longer the battle extended at Golden 1 Center on their way to a resounding 75-59 victory and the remarkable achievement of a third consecutive Open Division state crown.

Post-game interviews

Etiwanda (28-5) became the only program, regardless of gender, to win three straight Open titles since the division was established in 2013.

Long Beach Poly was the last girls basketball program to win at least three in a row in the state’s highest division, capturing four consecutive Division 1 championships from 2006-09, including the first three victories against Berkeley, the last time the same two schools met in a trio of state finals before Etiwanda and Archbishop Mitty elevated their rivalry.

Mater Dei also won three consecutive titles from 2010-12, but only the latter two championships were in Division 1, following a Division 2 crown to start the streak.

Archbishop Mitty (27-4) produced an inspiring run to reach a fourth straight Open Division state final and the program’s fifth appearance in the championship game in nine years.

The Monarchs regrouped and demonstrated their resilience following the loss of junior forward McKenna Woliczko to a season-ending ACL injury in her right knee Jan. 4 against Ontario Christian, capturing the program’s 33rd CIF-Central Coast Section title and winning a 17th Northern California Regional crown with a 64-60 victory March 11 against previously unbeaten Clovis West (33-1).

Archbishop Mitty was making a record 16th appearance in a state final, a mark only matched by the Mater Dei boys basketball team.

But despite cutting a 12-point, second quarter deficit to a one-point margin with 1:07 remaining in the opening half, the Monarchs became the only girls program in state history, regardless of division, to lose four consecutive years in a state championship game.

Etiwanda led 30-18 with five minutes left in the first half after opening the contest by hitting 13 of 20 field-goal attempts, before sophomore Ze’Ni Patterson scored eight of her team-high 17 points during a two-minute stretch to help Archbishop Mitty avoid a repeat of last year’s 16-point halftime deficit.

Tiera Mccarthy, also a sophomore, helped the Monarchs pull within 32-31, but Arynn Finley responded with her fourth 3-pointer of the half and Chasity Rice added a layup for Etiwanda all in the final 35 seconds to give the Eagles a six-point advantage at the break.

Emma Cook, who had 10 points, six rebounds and four steals for Archbishop Mitty, scored in the first 30 seconds of the third quarter to close the gap to 39-33, but Etiwanda produced 11 of the next 13 points during a three-minute span and the Monarchs were unable to recover.

Twice the Eagles extended their advantage to a 20-point lead late in the third, before freshman Maliya Hunter hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining in the quarter for Archbishop Mitty, which trailed 61-44 entering the fourth.

Etiwanda made 11 of 15 field-goal attempts in the third quarter, contributing to five players scoring in double figures, led by Finley with a game-high 21 points.

Finley, a junior who had two points in the Eagles’ 60-48 victory in last year’s Open Division state final, shot 8 of 9 from the field Saturday and contributed four rebounds, two assists and two blocks for Etiwanda.

Finley joined Cal-bound senior teammate and McDonald’s All-American Aliyahna “Puff” Morris as the only athletes in California prep history to contribute to three Open Division state championships.

Morris had 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds for the Eagles, with LSU signee and fellow McDonald’s All-American Grace Knox contributing 10 points and 10 rebounds, in addition to senior guard Shaena Brew adding 13 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals in a significant turnaround after being limited during last year’s postseason run with a leg injury.

Rice, a sophomore who transferred from Mater Dei to join the Eagles’ program this season, continued her streak of impressive playoff performances with 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals for Etiwanda.

Abigail James, a junior, scored 10 of her 11 points in the second half, as well as recording six rebounds for Archbishop Mitty, which also received six points from McCarthy and five points from Devin Cosgriff, a Bishop O’Dowd transfer.

The Monarchs had 21 offensive rebounds and produced 22 second-chance points, helping Archbishop Mitty remain within striking distance at 63-52 with five minutes left.

But Etiwanda had 46 points in the paint and shot 31 of 52 (59.6 percent) to hand the Monarchs their 10th all-time loss in a state final, including the first setback against Brea-Olinda in the 1994 Division 3 championship. Berkeley is the only other girls basketball program to endure 10 losses in state title games.

The Eagles concluded the season winning 24 of their final 25 contests following a 4-4 start, including three consecutive losses at one stretch.

Etiwanda also rebounded from a 65-63 loss March 1 against Ontario Christian in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final at Toyota Arena in Ontario to win the March 11 rematch by a 67-62 margin on the road in the Southern California Open Division regional final, the Eagles’ fourth consecutive appearance in the regional championship game.