Etiwanda has won the past three Open Division state basketball championships in California, and the Eagles added to their legacy in a neighboring state Saturday with another title at the annual Section 7 Girls Weekend event at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.
Arynn Finley scored a game-high 28 points, including 18 in the first half, as Etiwanda produced the game’s first eight points and never looked back to secure a 71-60 victory against Lone Peak High from Utah to win the 16-team AIA Bracket championship.
Etiwanda produced a 58-51 victory against California rival Ontario Christian to win a Section 7 title last year, which followed a 78-54 triumph over Mater Dei to prevail in the final at the 2023 event under coach Stan Delus.
Etiwanda built a 28-24 halftime lead against Lone Peak, which has captured the past four Utah Class 6A state titles under coach Nancy Warner.
Kennedy Woolston led Lone Peak with 22 points, including 15 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to rally against Etiwanda, which prevailed 85-68 against Desert Vista in Friday’s opener, before knocking off another Arizona program in Gilbert High with a 71-37 victory in the quarterfinals.
Etiwanda held off Oak Park High from California with a 65-57 semifinal win Saturday to return to the championship game.
Chasity Rice added 16 points and Aliyah Phillips contributed seven points in the final for Etiwanda, which received 12 points – 10 in the second half – from Chino High transfer Tess Oldenburg.
Etiwanda made five 3-point field goals, including four by Finley,
Woolston hit four of the eight 3-pointers for Lone Peak.
Peyton Warner added eight points, Jordan Moeaki and Tatiana Harness added seven points apiece and Zuri Nordstrom contributed six points for Lone Peak, which opened Friday with a 49-39 victory against Fairmont Prep from California, followed by a 75-66 triumph over Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas.
Lone Peak produced a 66-32 semifinal win Saturday against Perry High from Arizona to reach the final.
Oak Park rebounded to earn a 73-58 victory in the third-place game against Perry.