Live score updates: Etiwanda beats national No. 1 Mitty handily for California girls state title
SACRAMENTO — The rematch was a mismatch. At least for most of Etiwanda's 60-48 CIF Open Division Championship victory over national No. 1 Mitty Saturday at Golden 1 Center.
The Eagles raced to a 48-24 lead by middle of the third and were never really threatened while improve to 32-3, while Mitty dropped to 30-1. A 12-0 run in the fourth quarter made it closer.
Allyahna Morris had 20 points and five assists, USC-bound Kennedy Smith 15 points and Mykelle Richards contributed 11 for the Eagles, who defeated the Monarchs 69-67 on a buzzer-beater in last year's Open Division finals.
Mckenna Woliczko had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Monarchs, who got 12 points apiece from Belle Bramer and Abigail James.
The 2024 California (CIF) boys and girls high school basketball state championships have arrived. All 12 state championship games will be played at Golden 1 Center, the home of the Sacramento Kings.
The CIF State championship games continue Saturday at 6 p.m. with the Open Division girls basketball matchup between Etiwanda and Mitty.
OPEN DIVISION GIRLS: ETIWANDA 50, MITTY 48
You can follow live updates of Etiwanda and Mitty on SBLive, including real-time score updates, game highlights and much more. You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.
(Refresh for updates)
FOURTH QUARTER
Etiwanda 54, Mitty 39 (3:54): Pretty amazing little 12-0 run cut the lead to 50-39, but Smith and Knox respond with buckets to put the Eagles back in command.
Etiwanda 50, Mitty 33 (6:42): Four quick points by Woliczko cuts it to 17. Press giving Etiwanda a little trouble.
THIRD QUARTER
Etiwanda 50, Mitty 29 (end of 3): Morgan Cheli with layup, her first two points of the game.
Etiwanda 42, Mitty 22 (3:35): Officially getting ugly. Etiwanda with three girls with double figures, Smith, Richards and Morris. Knox has six points and nine rebounds. Bramer up to 10 for Mitty, McDonald's AA Morgan Cheli is scoreless for Mitty, still not 100 percent with hamstring. Still, Etiwanda has a lot to do with it.
SECOND QUARTER
Etiwanda 32, Mitty 16 (halftime): Wow. The biggest, most anticipated girls basketball of the season — perhaps in the nation — is simply one-sided. The Monarchs, the No. 1 team in the nation, which averages better than 70 points per game, is completely out of sorts. Could chalk up to nerves, but it's really Etiwanda's quickness, length, ability to block out which is causing havoc. Smith is spectacular. Has 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Morris has eight. Knox with four points but eight rebounds. Mitty is 6-for-29 from the field (20.7 percent), 0-for-5 on 3s. Etiwanda is 14 of 28 from floor. Rebounds are about even, Mitty leads 19-18. Would love to be in Mitty's locker room to hear the adjustments. Sue Phillips is being inducted in the Woman's Basketball Hall of Fame. She should go to the head of the class if Mitty comes back or even makes a game of it. I'd imagine the last time Mitty was down 16 at halftime might be decades ago.
Etiwanda 27, Mitty 13 (3:50): Nightmare start continues for Mitty after a 3-pointer for Shaena Brew. Missed layups, fouls, including a second by Woliczko. Phillips keeps perhaps the nation's best sophomores in. Down 14, she has no choice. Etiwanda just doing what they do. Quick, precise and tremendous rebounding, defense.
Etiwanda 22, Mitty 12 (5:56): a 6-0 run on buckets from Smith, Richards and Morris puts Etiwanda in early control. Second timeout for Sue Phillips and Mitty.
FIRST QUARTER
Etiwanda 16, Mitty 10 (end of 1Q): Etiwanda 7-for-14 from field, Mitty 4-of-17. Mitty getting lot of shots, but all contested. Grace Knox has five rebounds for Etiwanda, Woliczko has four points, three rebounds, two assists. Very active. Mitty PG and McDonald's AA has missed two shots, scoreless but three rebounds. Etiwanda's McDonald's All-American Kennedy Smith with four points, three rebounds.
Etiwanda 14, Mitty 6: The No. 1 team in the country is struggling. A turnover turns into an easy layup by Mykelle Richards. Timeout Mitty.
Etiwanda 10, Mitty 6 (3:25): Mitty a cool 2-for-10, while Etiwanda 4-for-10 including a truly fortunate 3-pointer from Puff Morris, whose pass for Knox inside instead went straight into the hoop. Both teams with seven rebounds.
HOW TO WATCH CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Can't make it to a game but still want to watch your favorite team play live? You can watch the CIF State high school basketball championship games live on the NFHS Network:
To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app:
Download iPhone App | Download Android App
SBLive Sports is an official digital content partner of the CIF and a member of the Sports Illustrated Media Network.
