Ontario Christian girls basketball celebrated a historic victory, edging out Etiwanda 65-63 in the Southern Section Open Division championship. The game featured a thrilling back-and-forth, with Ontario Christian overcoming an early 13-4 deficit to lead at halftime. Sophomore Kaleena Smith, despite a lower than usual scoring game, proved crucial in assisting and scoring pivotal free throws in the closing moments. Etiwanda, aiming for their fifth consecutive title, mounted a strong comeback but couldn't secure the win. Coach Aundre Cummings emphasized the importance of savoring this first-ever title for their program.
To be the best you have to beat the best, and Ontario Christian girls basketball did - barely. In a game that more than lived up to the hype, the Knights held off a furious Etiwanda comeback to capture the Southern Section Open Division championship, 65-63, thanks to three clutch free throws by sophomor Kaleena Smith.
Smith finished with only 13 points, well below her season average of 23, but she had eight assists and scored crucial points at the end for the top-seeded Knights (29-1), who led by 11 points entering the fourth quarter but learned a valuable lesson: never underestimate a championship-caliber opponent.
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