Etiwanda ladies basketball team routs Santiago in Open Division playoff opener

RANCHO CUCAMONGA-- The seeds say that Etiwanda women basketball isn't favored to duplicate as CIF Southern Area Open Department champs.

The second-seeded Eagles looked every bit the part of a group prepared to repeat, opening swimming pool play with a resounding 82-43 victory over No. 7 Santiago on Saturday night. It was the first match in between the groups this season.

Etiwanda (27-2) next hosts sixth-seeded Windward on Wednesday. Santiago (21-8) is at No. 3 seed Mater Dei on Wednesday.

" We wish to play the video game the proper way," Etiwanda coach Stan Delus said. "If you play the video game the right way, looking at angles, reading the defense, responding to what they do and making decisions for one another, you're going to succeed because the game is had fun with all five individuals."

All five gamers on the flooring were involved in the Etiwanda offense, but Kennedy Smith was the most dominant, leading the way for Etiwanda with 33 points, making two 3-pointers, and going 9 of 11 from the complimentary toss line, consisting of 4 o -5 in the very first quarter.

" I've remained in the gym considering that last summertime, I've been working attempting to show my versatility. I can get to the basket, I can post up, I can shoot mid-range. I feel like I'm broadening my game, preparing for college," Smith said.

" She (Smith) is such a dynamic, three-level player, she can do everything," Delus said.

Aliyahna "Puff" Morris added 18 points, Sa' lah Hemingway (14 points, six rebounds) and Majesty Cade (12 points) were likewise in double figures.

Etiwanda never trailed in the video game, however also didn't blow the game open instantly.

The Eagles led just 17-15 after Santiago's Jayda Cobbs made 2 totally free throws early in the 2nd quarter.

From there, Etiwanda went on a 28-7 run spanning the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third quarter. It didn't get any better for the Sharks, as Etiwanda led by as many as 43 points and the last couple of minutes were had fun with a running clock.

" It got away from us in the third quarter," Santiago coach Michael Mitchell said. "We've had games where we've been down 17, 20 points and come back and won.

Smith remained in the game up until after the game went to a running clock, however Delus stated that was by design considering that she didn't play in Etiwanda's last routine season video game.

" We wanted her to get her legs underneath her," Delus stated. "We wish to put ourselves in a position to remain fresh, however we haven't played a lot since of our league."

Cobbs, a sophomore, led the Sharks with 10 points while Queen Ruffin and Zawadi Ogot added 8 points apiece. Destiny Agubata, who bet Etiwanda last season and was coming off an ACL injury suffered last summertime, came off the bench and scored four points for Santiago.

" We'll get something out of it," Mitchell stated of Saturday's video game. "We'll forget it in the morning. Be ready Monday to get to work and play Mater Dei Wednesday."