Kaleena Smith Leads Ontario Christian To Open Division Girls' Basketball State Title

SACRAMENTO — In an era erstwhile nan talent level successful precocious schoolhouse girls’ hoops successful Southern California has seen nan likes of All-Americans JuJu Watkins, Kennedy Smith and Gabriela Jaquez go nationalist figures, nan game’s newest star, inferior defender Kaleena Smith of Ontario Christian, put connected a dazzling show of skills and instincts connected Saturday nighttime successful nan authorities Open Division title game.

Smith scored 24 points, had 5 assists and kept delivering clutch baskets successful a crippled filled pinch emotion and play to thief Ontario Christian travel distant pinch a 56-49 triumph complete Archbishop Mitty astatine Golden 1 Center. It’s nan 5th consecutive play Mitty has been forced to settee for runner-up honors arsenic Southern California powers Sierra Canyon, Etiwanda and now Ontario Christian stepped guardant to time off nan Monarchs 1 triumph short of a authorities title.

“She’s truthful incredibly shifty,” Mitty coach Sue Phillips said of Smith. “She’s really dynamic. She’s 1 of nan astir talented scorers and makes large shots astatine captious moments.”

Skylah Archer, filling successful for injured freshman Chloe Jenkins, contributed a career-high 14 points and Tatianna Griffin had 12 points for an Ontario Christian squad that was upset successful nan Southern Section Open Division last by Sierra Canyon but regrouped to decorativeness nan play astatine 34-2.

Mitty (33-3) hung reliable for 3 quarters, led by Iowa-bound McKenna Waliczko, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds. At 1 point, Waliczko and Smith were exchanging baskets, answering each different arsenic nan crowd became moreover much engaged knowing these were 2 early WNBA players doing battle.

Then nan Knights pulled distant successful nan 4th fourth pinch Smith and Griffin stepping up. Smith made a 3 pinch 5:56 near and Griffin powered her measurement for a layup and a 46-41 lead. Then Archer scored for a 48-41 advantage.

“I decidedly thought it was a hard-fought game.” Smith said. “We had adversity, they had adversity. They went connected runs, we went connected runs. We came done and stayed together.”

Smith said nan 69-62 nonaccomplishment to Sierra Canyon was a wake-up telephone for nan Knights.

“I felt we went into that crippled expecting to win,” she said. “And a triumph is ne'er expected. We changed our mindset.”

Ontario Christian coach Aundre Cummings (left) hoists nan Open Division girls authorities title trophy.

(Greg Stein)