Etiwanda, Ontario Christian and Centennial girls prevail at Public vs. Private showcase – Press Enterprise

TEMECULA — Etiwanda girls basketball coach Stan Delus sees every possession as an opportunity to improve or learn.

1 of 13

Etiwanda’s Tess Oldenburg, (#10), looks to score a basket against Rancho Christian’s Addison Archer, (#4), during the Public vs. Private girls basketball showcase, Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Photo by John Valenzuela, Contributing Photographer)

Expand

Perhaps that is whey Delus quickly burned a timeout despite his Eagles grabbing a 7-0 lead a minute into Saturday’s game.

“You’re not running the plays that were called,” Delus shouted to his players. “Let’s run the plays that are called and execute.”

There were plenty more moments of learning and improvement for the Eagles. Arynn Finley, Chasity Rice and Aliyah Phillips combined to score 68 points as Etiwanda defeated host Rancho Christian 104-73 in the featured game of Saturday’s Public vs. Private showcase event.

Finley scored 17 of her team-high 27 points during the second half, although she did foul out in the waning minutes. Rice and Phillips finished with 21 and 20 points, respectively, while Sydney Roberson came off the bench to score 16 points for Etiwanda (23-2 overall).

The 104 points marked a season high and helped Etiwanda overcome a spectacular shooting display by Ebony Taylor-Smith (33 points on 11 3-pointers).

“I want us to be a better passing team. You can’t take away one of the fundamentals of the game and expect to win games like this one,” Delus said. “I don’t want us to be in situations during the playoffs where we can’t move the ball around because of a lack of focus.

“But overall, I thought we played hard and executed well when it was required most. But there are many things we still need to tighten up.”

Etiwanda, the three-time defending Open Division state champion, doubled up Rancho Christian (18-5) in the first quarter. Rice and Phillips each scored seven points in that period, while Finley and Roberson each added six points to stake Etiwanda to a 32-16 lead.

The advantage was 59-42 at halftime, as Taylor-Smith kept Rancho Christian close by sinking five 3-pointers during the second quarter.

Tess Oldenburg missed several games because of illness and is still having her minutes limited. She scored all eight of her points in the opening half. Phillips missed some time after her father passed away, but she delivered a strong performance Saturday evening.

“It was good seeing both of them finding their spots and working well together,” Delus said about his two post players.

Taylor-Smith showed her range by knocking down a handful of shots from the volleyball line. The 33 points was two off her career high.

Addison Archer, Alyson Boyd and Amya Guzman each added 13 points for Rancho Christian.

ONTARIO CHRISTIAN CRUISES PAST MISSION HILLS

It took more time than expected for Ontario Christian to gain some separation in its showcase game against San Marcos Mission Hills.

Mission Hills knocked down 18 shots from behind the 3-point arc Saturday and only trailed the Knights by four points after one quarter. Ontario Christian, the No. 2 team in most national rankings, eventually picked up the pace and rolled to a 110-70 victory.

It marked the seventh time the Knights have reached triple digits this season. The 110 points was three shy of the team’s season best.

Kaleena Smith drained seven 3-pointers and scored a showcase-best 36 points to lead the way for the Knights (25-1). Tatianna Griffin finished with 27 points, and Chloe Jenkins added 16 points and 13 rebounds. Dani Robinson and Skylah Archer each scored 13 points.

Bay Cordova scored 10 of her 31 points in the first period for Mission Hills (13-8), which was content to keep firing up shots from distance.

Ontario Christian scored 34 points in the second and third periods and outscored the Grizzlies 68-39 during that two-quarter stretch.

Cordova matched Smith with seven 3-pointers. Izzy Medina made four from behind the arc and finished with 12 points for Mission Hills.

CENTENNIAL PULLS AWAY FROM PARKER

Centennial played shorthanded in the final game of the showcase, as 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Sydney Douglas remains sidelined with a finger injury suffered earlier in the week. X-rays revealed a compound fracture to the pinky finger of her non-shooting (left) hand.

“She’s going to see a specialist,” Huskies coach Matt Tumambing said. “We’ll see whether or not she’s going to need to have surgery.”

Centennial (14-3) overcame a slow start and an early deficit and posted a 56-45 victory over San Diego Parker.

Armanyie Reed scored a team-high 20 points and added nine rebounds, while Cydnee Bryant tallied 16 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks.

It took 3 minutes and 36 seconds until the first point of the game was scored, as the teams combined to go 0 for 13 from the field with seven turnovers in the opening stages of the game. Parker (13-7) held a 19-12 advantage with 6 minutes remaining in the second period.

Centennial pieced together an 11-2 run over the next 3 1/2 minutes and took a 23-21 lead when Keleesa Howard knocked down a 3-pointer. The Huskies never trailed again and held Parker to five points across a 12-minute stretch between the second and fourth quarters.

Jordan Brown made four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 22 points for Parker.

CHINO FALLS TO MATER DEI CATHOLIC

Chino had several impressive stretches of play Saturday afternoon, but the Cowboys had trouble with the takeoff and the landing.

Chula Vista Mater Dei Catholic opened and closed the game with 15-1 runs and pulled out a 56-43 victory in a turnover-filled contest.

Chino turned the ball over 35 times in the game, seven of those coming in the first 4 minutes as the Cowboys fell into that early hole.

The Cowboys (16-5) chipped at the deficit, first with a 15-2 run and later with a 9-2 run to take a 27-26 lead at halftime.

Lyric green scored 15 of her game-high 21 points in the opening half to lead the comeback effort by the Cowboys.

Chino was clinging to a 42-41 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game, but the Cowboys did not make another shot from the field the rest of the way.

Promise Martin scored seven of her 17 points in the final period to fuel that final run by Mater Dei Catholic (17-1).

Reach Out

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss your specific needs. Our team is ready and eager to provide you with tailored solutions that align with your firm’s goals and enhance your digital marketing efforts. We look forward to helping you grow your law practice online.

Our Services:

Blog Post Writing

We do well-researched, timely, and engaging blog posts that resonate with your clientele, positioning you as a thought leader in your domain. Content Writing: Beyond blogs, we delve into comprehensive content pieces like eBooks, whitepapers, and case studies, tailored to showcase your expertise.

Website Content Writing

First impressions matter. Our content ensures your website reflects the professionalism, dedication, and expertise you bring to the table.

Social Media Management

In today’s interconnected world, your online presence extends to social platforms. We help you navigate this terrain, ensuring your voice is consistently represented and heard.

WordPress Website Maintenance

Your digital office should be as polished and functional as your physical one. We ensure your WordPress site remains updated, secure, and user-friendly.

For more information, ad placements in our attorney blog network, article requests, social media management, or listings on our top 10 attorney sites, reach out to us at seoattorneyservices@gmail.com.

Warm regards,