CONCORD – When Aliyahna “Puff” Morris drove into the lane against host Carondelet on Friday evening, the short Etiwanda guard often disappeared among the taller players crowding the paint.
But almost every time, the five-star Cal signee would emerge from the traffic, and often complete the foray with a tough layup or finish for two hard-earned points. They were the kind of plays that the Golden Bears and coach Charmin Smith hope she can replicate at the collegiate level later this year.
Morris poured in a game-high 38 points in Etiwanda’s 79-56 victory over the Cougars in the Sabrina Ionescu SI20 showcase.
“I’ve seen a lot of Cal gear just walking around here,” Morris said. “I’m really excited to get to work with coach Charmin and everything. It feels like a great community to be a part of.”
After going down 11-0 to start the game, Carondelet fought back against the reigning back-to-back CIF Open Division state champions.
The Concord program trailed just 15-12 after the first quarter and kept the score respectable throughout. The Cougars got 12 points from Niylah Christopher, 13 points from Layla Dixon and nine from Sophia Ross.
Carondelet flashed the form that could make it dangerous in NorCal play, and got to test itself against one of the state’s best programs.
“We’re not going to see anyone like that in our section, and that’s no fault to anyone in our section,” Carondelet coach Kelly Sopak said. “They are legit. They can defend, they can shoot. It was a challenge, it was tough to keep it the way it was, and I love they kept it on us for 32 minutes.”
Etiwanda, after watching the Archbishop Mitty program it has defeated in the past two Open state finals play in an earlier game Friday, showed it is still a force to be reckoned with despite graduating current USC forward Kennedy Smith.
Morris needed to have a big night after stellar post Grace Knox left the game midway through the third quarter with an injury, but she wasn’t the only Etiwanda player to shine in the East Bay.
Chastity Rice scored all seven of her points in the fourth quarter, and Shaena Brew had 10 points.
No. 1 Archbishop Mitty 79, St. Joseph’s-Santa Maria 54
The Monarchs, playing their first game since defeating Ontario Christian in the Nike Tournament of Champions final on Dec. 21, showed no signs of rust. The Bay Area and nation’s top-ranked team routed its opponent in a game that was 46-18 at halftime.
McKenna Woliczko had 21 points, five rebounds, two blocks and a couple of steals despite only playing about half of the game.
Freshman post Maliya Hunter put in 12 points, and Tee McCarthy had eight points and played relentless defense. Niyati Bangalore sent the bench into a frenzy when she hit back-to-back three-pointers in the third quarter, and barely missed on a third.
Mitty improved to 9-0 heading into a rematch with Ontario Christian on Saturday at the Ionescu showcase as the state’s top two teams face each other for what could be the second of three matchups this season.
Piedmont 61, Clayton Valley Charter 52 (overtime)
Freshmen led the way for Piedmont in its overtime victory over a spirited Clayton Valley Charter squad. Andrea Martin scored 23 points and was a force on the offensive boards, and first-year guard Jenelle Solis scored a modest five points, but set up Martin and other teammates with a high volume of pinpoint passes.
Sophomore Taylor White scored 12 and senior Briana Webb had 13 points for Piedmont as the Highlanders improved to 10-1. Sophomore guard Deoujenea Clay put in a team-high 21 points for Clayton Valley Charter.
San Ramon Valley 53, Oakland Tech 48
San Ramon Valley earned a statement victory on Friday night in Danville, taking down the best team in Oakland behind 20 points by Alyssa Rudd, who scored 18 of those in the second half and also added 11 rebounds.
Teammate Kaitlyn Mills had 10 points and eight assists, and Maya Knapp and Hania Bowes combined for 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolves improved to 10-2.
Meanwhile, Oakland Tech’s twin towers duo of Jhai Johnson and Terri’A Russell were spectacular once again.
Russell scored 17 points, Johnson put in 15, and both had 15 rebounds apiece. On a team seeking more scoring from its guards, the Bulldogs got 12 points from junior Selam Richardson. Tech fell to 6-6.
De La Salle 58, Chaminade-St. Louis 48
Oklahoma-bound Alec Blair led the way with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as De La Salle advanced to Saturday’s championship game at the Hoophall West tournament in Gilbert, Arizona, with a victory over St. Louis powerhouse Chaminade on Friday.
The Spartans (14-0) will play two-time defending Open Division state champion Harvard-Westlake of Studio City (17-1) for the title.
Harvard-Westlake, which edged Salesian in the state final last season, reached the Hoophall West final with a 66-63 victory over Gonzaga-Washington, D.C., on Friday.
In De La Salle’s semifinal win, David Balogun added 14 points and nine rebounds and Ibrahim Monawar finished with 14 points.
