RANCHO CUCAMONGA – The host Etiwanda High Eagles, down by six points late in the third quarter, used an 17-0 run – from late in the third quarter until midway in the final quarter – to seize control of things before knocking off Evan Mobley-led Rancho Christian, 67-61, Wednesday night in a State Southern Open Regional quarterfinal.
The victory sends the Eagles (29-3) into a Saturday night (7) semifinal against host Mater Dei at 6 o’clock.
The hosts scored the first eight points but were down, 45-39, with about a minute to go in the third quarter before starting that 17-0 run that was culminated with an 11-point edge with about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
But, after a push-off call against Camren Pierce apparently on the way to a layup that would have extended Etiwanda’s advantage to 13 points, Dominick Harris – by way of a Mobley pass – hit a 3 and Etiwanda Coach Dave Kleckner was hit with his first technical foul of the season with 3:57 remaining.
“I asked him (the official making the technical call) that if it (Pierce’s foul) was called, why want Mobley (who backed down defender Jahmai Mashack before his pass to Harris) wasn’t called, too?” Kleckner said afterward.
After the tech, Luke Turner hit two free throws for Rancho Christian and – following the ensuing inbound pass – Jaden Byers, set up by a pass from Mobley, knocked in another 3 and the visitors were within 56-53.
Pierce missed on a 3 and Harris (bound for Gonzaga) was fouled by Darryl Jackson and hit one of the two free throws to get Rancho Christian (also the Eagles) to within two points with 3:16 to go.
That’s a nine-point turnaround in a little more than a minute.
Mashack (pictured) stepped out of bounds along the baseline after a pass from Pierce but Mashack picked off a pass intended for Mobley and Jackson – after a pass from Mashack – hit a 3 from the right wing to push Etiwanda’s advantage to five points with 2:11 remaining.
After another Rancho Christian turnover, Mobley blocked UCLA-bound Jaylen Clark’s shot but Mashack snatched the rebound and, moments later, found Pierce with a pass into a 3 from the left corner.
Brantly Stevenson blocked a Turner jump shot and Pierce capped the sequent with a solo transition layup and nine-point edge with a minute to go – capping the 7-0 run that pushed Kleckner’s team into a Saturday night trip to Orange County.
Six Etiwanda players scored from to 19 points, led by Mashack (19 to go with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals), Pierce (15, 11 in the fourth quarter including three 3s), Stevenson (11, including three 3s) and Jackson (10).
Mobley, constantly harassed by the defense of Mashack and assorted teammates, was limited to just four shots from the floor for seven points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots in his final game after a sterling four-year career with Rancho Christian.
His next on-court appearance will be during the April 1 McDonald’s All-American game in Houston.
Byers, a junior who, with Turner, will form the foundation of the Rancho Christian squad for Coach Ray Barefield next season, scored 18 points while Harris added 15.
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