NORTHRIDGE – With a little more than three minutes to go in regulation, it appeared as if the third meeting this season between the Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon boys’ basketball teams was, indeed, going to the charm for the former.
Instead, quickly unraveled into the nightmare.
Etiwanda, which dropped a couple of decisions to the top-ranked Trailblazers earlier in the seasons, held an 11-point advantage with a little less than three minutes remaining in front of boisterous, SRO-only crowd Tuesday night at Cal State Northridge during the CIF State Southern Open Regional final.
The but two-time state-champions – going full-frantic both, both defensively and offensively – scored the final 13 points, the last two of those via a buzzer-beating, 16-footer by McDonald’s All-American Ziaire Williams.
Coach Andre Chevalier’s Trailblazers (30-4) are scheduled – the key word, with the Coronavirus issues that are impacting every walk of life right now, being scheduled – to play either Oakland Bishop O’Dowd or Sacramento Sheldon in a Saturday night game in Sacramento.
They’ve beaten Sheldon in each of the past two games. Tentatively, Sheldon and O’Dowd are set to play in the Northern Regional final in a site to be determined Thursday.
Etiwanda (30-4), which trailed by five points at intermission, should its stout half-court defense and the jump shooting of seniors Tyree Campbell and Brantly Stevenson, who finished with 19 and 15 points, respectively.
Camren Pierce – following a technical foul called on Williams for his reaction to a block (he, and most watching, thought it was a charge) while defending Jaylen Clark – hit one of two free throws to put the Eagles up, 61-50, with 3:03 to go in regulation.
Sophomore Shy Odom, fouled on a drive, hit both free throws to get the Trailblazers to within nine (61-52) with 2:43 to go.
And then the proverbial wheels came off for Etiwanda.
The Eagles had done a reasonable job handling the various full-court defensive looks the Trailblazers had thrown their way most of the way.
But then Chevalier’s defense went full-bore in its approach, pressuring inbound passers and potential Etiwanda targets, forcing five consecutive turnovers in the Eagles’ backcourt – the last of which was turned into a layup by Kentucky-bound B.J. Boston with 2:01 to go and getting the Trailblazers within three points.
After the UCLA-bound Clark couldn’t convert on a drive, Boston (who finished with 27 points) got an outlet in transition and was able to launch a 3 before the Eagles’ Jahmai Mashack could get close enough to bother his rhythm.
Bingo – scored tied at 61 with 1:28 to go.
Senior Darryl Jackson missed on a shot for Etiwanda but Stevenson chased the ball down, securing the ball and being fouled with 53 seconds to go (the Eagles weren’t in the bonus yet).
They moved the ball around the perimeter of Sierra Canyon before Stevenson missed a 3 from the right wing and the Trailblazers rebounded and called time out with 17.3 seconds remaining.
When play resumed, the ball was inbounded to Williams and his teammates cleared out of his way as he began maneuvering on the dribble against Mashack.
After being chased by Mashack to the right wing – in front of the Sierra Canyon – Williams reversed his dribble to ward the top of the key and was able to split Mashack and Clark, coming from a “help” position, and launch his jumper from near-straightaway.
The ball swished and set off pandemonium as Williams (pictured) was smothered by teammates and stunned Eagles, staggered their way back to the bench.
It was the third consecutive regional-final loss for Etiwanda, falling to Sierra Canyon in the Open Division in 2018 and to Chino Hills in Division I a year ago.
Leave a Reply