Etiwanda, Los Osos rooting for each other in state finals

RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Getting to the state finals in basketball is quite an accomplishment by itself, considering only 12 boys and 12 girls teams make it to Sacramento every year.

Both the Etiwanda and Los Osos girls teams are vying for their first state championships, with Los Osos making its second trip to Sacramento (first since 2018) and Etiwanda is going for its first time.

It’s especially remarkable since both programs are from the same city, Rancho Cucamonga, and the same league, the Baseline.

“After we both won (Tuesday), I texted Stan (Delus, the Etiwanda coach), ‘Race you to Sacramento,’” Los Osos coach Dawnesha Buckner said. “I think we’re less than a mile from each other. It says a lot about the Baseline League.”

Los Osos (28-5, seeded No. 1 in the South) plays Colfax (34-2, No. 3 in the North) for the Division III title today at 2 p.m. at Golden 1

Center. Etiwanda (31-3, No. 3 in the South) plays Archbishop Mitty (28-2, No. 2 in the North) for the Open Division title Saturday at 6 p.m.

Both coaches have been very supportive of each other.

It’s rare, but not unique to have two Inland teams from the same league playing in state basketball finals in the same season. In 2015 for the Baseline League boys, Chino Hills made the Division I finals, while Damien won the Division III crown.

“I would say that Buckner has done a good job of putting herself in a good situation, playing a quality schedule that helped her girls learn and grow to play at a high level,” Delus said. “She did a good job of planning it out.”

The coaches get along well, so there’s no rivalry there. And you can’t really call it a rivalry on the court, either.

Etiwanda has won 129 straight Baseline League games, and while Los Osos was much improved over last season, the Eagles defeated Los Osos twice this season in league play by an average of 35.5 points. That is an improvement for Los Osos, which lost last season by an average of 50.5 points to Etiwanda.

“People tell me, ‘you have to beat Etiwanda,’” Buckner said. “I think it’s a privilege to play Etiwanda, but we have to stay in our lane.”

Delus said he takes some pride in the idea that Etiwanda helped prepare Los Osos to reach the state finals.

“Once you play a team like us in league, everybody else is going to be easier,” Delus said. “Buckner and I have discussed that. I tell her to take the experience of playing us and help your girls grow.”

Buckner agreed, saying whether the Grizzlies are rebounding, playing offense or defense, all other opponents after Etiwanda are not going to be nearly as daunting.

And if you add in a third girls team, Division I Corona Santiago (which both Los Osos and Etiwanda played this season), that’s three Inland girls teams playing for state titles this weekend.

“I know a lot of those kids. I have some of those (Los Osos and Santiago) kids in my club program as well,” Delus said. “It’s already a daunting task to get up there. Whatever level they are, it’s an accomplishment. I’m pretty excited for them.”

Mitty has far more state finals experience than Etiwanda, having gone 6-7 in state title games, setting a state record for girls finals appearances.

“They are a program that has been consistent for a very long time,” Delus said of Mitty. “But some of those players (on this year’s team) didn’t play last year (in the state finals).”

While the teams haven’t played, Delus said he has faced off against Mitty coach Sue Phillips in travel ball and he knows Mitty is a team with a lot of size, with each of its starters at least 6-feet.

Buckner sees her team’s defense being critical as well against Colfax, which is 2-1 in previous state finals.

“They’re a very hardworking team. We have to work hard, play tight defense and not get into foul trouble,” she said.

PHOTO BY ANJALI SHARIF-PAUL