Etiwanda rallies to defeat Canyon, reach D1 title game
RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Etiwanda’s relentless defense tends to wear down opponents, but Friday it took a little longer against stubborn Anaheim Canyon.
Top-seeded Etiwanda went on an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to rally past Canyon 67-57 in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinal game.
Etiwanda (25-4) advances to the final, where the Eagles will take on No. 2 seed Mater Dei (266) Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim.
The season for Canyon (25-6) will resume in the CIF State playoffs.
“One of the things we talk about is our energy in the fourth quarter,” Etiwanda co-coach Daniel Ryan said. “We wear teams down for three quarters and in the fourth quarter we get after them.”
Outside the first three minutes, Canyon was ahead or tied throughout the first three quarters. The Comanches’ lead reached nine points, including at halftime (32-23).
The Eagles whittled the deficit to four points (4541) entering the fourth and Canyon still led 49-46 when the Eagles went on their run. It started with a 3-pointer by Carrington Pierce that tied the score, a three-point play by Amare Campbell to give the Eagles the lead for good, a dunk by Channing Cade, and Jimmy Baker hit a 3-pointer as Etiwanda led 57-49.
The Comanches didn’t get any closer than six points the rest of the game.
“They ramped up the defensive pressure,” Canyon coach Nate Harrison said. “They had some key offensive rebounds, and they had some guys make some key 3s off of those offensive rebounds. We knew it was coming. That’s kind of what they do.”
Baker led Etiwanda with 20 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Pierce scored 15 and Campbell had 12. Cade had 10 points, but his best work was done on defense.
He didn’t start the game, but after Canyon’s 6-foot-5 sophomore Benjamin got off to a good start, Etiwanda brought in Cade off the bench.
While Benjamin led all scorers with 30 points, Ryan liked what Cade did so much that Cade started the second half. Cade had at least three blocks and three steals.