CIF SS Open Playoffs: Opening match-ups, Part II
Two of the better half-court defensive teams anywhere hook up Friday night in a CIF Southern Section Open Division “pool-play” playoff opener in Moreno Valley. No. 4 seed Rancho Verde plays host to No. 5 Etiwanda at 7…
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Continue ReadingTwo of the better half-court defensive teams anywhere hook up Friday night in a CIF Southern Section Open Division “pool-play” playoff opener in Moreno Valley.
No. 4 seed Rancho Verde plays host to No. 5 Etiwanda at 7 o’clock.
The other game in “Pool A”, No. 1 Rancho Christian vs. No. 8 Bishop Montgomery, will be played Saturday night at Chaparral High in Temecula.
The Rancho Verde-Etiwanda contest is a rematch of the Inland-Empire Tournament final played at Rancho Cucamonga on Nov. 17, with Etiwanda prevailing, 72-49.
But Rancho Cucamonga was without its best player for the game as Jaxen Turner was still playing for the school’s football team in the playoffs.
The 6-foot-2 Turner (all-CIF in hoops as a junior/PICTURED) signed a football letter of intent with the University of Arizona in December but will attempt to play basketball, as well, once he gets to Tucson.
The Mustangs also have a Cal State Fullerton-bound player in Tory San Antonio.
Both teams play exclusively man-to-man defense, so the game should be a showcase for some cool battles between the likes of Turner and San Antonio and Etiwanda juniors Camren Pierce, Darryl Jackson and Brantley Stevenson, and defender-deluxe Jahmai Mashack.
Bishop Montgomery – a program that won two of the first Open Division titles – will take a veteran squad to Temecula, led by seniors in guards Gianni Hunt and Josh Vazquez and forwards Will Crawford and Nick Schrader.
Juniors Bradley Ezewiro and Isaiah Johnson will undoubtedly also get their opportunities to guard the Dynamic Rancho Christian Duo of brothers Isaiah and Evan Mobley.