Trailblazers head to CIF Finals

Trailblazers head to CIF Finals

The Sierra Canyon girls basketball team has qualified for the Open Division championship game for a third time after plowing through the pool-play portion of the playoffs.

The Trailblazers, who have won 29 consecutive games, will face nemesis Etiwanda at 6 p.m. at Honda Center in Anaheim.

“It’s just amazing to be back and be here, again,” Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki said. “This is a great team and we want to finally win this section Open championship.”

Sierra Canyon lost to Etiwanda in last year’s final before avenging that loss the following week in the state playoffs en route to winning the state Open Division title.

The Trailblazers did the same exact thing back in 2019, winning 29 consecutive games, losing to Windward in the section final, avenging that loss a few days later and going on to win the state title in the highest classification.

USC-bound JuJu Watkins is averaging close to 30 points per contest and nearly 13 rebounds. Watkins has plenty of help from Mackenly Randolph, Izela Arenas, Crystal Wang, Leia Edwards, Sofia Ruelas and freshman Emilia Krstevski.

“It’s been a crazy run this year and we just want to keep the good times going,” Komaki said. “The girls have dealt with everything so great.”

Sierra Canyon and Etiwanda will be meeting for the sixth tie since 2018. Etiwanda holds a 3-2 advantage, winning two Southern Section playoff contests, including last year’s Open Division sectional final.