CIF Southern Section Playoff: Sierra Canyon vs. Ontario Christian

Playoff season is here! The #1 ranked team in the nation faced off against notorious powerhouse, Sierra Canyon, in a must-see, sold-out Saturday night classic. This was a star-studded matchup with several Division 1 talents, many relatively young in their prep career. The matchup between the #1 ranked 2026 prospect and #1 ranked 2027 prospect did not disappoint. Ontario Christian won 62-52 and seemed to control the game from start-to-finish despite the close score. Their intense zone defense kept Sierra Canyon out of rhythm in spurts. The numerous fastbreak opportunities for Ontario in the 2nd half was the difference. Below are some of the biggest takeaways from premier players on both rosters. Up next for Ontario Christian is two-time defending state champion, Etiwanda, in the Southern Section Open Division title game set for March 1st at Toyota Arena.    Another day at the office with a very loud 21 points and 10 assists against the 7th ranked team in the nation. Kaleena continues to evolve and refine her game. The ball handling is even more shifty. She is an even better playmaker (10 double-digit assist games on the year). Almost 5 steals per game against elite comp. More scoring help this year means the huge scoring numbers aren't as necessary as they once were. Yet and still, her shot-making ability with the plethora of crossovers/stepbacks to break a game open is one of one. Kaleena also makes her teammates better, which makes Ontario Christian unbeatable.     Routinely finished at the rim over bigger defenders. Leia's nifty handle breaks her defender down in the low/mid-post area to score whenever she chooses. Leia has great touch from mid-range. Defensively, she gives you plenty with a gritty mindset. Great help defense, even switching onto Sydney at times despite giving up several inches. Leia provided ample scoring relief as their 2nd option and truly had a great game!     Alanna seems to be the emotional leader of this team. Sets the tone defensively and brings the energy. Alanna's perimeter defense kept Sierra Canyon flustered at times. She does not need a play ran for her to make a difference offensively. 12 points on 63% FG, all coming from the natural flow of the game. Great cutter without the ball! Again, GREAT cutter without the ball. She should be on your radar immediately.     Jerzy had a game-high 24 points. She showed an innate ability to create contact and get to the line. Jerzy has the skillset to pull from deep and shoot over anyone. She has the strength and size to absorb contact and finish at the rim. Very comfortable ball handler with a great hesitation move. Jerzy plays with an edge and is as competitive as they come. Her commitment to impacting and perfecting all facets of the game is evident. She will be an NCAAW POY candidate in the very near future.     Although she didn't put up the numbers that are typical in the box score, Sydney's presence was felt. She brings so much to the table on both ends. Runs the floor very well. Confident and capable shooter from outside with solid mechanics. Great screen setter and roller. Sydney has a good feel for double-teams and when to kick the ball out to open shooters. Willing and gifted passer. She influenced so many missed shots inside the paint from Sierra Canyon.     Chaminade Prep transfer, [player_tooltip player_id='574419' first='Payton' last='Montgomery'], finished well at the rim despite Ontario's elite size and length. Relentless rebounder who can play her role to perfection. Boxes out very well and limits any height advantage of opposing bigs. She is physical inside, but light on her feet as well. Payton could've been more aggressive offensively, but she played her heart out and is a name to know in the 2026 class!     Tati can play several roles offensively, and guard several positions defensively. She finished with 19 points on 62% shooting from the field. Tati is a nightmare for the opposing defense when she has a head of steam going downhill. Extremely underrated skillset on the perimeter as a 3-level scorer. Bigs cannot guard her! She is shooting over 40% from 3 on the year! Tati provides a physical presence inside on defense. She is probably a pleasure to play with because she can literally do everything on the court, complement her teammates, and play within a system.     Emilia had one heck of a ballgame defensively. Shows great promise as a rim protector and interior defender at the next level. Her long arms and disciplined defense gave Sierra Canyon a much-needed inside presence. Some of the typical tremendous finishes from Ontario players were negated due to Emilia.     Etiwanda transfer, [player_tooltip player_id='773720' first='Dani' last='Robinson'], is an X-factor for this Ontario team. Long and versatile wing who looks the part. Her positioning and instincts defensively made a huge difference. She is lightening quick in transition. Dani only took 4 shots, so she can and should be more aggressive on the offensive end. But the fluidity, athleticism, footwork, IQ, etc. are there. As an all-around prospect, she has loads of potential.

Playoff season is here! The #1 ranked team in the nation faced off against notorious powerhouse, Sierra Canyon, in a must-see, sold-out Saturday night classic. This was a star-studded matchup with several Division 1 talents, many relatively young in their prep career. The matchup between the #1 ranked 2026 prospect and #1 ranked 2027 prospect did not disappoint. Ontario Christian won 62-52 and seemed to control the game from start-to-finish despite the close score. Their intense zone defense kept Sierra Canyon out of rhythm in spurts. The numerous fastbreak opportunities for Ontario in the 2nd half was the difference. Below are some of the biggest takeaways from premier players on both rosters. Up next for Ontario Christian is two-time defending state champion, Etiwanda, in the Southern Section Open Division title game set for March 1st at Toyota Arena.