Centennial closes out Southridge, 53-43, to win Iolani Classic

Centennial's Justice Ethridge rises up to lead the Bulldogs to the Iolani Girls Prep Classic title. The senior had 26 points and six splashes from beyond the arc. CJ Caraang | SL

Justice Ethridge splashed four second-half baskets from beyond the arc to propel the Centennial Bulldogs (Las Vegas) to a 53-43 victory over the Southridge Skyhawks (Beaverton, Oregon) to capture the Iolani Girls Prep Classic title Saturday night.

Ethridge had six total 3-pointers on the night to notch a tournament-high 26 points for the three-time reigning Nevada 4A State Champions and was named to the All-Tournament team. Despite Ethridge averaging 20.3 points in the three-day classic, it was junior Eboni Walker who was named the tournament's most valuable player.

In Saturday night's matchup, the Bulldogs were able to contain Southridge's biggest threat (literally) in 6-foot-4 sophomore Cameron Brink for most of the game, highlighted by Walker's shellacking of Brink's breakaway layup attempt near the end of the third quarter.

However, Brink was able to get it going in the final eight minutes to put up nine of her 15 total points in cutting the deficit to as close as 10 points with just over three minutes left to play. The lead was eventually cut to just eight points, but it was too late as the Bulldogs sank their free throws to close it out.

Walker finished the game with nine points.

Southridge's Maggie Freeman also come on strong late with 10 second-half points to finish with 14.