TEMECULA, Calif. — The Rancho Christian Eagles extended their postseason success in a massive way Tuesday night, opening the CIF State Girls Championship tournament with a resounding 102-50 victory over Bakersfield Christian.
The Eagles used a blistering, fast-paced attack right out of the gate to overwhelm their opponents and build a commanding 51-28 lead by halftime. Rancho Christian has made a habit of sweeping opponents off the court this year. The team has now won 16 contests by 23 points or more this season.
Freshman Addison Archer led the charge for the Eagles, dropping a double-double with 36 points and 11 rebounds. Archer continues to be a major predictor of Rancho Christian’s success. When she posts at least 15 points, the team holds a 23-5 record, compared to just 1-3 when she falls short of that mark.
The offensive barrage did not stop with Archer. Ebony Taylor-Smith delivered a spectacular performance, racking up 26 points and four steals. She went 9-for-21 from the floor and connected on six 3-pointers to keep the defense scrambling. Alison Boyd also chipped in significantly, adding 11 points to help secure the blowout win.
With the victory, Rancho Christian bumped their season record up to an impressive 24-8. The loss ends the season on a tough note for Bakersfield Christian. This marks the second consecutive defeat for them, nudging their final season record down to 26-7.
Looking ahead, the Eagles will look to keep their momentum rolling in front of their local Southwest Riverside County fans. Rancho Christian stayed home to welcome JSerra Catholic at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the next round of tournament action. Those details will be posted soon.
