ONTARIO — The Rancho Christian girls basketball team delivered its best punches to Ontario Christian to start Monday night’s nonleague showdown. Ontario Christian forward Tati Griffin #12 avoids the leaping defense of Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian guard Kaleena Smith #11 and Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 defend Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Dani Robinson #2 blocks the shot of Rancho Christian guard Alyson Boyd #15 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Julia Wilson #33 fights for a rebound against Ontario Christian forward Tati Griffin #12 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 pulls down a rebound against Rancho Christian in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Julia Wilson #33 shoots over Ontario Christian defender in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 pulls down a rebound over Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian Jaden Cox #20 is fouled by Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian guard Kaleena Smith #11 shoots over Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Marissa Bishop #21 and forward Alanna Neale #22 pressure Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian cheerleader takes flight during stunt at halftime of the nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 pulls down the rebound d against Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 fouls Rancho Christian Julia Wilson #33 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian guard Alyson Boyd #15 shot is blocked by Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian guard Alyson Boyd #15 shot is blocked by Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian head coach Aundre Cummigs in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian guard Kaleena Smith #11 is fouled by Rancho Christian Bella Cosme #12 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian head coach Marlon Wells directs his team against Ontario Christian in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Dani Robinson #2 fights for a loose ball against Rancho Christian forward Amya Guzman #22 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Sydney Douglas #13 blocks the shot of Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Tati Griffin #12 claps after a steal against Rancho Christian in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Rancho Christian Ebony Taylor-Smith #1 reacts as Ontario Christian opens a double digit lead in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) From left Ontario Christian forward Dani Robinson #2, forward Tati Griffin #12, forward Sydney Douglas #13 and guard Kaleena Smith #11 react as time expires against Rancho Christian in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian forward Alanna Neale #22 signs the national anthem before playing Rancho Christian in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Anthony Arnold makes faces with his 11-month-old son AJ Arnold after Ontario Christian defeated Rancho Christian 95-69 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 25Ontario Christian forward Tati Griffin #12 avoids the leaping defense of Rancho Christian forward Hailey Whitman #10 in a nonleague game in Ontario on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand The Eagles landed quite a few and became just the second team this season to lead Maxpreps.com’s No. 1 team in the nation after one quarter of play. Ontario Christian were briefly stunned, but it didn’t take long for the Knights to regain their footing. Ontario Christian outscored the Eagles 16-2 over the first 3 1/2 minutes of the second quarter and never looked back. Sophomore point guard Kaleena Smith scored a game-high 29 points, and Alanna Neale celebrated her Senior Night with a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Knights walked away with a 95-69 victory. “Nothing really surprises me anymore,” Ontario Christian first-year coach Aundre Cummings said about Rancho Christian’s willingness to compete at an up-tempo pace Monday night. “Everyone is throwing everything at us. I was a little surprised at our response in the first quarter. We’re still learning some things. We don’t know how teams are going to come out against us. We adjusted well in the second quarter, but I’d have liked to see that come sooner.” Rancho Christian (15-4 overall) didn’t get off to the best of starts. Coach Marlon Wells called his first timeout 31 seconds into the game and used another with his team trailing 11-4 with 6:35 left in the opening period. The Eagles eventually settled down and worked their way back into the game. Bella Cosme drained a pair of 3-pointers, and Alyson Boyd scored seven straight points to help Rancho Christian take a 23-22 lead after one period. The only other time Ontario Christian trailed after one period was a December game against Archbishop Mitty (the Knights’ only loss of the season). “The goal was to play at a quick pace, get as many possessions as possible and see what happens,” Wells said after the strategy for Monday’s contest. “We had a good run. but Ontario Christian is No. 1 in the nation for a reason… It was going to be very difficult to keep that going for all 32 minutes.” Ontario Christian (22-1) scored the first eight points of the second quarter and led 38-25 after Smith canned a 3-pointer with 4:31 remaining in the first half. Smith poured in 14 of her points in that second quarter, when the Knights outscored Rancho Christian 31-12 and took an 18-point lead to the locker room. “I think we weren’t getting back on defense in the first quarter,” Smith said. “We just started holding each other accountable and fixing the problems.” Ontario Christian’s lead was 16 with 3 minutes left the third quarter, but the Knights pieced together a 13-2 run and extended the advantage to 76-49. Neale, the lone senior in the starting lineup. continued her strong play during the final period, scoring 10 points to cap one of her best performances. “I am extremely happy,” said Neale, who sang the National Anthem prior the game. “Things turned around for us once we got locked in on defense.” Ontario Christian again showcased its transition game and finished shooting 52.1 % from the field (38 for 75). Neale was 11 for 17 during the game. “Alanna was the player of the game for me,” Cummings said. “I really wanted her to shine, and I think this game will really help with her recruiting.” Julia Wilson led Rancho Christian with 20 points, including a 10-for-11 effort at the free-throw line. Ebony Taylor-Smith knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Boyd and Cosme added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Hailey Whitman had seven points and eight rebounds. “I’m really proud of the way the girls kept battling,” Wells said. “Our goal is to be in the Open Division for the playoffs. We got a taste of that tonight.” Tatianna Griffin scored 16 points for Ontario Christian, and fellow freshman Sydney Douglas added 12 points, 13 rebounds and a slew blocked shots. Ontario Christian only has three games remaining in the regular season, beginning with a trip to Springfield, Mass., for a showcase game Friday night “A lot of coaches would give tomorrow off, but we have to watch film on this game and even more to get prepared for the next one,” Cummings said. “We haven’t won anything yet, and that’s the way we treat each day, each practice and each game… The goal is to keep on doing what got us here.” Rancho Christian has a tough schedule down the stretch, staring Thursday night with the first of two Ivy League showdowns against Moreno Valley.  The Eagles also have nonleague games against CIF Southern Section powerhouses Mater Dei (Jan. 25) and Etiwanda (Feb. 1) n the coming weeks. “We not going to shy away from anyone,” Wells said. “Win or lose, these are the game that are going to get us best prepared for the playoffs.”