CORONA — Jayden Yim never has been afraid of the big moments. Centennial guard Kai Patton (0) dunks over Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SC NG) Etiwanda guard Samuel Funn (0) defends Centennial shooting guard Isaiah Rogers (21) as he drives to the hoop in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial forward Josh Agbo (11) and Centennial guard Kai Patton (0) fight for the rebound against Etiwanda forward Achillies Orji (23) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial Head Coach Joshua Giles talks with Centennial Forward Carter Brown (4) after he fouled out of the game against Etiwanda in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) fights for the ball against Etiwanda guard Samuel Funn (0) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Etiwanda Head Coach Daniel Ryan argues with an official against Centennial in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial forward Jaiyden Smith (20) and Centennial Forward Carter Brown (4) pressure Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) into a turnover in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) flies to the hoop as Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) defends in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial guard Jaden Yim (3) and Etiwanda guard Isaiah Benn (4) fight for the loose ball in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) and Centennial forward Josh Agbo (11) fight for a rebound in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial forward Jaiyden Smith (20) fouls Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) as he lands on him in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial guard Jaden Yim (3) celebrates a three pointer as Etiwanda guard Samuel Funn (0) reacts in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Etiwanda guard Isaiah Ford (10) is held back by an official after exchanging words with Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial guard Jaden Yim (3), right, celebrates one of his three point shots with Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) against Etiwanda in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial shooting guard Isaiah Rogers (21) is called for goaltending touches the ball shot by Etiwanda guard Isaiah Benn (4) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial shooting guard Isaiah Rogers (21) blocks the shoot of Etiwanda guard Samuel Funn (0) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial’s bench celebrates a dunk by Centennial guard Kai Patton (0) over Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) and Etiwanda forward Achillies Orji (23) pressure Centennial shooting guard Isaiah Rogers (21)as he passes the ball in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial Forward Carter Brown (4) fouls Etiwanda guard Braylon Booker (1) in front of Centennial forward Nate Wright (12) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) flies as he toys to score against Etiwanda in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial guard Kai Patton (0) blocks the shot of Etiwanda forward Achillies Orji (23) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial forward Josh Agbo (11) is fouled by Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) while shooting in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Etiwanda guard Isaiah Ford (10) steals the ball from Centennial Forward Carter Brown (4) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial Forward Carter Brown (4) defends Etiwanda forward Achillies Orji (23) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) passes the Baal as he falls to the court against Etiwanda in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial point guard Karter Butler (5) goes up for a shot against Etiwanda in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial forward Josh Agbo (11) tries to steal the ball from Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 27Centennial guard Kai Patton (0) dunks over Etiwanda guard Devin Mitchell (22) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball pool-play game. in Corona on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Yim’s shooting skills made him a valuable role player for the Centennial boys basketball team in previous seasons, but Yim has become more of a featured player during his junior campaign. Yim took center stage Friday evening, knocking down six 3-pointers while scoring a game-high 22 points in leading the Huskies to a convincing 74-48 victory over Etiwanda in a CIF Southern Section Open Division pool-play game. With the victory, No. 6-seeded Centennial (26-5) secured a CIF State playoff berth and also assured itself a spot in Open Division bracket play. The Huskies will look to win their pool Tuesday, when they travel to No. 3 Redondo When Yim was a freshman, Centennial coach Josh Giles added the youngster to the varsity roster for the playoffs. Yim made an impact in some important games, including a 15-point effort in the team’s CIF State playoff opener. “He was sensational for our JV team that season,” Giles recalled. “One of the things we didn’t really have on the varsity team that season was someone who could made those open looks from deep. He was ready to contribute.” Yim drained a 3-pointer on the first possession of Friday night’s contest and added another to extend Centennial’s lead to 17-6 with 2:02 left in the first period. Isaiah Rogers also sank two 3-pointers in the quarter for the Huskies. “I think coach Giles has given me so many opportunities to succeed,” said Yim, who sank 6 of his 9 attempts from 3-point range Friday. “He has always put his trust in me from the start, and that experience has really helped me.” Centennial’s 3-point barrage continued in the second quarter. Yim nailed three shots from long range, and Rogers and Josh Agbo each made one. The Huskies outscored Etiwanda 26-8 in the period to extend their lead to 46-18. “That might have been the best half we played all season,” Giles said. “Always good to start the playoff that way.” For Etiwanda, there must’ve been a strong feeling of déjà vu. The Eagles (26-4) also struggled in their pool-play opener, a 74-31 loss to Redondo. Etiwanda only made 5 of 24 shots in the first half Friday and 14 of 46 overall. “(Centennial) is fast and strong, and they were physical with us tonight,” Etiwanda coach Danny Ryan said about Friday’s result. “We just haven’t adjusted well to what other teams are doing, and that’s something we have to fix.” The 79 combined points is cause for alarm, but Ryan is more concerned about the 148 allowed in the two games. “We don’t give up 70 points often, and it’s happened in back-to-back games now,” Ryan said. “The Open Division is another level of basketball and not something we shy away from. This is a challenge, and we need to respond.” Yim opened the second half with his sixth 3-pointer of the contest, extending Centennial’s advantage to 31 points. This is not the first time a Yim sibling has dazzled spectators with their shooting skills. Jayden’s sister, Naomi, was a Riverside County Player of the Year recipient when she played at Norco. Jayden gives credit to his father, Sang. “He has really pushed all of us to be hard workers because he says that is one key to life,” Yim said of his father. Centennial’s offense cooled down quite a bit after halftime, but the Huskies’ lead never was in serious jeopardy. “We played 16 phenomenal minutes tonight,” Giles said. “We’re going to need 32 of them to hang with Redondo.” Rogers finished the evening with 14 points, while Jaidyn Smith and Agbo each added nine points for the Huskies. Devin Mitchell and Armaun Pollock had 12 points apiece for Etiwanda, and Achilles Orji added 10 for the Eagles. Etiwanda will regroup and travel to Damien next Friday, with the winner of that game between Baseline League rivals punching a ticket to state. The teams split two previous meetings, which each team winning on the road. “The good thing is we have four days next week to get prepared and try to keep our season alive,” Ryan said. 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