CORONA, Calif. — From the jump, this game was everything an Open Division title game should be: back-and-forth, heart-pounding, and in the end, buzzer-beating.

Centennial came out firing on all cylinders, running the floor and scoring in transition, with junior Londynn Jones scoring 6 points in the opening 5 minutes of play. Jones would lead the Huskies, finishing with 25 points.

But Mater Dei caught their breath and fell into a rhythm, with senior McDonald's All-American Brooke Demetre keeping the Monarchs in it early. Demetre led Mater Dei with 28 points overall. But the Monarchs still trailed the Huskies 40-38 at the half.

In the second half, these two great teams went back-and-forth and both played with the heart and intensity that got them to this game. Mater Dei scored six straight points at the end of the fourth quarter to force over time.

Jada Curry, who had 23 points overall, was clutch and sank two free throws to tie the game at 80 in OT.

But with the clock winding down, Demetre found junior Nalani White who hit the game-winning three pointer at the buzzer and crowned the Monarchs the CIF SS Open Division champions for the second year in a row, as Mater Dei won 83-80”

Both teams will advance to the CIF SoCal Regionals next week.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this article indicated that Jada Curry's two free throws sent the game into OT. The article has since been updated. (June 11, 2021)