Jordan McLaughlin’s high school career is officially over

Local high school basketball fans have seen the last of Etiwanda High School guard Jordan McLaughlin.

Eagles coach Dave Kleckner confirmed that McLaughlin, who has signed with USC, has a torn labrum in his left shoulder that will require surgery.

He had an MRI on Monday and is in the process of scheduling that surgery. He wants to have it as soon as possible so he can get through the rehabilitation process in time to start is collegiate career in the fall.

McLauglin injured his shoulder driving to the basket in the second quarter of a 59-48 loss to Chino Hills in an Open Division quarterfinal on Feb. 28.

It was an aggravation of the same injury that knocked him out of a few games in December.

Etiwanda will play at El Camino Real on Friday in Southern California Regional of the state playoffs.

All of the game’s Kleckner’s teams have lost came without McLaughlin but all were close.

 

 

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Great crowd made for a memorable night of basketball

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Everyone knew that the Baseline League showdown between visiting Etiwanda and Rancho Cucamonga in boys basketball was going to be one for the ages. How can it not be with two teams both ranked in the top six in a very competitive division?

Rivals located about a Tiger Woods tee shot apart geographically. Each team led by a superstar player – that would be Jordan McLaughlin for Etiwanda and Victor Joseph for Rancho Cucamonga, both senior guards destined for great things in the future.

The game lived up to its billing with the Eagles prevailing 61-56.

A capacity crowd was there to see it, 3,00 or so. In fact, it was sold out 10 minutes before tip-off.

It was a great atmosphere! Both crowds were into the game, even before the tip off, cheering the players as they took the floor for warm-up. Spectators on both sides were standing much of the game, especially at crunch time down the stretch.

Music blared during timeouts, fans sang and danced. Everyone was well-behaved, cheering their team and not jeering the other.

The only thing slightly unsportsmanlike – the Rancho Cucamonga faithful chanting “You’re a Trai-tor” each time Etiwanda junior center Jordan Naughton  went to the free-throw line. He transferred FROM Rancho. But that’s not that bad!

School administrators were ready for the crowd, with plenty of security on hand . . . just in case. Crowd flow in and out of the building was organized. Lessons were definitely learned from the debacle that was the post-game melee in football when Rancho played another local rival, Los Osos.

So hats off to crowds from both schools, school administrators and everyone else involved in making it a memorable night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Etiwanda expecting star player back for Friday game

Jordan McLaughlin

Etiwanda boys basketball coach Dave Kleckner expects to have his star player Jordan McLaughlin back in the lineup when his team opens Baseline League play on Friday against Los Osos.

McLaughlin, who has signed with USC, sustained a slightly separated shoulder in a Dec. 27 game Sacramento Capital Christian in the Maxpreps Tournament in Palm Springs. The Eagles (13-3) lost that game and two of the three others they played without him.

“The pain has subsided and we’re expecting him back,” Kleckner said. “It definitely could have been worse.”

Kleckner said his marquee player was injured going to deflect a shot.

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Etiwanda holds off Chino Hills in IE

VIDEO: Chino Hills ties it before Etiwanda’s Jordan McLaughlin is fouled

VIDEO: McLaughlin’s free throw and steal wins it for Etiwanda

VIDEO: Jordan McLaughlin talks about the final seconds

There were a lot of things that happened in the Etiwanda-Chino Hills game. Here are some of my thoughts:

  • Here’s an outline of the final seconds. After LiAngelo Ball’s 3-pointer brought Chino Hills to within 62-61 with about 1:15 to play, Jordan McLaughlin made one of two free throws in the final minute to go up 63-61. Then K.C Cyprian’s only basket of the game, a runner with 20 seconds left, tied the score for Chino Hills, 63-63. Then McLaughlin drove to the hoop again, got fouled with 6.3 seconds to play. He airballed the first free throw, made the second to go up 64-63. He then deflected a pass to Kenny Barnes, who made another free throw with one second left to make it 65-63 and Chino Hills’ desperation heave was off the mark.
  • When was the last time you didn’t see either team get into the bonus until the final 10 seconds of the second half? That’s what happened. I always thought 3 officials meant more fouls, but not in this case as they let them play.
  • It could have an impact down the line for the CIF-SS Open Division. This obviously gives Etiwanda a leg up into the Open Division that he doesn’t really care for. Watching the game, I firmly believe that these are 2 of the top 16 teams in the CIF-SS, but Etiwanda’s win gives the Eagles a better chance at a higher seed.
  • The Ball brothers are ridiculous, but in this game, especially freshman LiAngelo. LiAngelo Ball scored 27 points, making seven 3-pointers on 15 attempts, after starting out 1-for-6 in the first half. Sometimes he was open, but many times he had a hand in his face and it didn’t matter.
  • I’m still really impressed with Kameron Edwards, who is a serious force inside who had 15 points and eight rebounds against a Chino Hills team that has a team full of bigs.

BOX SCORE
ETIWANDA (65)
Kameron Edwards 20, Jordan McLaughlin 18, Kenny Barnes 17, Dominick Alexander 5, Delewis Johnson 3, Ermest Carter 2/
CHINO HILLS (63)
LiAngelo Ball 27, Lonzo Ball 14, Bishop Mency 7, Mark Williams 7, Nnamdi Okongwu 6, K.C. Cyprian 2.
Etiwanda 20 21 12 12 — 65
Chino Hills 9 14 20 20 — 63
3-Pointers: McLaughlin (E) 3, Alexander (E), Johnson (E); Li. Ball (CH) 7, Lo. Ball (CH) 3.

 

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Inland Empire Basketball Classic starts Monday

Do you want to get your fill of high school basketball? Well this is your week as the Inland Empire  Classic gets underway at several area high schools.

The will be 24 teams competing, beginning with pool play. each pool has three teams. Later in the week the winners of each pool advance to elimination play.

Here are the pools and schedule:

Purple pool – RancSo Cucamonga, Fontana, Canyon Springs
Black – Miller, Colton, Corona Santiago
Red – Colony, Rialto, Silverado
Navy – Los Osos, 29 Palms, Sunny Hills
Green – Upland, Apple Valley, Moreno Valley
Grey – Chino Hills, Lakeside, Alta Loma
Silver – Etiwanda, Citrus Valley, Roosevelt
White – Compton, Montclair, Redlands East Valley

Monday’s games

4 p.m. – Lakeside vs. Alta Loma at Rancho Cucamonga
4 p.m. – Montclair vs. Redlands East Valley at Miller
5:30 p.m. – Los Osos vs. 29 Palms at Rancho Cucamonga
5:30 p.m. – Citrus Valley vs. Etiwanda at Miller
5:30 p.m. – Apple Valley vs. Moreno Valley at Colony
7 p.m. – Fontana at Rancho Cucamonga
7 p.m. – Colton at Miller
7 p.m. – Silverado at Colony

Tuesday’s games
4 p.m. – Compton vs. Montclair at Colony
4 p.m. – 29 Palms vs. Sunny Hills at Upland
5:30 p.m. – Chino Hills vs. Lakeside at Colony
5:30 p.m. – Roosevelt vs. Citrus Valley at Upland
5:30 p.m. – Fontana vs. Canyon Springs at Miller
7 p.m. – Rialto at Colony
7 p.m. – Apple Valley at Upland
7 p.m. – Corona Santiago at Miller

Wednesday’s games
3 p.m. -Silverado vs. Rialto at Rancho Cucamonga
3 p.m. – Colton vs. Corona Santiago at Upland
4:30 p.m. – Los Osos vs. Sunny Hills at Rancho Cucamonga
4:30 p.m. – Compton vs. Redlands East Valley at Upland
6 p.m. – Alta Loma vs. Chino Hills at Rancho Cucamonga
6 p.m. Etiwanda vs. Roosevelt at Upland
7:30 p.m. – Canyon Springs at Rancho Cucamonga
7:30 p.m. – Moreno Valley at Upland

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