Day 4: Archbishop Mitty defends Nike TOC title with convincing win over Ontario Christian

Tournament most valuable player McKenna Woliczko pours in a game-high 25 points as Monarchs are Arizona desert champions again

McKenna Woliczko and Archbishop Mitty are NIKE Tournament of Champions winners again in 2024. / Photo by Dennis Lee

Go ahead - just press rewind.

Because the best girls basketball team from California heading into the New Year is the same one at this time one year ago.

The sixth-ranked Archbishop Mitty Monarchs.

Handling No. 3 Ontario Christian's 84 feet of fullcourt terror with ease, the Monarchs turned the much-anticipated Nike Tournament of Champions (TOC) championship showdown into an unexpected laugher with a 59-34 victory Saturday night at Skyline Prep High School in Phoenix Arizona.

Archbishop Mitty became the first repeat Nike TOC champion since Mater Dei won three in a row from 2012-14.

Junior forward McKenna Woliczko had a game-high 25 points (12-of-19 shooting), 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, and was named tournament most valuable player for a second consecutive season.

"TOC is such a great tournament, and there is a reason why it is such a hyped-up tournament," Woliczko said. "And for this one, we had belief in our coaches ... and we were able to have each others' backs."

It was clear from the beginning two developments were going to carry this outcome far: One, the Monarchs were not going to allow Ontarion Christian's breakneck tempo dictate the action; and two, Woliczko was going to be the center of the team's offense throughout.

The five-star 2026 prospect scored four field goals in the first three minutes in giving Archbishop Mitty an 8-7 lead, and the Monarchs never trailed again.

And the reigning national runner-up kept Ontario Christian's guards, notably super-sophomore Kaleena Smith, from getting out in transition. The Knights were limited to six fastbreak points, all off turnovers.

Playing in the halfcourt, the Knights never found any offensive rhythm: They made just 12 of 49 field-goal attempts. Smith was held to 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting.

"It was one of our greatest defensive games of the season," Woliczko said.

Trailing 33-18 at halftime, if Ontario Christian had any hopes of getting back into the game, they all but vanished in the first few minutes of the second half.

Devin Cosgriff triggered a half-opening 9-0 run with a 3-pointer. Woliczko added a turnaround jumper over touted 6-foot-6 ninth grader Sydney Douglas. And Emma Cook tallied the next seven points, capped by a 3-pointer - and the Monarchs were in control, 45-20.

As for the rest of the season, the two teams won't have to wait long to play again - Jan. 4 at the Sabrina Ionescu tournament in California.

"Ontario Christian is a great team, and they are going to practice and prepare for our game," Woliczko said. "But we'll be doing the same exact thing."

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• NIKE TOC | Schedules, scores, venues
• NIKE TOC | Tournament preview
• TOP 25 | National rankings
• TOP 25 | POY Watchlist

NIKE TOC TOP DIVISION DAY 4 SCORES

Championship

No. 6 Archbishop Mitty 59, No. 3 Ontario Christian 34

Consolation games

Bishop McNamara 65, Grandview 27

Mount Zion 63, Christ the King 49

Archbishop Wood 55, Princeton 44

Clackamas 64, Purcell Marian 46

Mater Dei 72, Bullis 57

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