OAKLAND, Calif. The Head-Royce boys junior varsity team fell to Washington High (SF) JV, 55-39, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, and dropped to 2-3 on the season. Washington High scored 20 straight points to turn a three-point deficit into a 17-point lead, and the Jayhawks never recovered.
Head-Royce started fast. Micah Riebel opened the scoring with a 3-pointer on an assist from Mikael Akpala. Zac Gottschalk and Akpala then hit 3-pointers, each set up by Riebel, as the Jayhawks built a 15-7 lead, their largest of the night. Washington High answered with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 15, the game's only tie. Sanil Saxena put Head-Royce back in front at 18-15 with a 3-pointer on an assist from Jonah Greenberg.
The Jayhawks did not lead again. Washington High scored the next 20 points, took the game's only lead change and carried a 19-18 edge into halftime. It then pulled away with three straight 3-pointers to go up 35-18. Gottschalk ended the drought with a 3-pointer, again set up by Greenberg, and Riebel followed with a basket.
Head-Royce kept answering but could not close the gap. Gottschalk and Riebel each hit a 3-pointer to pull the Jayhawks within 39-29, but Washington High responded with a 6-0 run to push its lead back to 45-29. Riebel then scored six straight points on a basket, a free throw and a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 47-37. Greenberg added a basket late, and Washington High closed the scoring at the free-throw line.
Riebel led Head-Royce with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and added four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Akpala scored 10 points with two 3-pointers and added four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Gottschalk scored all nine of his points on 3-pointers, going 3-of-6 from long range. Greenberg added seven rebounds, four steals, two blocks and two assists.
The free-throw line explained much of the result. Washington High went 19-of-28 from the line, while Head-Royce made two of its three attempts. The Jayhawks were called for 21 fouls, compared with seven for Washington High. Head-Royce shot 29 percent from the field (14-of-49) and made 9 of 25 from 3-point range. Washington High shot 36 percent, won the rebounding battle 29-21 and scored seven points off 11 Head-Royce turnovers. One Washington High player had 36 points and 20 rebounds and went 14-of-21 from the line.
The loss snapped a 2-2 start and left Head-Royce at 2-3 on the season.