Head-Royce won the rebounding battle by a wide margin and pulled away late for a 76-65 road victory over Redwood Christian on Saturday, Feb. 11, improving to 3-0 on the 2022-23 season. Morgan R. led the way with 30 points and 19 rebounds as the Jayhawks outrebounded the hosts 55-17.
Redwood Christian opened with a three-pointer and built an 8-1 lead, its largest of the day, on a second-chance three. Head-Royce answered with a 6-0 run, starting with a basket by Melina M. and followed by two straight field goals from Morgan R., to cut the gap to 8-7. Morgan R. tied the game at 13-13 with a pair of free throws, but Redwood Christian countered with six straight points for a 19-13 edge.
The Jayhawks then took control with a 12-0 run. Morgan R. hit four free throws in the stretch, and Nicole L. gave Head-Royce its first lead with a three-pointer that made it 22-19. Redwood Christian battled back, tying the game at 27-27 and going ahead 31-29 on a three-pointer. Hailey H. tied it at 31-31 on an assist from Morgan R., and after the hosts moved in front 34-31, Head-Royce closed the half with a 6-0 run. Morgan R. scored the first four points of that burst, including the go-ahead free throw, and the Jayhawks led 37-34 at the break. They never trailed again.
Redwood Christian stayed close into the second half, pulling within 41-40 and later 43-42. Second-chance baskets by Melina M. and Morgan R. helped Head-Royce to a 48-43 lead after three periods, and Hailey H. opened the fourth with a basket for a 50-43 advantage. The hosts got within 52-50, but the Jayhawks answered with six straight points, capped by a second-chance basket from Hailey H., for a 58-50 lead. Leila H. scored four points in a late stretch that pushed the margin to 68-60, and Head-Royce reached its largest lead at 74-63 before Hailey H. finished the scoring on an assist from Leila H.
Morgan R. shot 8 of 15 from the field and a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line, adding seven offensive rebounds, two assists and a block. Another Head-Royce player not identified in the scorebook added 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Hailey H. finished with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Melina M. posted six points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Nicole L. had six points, five rebounds and three assists, and Leila H. added four points and three assists.
Head-Royce shot 47 percent from the field (25 of 53) and held Redwood Christian to 34 percent (19 of 56). The hosts made 10 of 30 three-point attempts, but the Jayhawks offset that with a 25-of-38 performance at the free throw line compared with 17 of 25 for Redwood Christian. Head-Royce grabbed 21 offensive rebounds and held a 6-3 edge in second-chance points. The Jayhawks committed 21 turnovers but forced 16 and scored 6 points off turnovers, while Redwood Christian scored none.
Head-Royce improved to 3-0 and extended its winning streak to three games.