Head-Royce used a 28-0 run across the third and fourth quarters to pull away from San Rafael for a 73-33 road win Friday, improving to 2-1 on the season. The Jayhawks controlled the glass 49-30 and held San Rafael to 20 percent shooting from the field.
The game was close early. Head-Royce scored first on a second-chance basket, and San Rafael answered with a 3-pointer for a 3-2 lead, its only lead of the night. The Jayhawks went back in front with a 6-0 run to lead 8-3, but San Rafael tied the game 8-8 with another 3-pointer. Head-Royce went ahead for good on a basket off a turnover and followed with a 3-pointer for a 13-8 edge. The Jayhawks pushed the lead to 27-16 before San Rafael scored seven of the next nine points to cut the gap to 29-23. A free throw and a second-chance basket sent Head-Royce into halftime with a 32-24 lead.
Head-Royce led 37-28 midway through the third quarter when the game turned. The Jayhawks scored 28 straight points, starting with a second-chance basket and four consecutive field goals. Another putback and a free throw followed, and Leila H. hit a 3-pointer to close the third quarter with Head-Royce up 53-28. The Jayhawks outscored San Rafael 21-4 in the period.
The run carried into the fourth. Morgan R. scored on an assist from Abigail K., Hailey H. added a basket, and Abigail K. returned the favor on a feed from Morgan R. Melina M. converted off a turnover on another Morgan R. assist, Tara P. scored on a pass from Melina M., and Morgan R. made two free throws to make it 65-28. Addie G. ended the drought with three free throws, but Melina M. answered with a second-chance basket, a layup off a Kaley C. assist and a free throw. She then set up Maya P. for a 3-pointer that made it 73-31, Head-Royce's largest lead at 42. Lucy E. scored the game's final basket.
Melina M. was perfect from the field, going 3-for-3 with a made free throw for 7 points, and added three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Morgan R. finished with 4 points, four rebounds (three offensive), two assists, a steal and a block while making both of her free throws. Maya P. scored 3 points with two steals, and Leila H. had 3 points and two rebounds. Abigail K. contributed 2 points, an assist and a steal, Hailey H. had 2 points and a steal, and Tara P. added 2 points and a block.
The team numbers told the story. Head-Royce shot 28-of-67 (41.8 percent) and made 13 of 19 free throws, but its work on the boards made the difference: 24 offensive rebounds produced an 18-2 advantage in second-chance points. The defense recorded 15 steals and nine blocks and forced 17 turnovers. San Rafael finished 11-of-55 from the field and 3-of-16 from 3-point range. Addie G. led San Rafael's logged scorers with 3 points, all on free throws, and Lucy E. added 2.
Head-Royce (2-1) returns to action Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at Bentley.