OAKLAND, Calif. Morgan R. had 37 points and 10 rebounds, and Head-Royce forced 21 Albany turnovers in a 54-40 girls varsity basketball win on Saturday. The Jayhawks improved to 3-1 and have won two straight.
Albany led 4-2 early before Head-Royce took over with an 11-0 run. Morgan R. hit a 3-pointer for a 5-4 lead, the only lead change of the game, and the Jayhawks never trailed again. Abigail K. and Melina M. followed with baskets, and Morgan R. added two second-chance baskets to make it 13-4. After an Albany basket, Head-Royce put together a 6-0 run for a 19-6 lead.
Albany answered by scoring 12 of the next 15 points, with Kaila scoring three baskets in that stretch, and cut the lead to 22-18. Head-Royce pushed back with a 7-0 run. Morgan R. scored inside and then hit a 3-pointer off a turnover, and Melina M. scored off another turnover to make it 29-18. Kaila scored off a turnover before the break, and the Jayhawks led 29-20 at halftime.
Albany scored the first four points of the second half, with Melat accounting for all of them, and pulled within 29-24. Morgan R. answered with a 3-pointer and two free throws for a 34-24 lead, and Head-Royce stayed in front the rest of the way. Adreanna's basket made it 43-35, and the Jayhawks followed with an 8-0 run. Morgan R. scored, Hailey H. finished a feed from Morgan R. off a turnover, and Melina M. and Kaley C. added second-chance baskets for a 51-35 lead, the biggest of the game. Albany scored the next five points before Morgan R. closed the scoring with a 3-pointer.
Morgan R. made 14 of 24 shots from the field, 4 of 8 from 3-point range and all five of her free throws. She had 20 points in the first half, the same number Albany had as a team, and made all four of the Jayhawks' 3-pointers. She also had five steals, two assists and a block. Melina M. added 10 points and nine rebounds, seven of them on the offensive glass. Emmy M., a sophomore, had four steals and two assists off the bench, and both assists set up Melina M. baskets off turnovers. Hailey H. had three points, four rebounds and an assist.
Head-Royce finished with 14 steals and outscored Albany 15-8 in points off turnovers. The Jayhawks grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, outscored Albany 14-4 in second-chance points and won the rebounding battle 32-22. Head-Royce shot 41 percent from the field, while Albany shot 38 percent and missed all 11 of its 3-point attempts. Temzin led Albany with 14 points, making 6 of 8 free throws. Kaila added 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Melat scored eight.
Head-Royce, now 3-1, plays at Bentley on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.