OAKLAND, Calif. University JV hit a 3-pointer on the game's final scoring play to beat the Head-Royce boys junior varsity 71-69 on Thursday, Dec. 7, erasing a 12-point deficit in the closing minutes. The Jayhawks (6-4) led by as many as 14 points, but they could not hold off a University team that shot 65.8 percent from the floor, including 11 of 19 from 3-point range.
Head-Royce took control early. LaMarr Covington scored the game's first basket, and after University JV pulled within 6-5, the Jayhawks ran off nine straight points for a 15-5 lead. A Jack Peay 3-pointer, a Nick Taubes basket, two Ezra Goldfarb free throws and a Jonah Greenberg bucket made up the run. After University JV scored the next four points, Luke Silva hit back-to-back 3-pointers, the first assisted by Peay and the second by Max Roston-Saul, to make it 21-9.
The Jayhawks kept University JV at a distance through the middle of the game. Seabass Heredia-Zulaica and Greydon Ting each made a 3-pointer during a stretch that pushed the lead to 44-30, and a 3-pointer by Peay made it 49-35. University JV answered with an 8-0 run that cut a 53-41 deficit to 53-49, but Greenberg and Peay responded with consecutive 3-pointers. A few possessions later, Davis Lynch scored off a Taubes assist to put Head-Royce ahead 65-53.
University JV then closed the game on an 18-4 surge. Three straight 3-pointers cut the lead to 65-62. Greenberg scored to make it 67-62, but the visitors followed with six unanswered points, including a basket off a turnover, and went ahead 68-67 at the free throw line. Covington made two free throws to put the Jayhawks back in front 69-68, and University JV answered with the 3-pointer that decided it.
Greenberg led Head-Royce with 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting and added nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Peay, a freshman, scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, made all three of his 3-point attempts and pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds. Taubes, also a freshman, had nine points, six assists, two steals and two blocks without a turnover. Covington scored eight points and made all four of his free throws, and Silva added six points.
Head-Royce shot 43.9 percent (25 of 57), made 9 of 23 from 3-point range and outrebounded University JV 30-18. Turnovers told a different story. The Jayhawks committed 14 to University JV's three, and the visitors scored six points off those turnovers while Head-Royce had none. Head-Royce went 10 of 12 from the free throw line, and University JV went 10 of 18.
The loss ended the Jayhawks' season-opening run at 6-3 and dropped them to 6-4. Head-Royce returns to action when it hosts Bentley JV on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.