OAKLAND, Calif. Head-Royce opened with a 49-0 run and never trailed, beating Valley Christian 69-6 at home Friday night to improve to 5-3. The Jayhawks' defense set up everything: the team had 30 steals, and Morgan R. turned that pressure into 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 steals.
Melina M. scored the game's first basket, and Morgan R. took over from there. She scored on three straight Valley Christian turnovers, then added a second-chance basket to make it 10-0. She scored 12 of Head-Royce's first 16 points. Leila H. and Hailey H. each scored off turnovers as the lead grew to 22-0.
The Jayhawks kept sharing the scoring as the run went on. Abigail K. scored three times during the stretch, the first on an assist from Tara P., and Ella S. added three baskets of her own. Kaley C. then scored three baskets in a row, two of them off turnovers, to make it 48-0. Yaretzi B. made a free throw for a 49-0 lead before Valley Christian scored its first points on a pair of free throws.
Head-Royce answered right away with a 6-0 burst. Abigail K. made two free throws, Morgan R. scored on a putback and Tara P. added a basket for a 55-2 lead. Valley Christian made its first field goal to cut it to 55-4, and the Jayhawks closed with a 14-0 run. Tara P. scored off a turnover, Melina M. converted a second-chance basket and Maya P. scored. Morgan R. added the last three Head-Royce baskets for a 69-4 lead, the largest of the night at 65 points. Valley Christian scored the game's final basket.
Morgan R. made 12 of her 15 shots and grabbed seven offensive rebounds. She added six assists and had no turnovers. Ten of her points came on second chances and 10 more came off turnovers. Off the bench, Kaley C. scored eight points and had four steals, and Abigail K. also scored eight points, going 3 of 5 from the field and 2 of 2 at the line, with three steals. Hailey H. and Ella S. added six points apiece, and Ella S. had three steals. All 11 Jayhawks who played scored.
Head-Royce shot 33 of 57 from the field (57.9 percent) and held Valley Christian to 2 of 14 (14.3 percent). The Jayhawks outrebounded the visitors 24-3, grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and turned them into 12 second-chance points. They also scored 22 points off turnovers, and the bench added 25 points. Valley Christian's No. 9 led the visitors with four points.
The win was Head-Royce's first after a 4-3 start, and the Jayhawks are now 5-3. They visit Valley Christian for a rematch on Friday, Jan. 26.