Head-Royce outrebounded Cornerstone Christian 61-38 on Tuesday but shot 26.3 percent from the field, and C.B. hit a second-chance 3-pointer for the final points of a 52-50 Cornerstone Christian win. The loss dropped the Jayhawks to 14-3 and split the season series. Head-Royce won the first meeting 49-45 at home on Jan. 11.
Leila H. hit a 3-pointer off an Elena K. assist and Morgan R. added a putback as Head-Royce took an early 5-2 lead. The teams were tied at 5 and at 7 before Cornerstone Christian scored six straight points to go up 16-9. Leila H. answered with another 3-pointer and Morgan R. scored on a second-chance basket. D.B. then converted three second-chance baskets and K.B. scored off a turnover to push the lead to 24-16, the largest of the game for either side.
The Jayhawks responded with a 6-0 run. Abigail K. scored on a feed from Melina M., Morgan R. made two free throws and Elena K. scored on a putback to cut the deficit to 24-22. Cornerstone Christian hit a 3-pointer on its next scoring play and led 27-22 at halftime.
Head-Royce opened the second half with baskets from Kalia K., off a turnover, and Morgan R. to get within 27-26. Elena K. tied the game at 29 with a 3-pointer set up by Leila H. and then scored off a turnover for a 31-29 lead. Cornerstone Christian answered with a 6-0 run, keyed by a K.B. 3-pointer, to go ahead 35-31. Leila H. hit a second-chance 3-pointer to make it 40-39, but Cornerstone Christian scored the next five points and later led 46-42 after a C.B. basket off a turnover. The Jayhawks then scored seven straight. Kalia K. scored on an Elena K. assist, Melina M. tied the game at 46 with a putback and Leila H. hit a 3-pointer, again set up by Elena K., for a 49-46 lead. D.B. answered with a putback, and Melina M. made a free throw for a 50-48 edge. C.B. then made a free throw and buried the go-ahead second-chance 3-pointer, assisted by L.A.
Leila H. led Head-Royce with 15 points, all on 3-pointers, going 5 of 15 from beyond the arc. Morgan R. posted 12 points, 15 rebounds (eight offensive), four steals and two blocks. Elena K. finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and a team-high five assists. Kalia K. added eight points and 12 rebounds off the bench, and Melina M. contributed eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.
The Jayhawks grabbed 33 offensive rebounds and turned them into 17 second-chance points. They also made just 20 of 76 shots from the field, went 7 of 30 from 3-point range and committed 19 turnovers. Cornerstone Christian shot 32.8 percent, made 7 of 15 free throws to Head-Royce's 3 of 6 and scored eight points off turnovers to the Jayhawks' six. K.B. led Cornerstone Christian with 13 points, D.B. had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and K.A. scored 10 on 4-of-5 shooting.
Head-Royce (14-3) returns to action Saturday, March 1, at Encinal.