Morgan R. finished with 19 points, 19 rebounds and nine steals, and the Head-Royce girls varsity basketball team built a 26-point lead in the first half on the way to a 53-33 win at College Prep on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Jayhawks improved to 15-3 and swept the season series after winning the first meeting 17-14 at home on Jan. 9.
Head-Royce scored the game's first eight points. Ella S. opened the scoring with a basket off a turnover, set up by Morgan R., who then scored the next two baskets herself before Elena K. finished another steal to make it 8-0. After College Prep got on the board, the Jayhawks answered with 10 straight points. Elena K. hit back-to-back 3-pointers, both assisted by Leila H., and Morgan R. added two second-chance baskets for an 18-2 lead.
College Prep scored five straight points to cut the deficit to 24-9, but Head-Royce closed the half with an 11-0 run. Morgan R. started it with a free throw, Elena K. hit a second-chance 3-pointer off a feed from Morgan R., and after another Morgan R. putback, Elena K. hit a 3-pointer off a turnover. Morgan R. capped the run with a basket off a turnover for a 35-9 lead, the largest of the night. College Prep scored the last basket of the half, and Head-Royce led 35-11 at the break.
College Prep had its best stretch in the third quarter, outscoring the Jayhawks 16-6 behind three 3-pointers off turnovers. Ella S. scored twice on second-chance baskets early in the half, and Vera W. added two free throws, but the lead stood at 41-27 after three quarters. Head-Royce answered with a 10-0 run to open the fourth. Elena K. scored off a turnover, Leila H. hit a second-chance 3-pointer, Morgan R. scored on an assist from Ella S., and Elena K. hit another 3-pointer off a turnover to make it 51-27. Leila H. added the Jayhawks' final basket for a 53-29 lead.
Morgan R. made 9 of 12 shots from the field, grabbed nine offensive rebounds and added three assists and three blocks. Elena K. matched her with 19 points, making 5 of 12 from 3-point range, and added five steals. Ella S. had eight points and seven rebounds, and Leila H. had five points and a team-high six assists. Abigail K. added three steals.
Head-Royce's defense decided the game. The Jayhawks had 20 steals, forced 30 turnovers and scored 25 points off turnovers, compared with 17 for College Prep. Head-Royce won the rebounding battle 45-27, grabbing 23 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points. The Jayhawks shot 35.5 percent from the field, while College Prep shot 28 percent. College Prep's No. 13 led her team with six points and seven rebounds.
Head-Royce (15-3) visits Encinal on Saturday, March 1.