OAKLAND, Calif. Head-Royce used a string of scoring runs to beat Antioch 64-49 on Saturday and move to 3-2 on the season. Nick Taubes scored a game-high 24 points, and the Jayhawks' defense set up the difference: 12 steals, 15 forced turnovers and a 15-2 edge in points off turnovers.
The opening stretch went back and forth. Antioch scored first, and the teams were tied at 2, 5 and 7 before the Jayhawks moved in front for good. Antioch led 12-10 before Head-Royce answered with a 7-0 run. Idan Benharush hit a 3-pointer on a feed from Tua Montoya, Tucker Peay scored inside on an assist from Ezra Goldfarb and Jack Peay converted a turnover into a layup for a 17-12 lead. Antioch countered with six straight points to go up 18-17, its last lead of the game and its biggest lead of the night at two points.
Head-Royce took control from there with an 11-0 run. Tucker Peay's 3-pointer put the Jayhawks back in front, and Taubes followed with a 3-pointer off a pass from Sanjay Ernst. Benharush scored next, and Taubes hit another 3-pointer on an assist from Tucker Peay to make it 28-18. Taubes kept going, scoring nine of Head-Royce's 11 points in a stretch that took the score from 30-24 to 41-29.
The Jayhawks put the game away with a 9-0 burst that came almost entirely off Antioch mistakes. Sam Gulaid made two free throws, Montoya scored off a turnover and Gulaid hit a 3-pointer off another turnover. Benharush finished it with a basket on an assist from Taubes for a 50-31 lead. Antioch cut the gap to 50-38 with seven straight points, but Head-Royce answered again. After a Taubes basket, Ernst and Montoya hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Tucker Peay made two free throws to finish an 8-0 run and build the largest lead of the game at 60-40. Antioch outscored the Jayhawks 9-4 the rest of the way, and Taubes scored the game's final basket.
Taubes made 10 of 16 shots from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range, and added three assists and two steals. Benharush, a freshman, scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting with two 3-pointers and two steals. Tucker Peay had 9 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Montoya scored 7 points and led the team with five assists and three steals. Off the bench, Ernst went 2 for 2 for 5 points and added five rebounds and two assists. Gulaid scored 5 points and blocked two shots.
Head-Royce shot 48 percent from the field (25 of 52) and made 10 of 28 3-point attempts, while Antioch shot 38 percent and made 3 of 15 from deep. The Jayhawks assisted on 15 of their 25 field goals and outrebounded Antioch 25-23. Antioch kept it closer at the free throw line, where it made 10 of 13, and scored 8 second-chance points to none for Head-Royce.
Head-Royce, now 3-2, returns to action at home against College Prep on Friday, Jan. 16.