OAKLAND, Calif. Head-Royce scored 13 of the game's final 14 points to erase a seven-point deficit and beat Antioch JV 54-52 on Sunday, Dec. 14. The Jayhawks improved to 5-1 and won their third straight game. They made nine 3-pointers and forced 22 turnovers, which was enough to overcome a 42-28 deficit on the boards.
Azaan Zaka opened the scoring with a 3-pointer from Kian Patel, but Antioch JV answered with 15 straight points, three of them on second-chance baskets, and led 15-3. That 12-point cushion was the visitors' largest of the day. Patel ended the drought with a 3-pointer from LoRyan Boyette-Tindall, and the Jayhawks chipped away from there. A Clayton Sonne 3-pointer and an Owen Sunwoo basket cut the deficit to 19-14. Patel added a second-chance 3-pointer, and baskets by Zaka and Sonne tied the game at 24-24.
Antioch JV went back in front 30-26 before Head-Royce ran off seven straight points. Patel hit a 3-pointer from Sunwoo, Zaka made a free throw to tie it at 30-30, and Makaio Popp buried a 3-pointer from Sunwoo for a 33-30 lead, Head-Royce's first since 3-0. The visitors answered with a 7-0 run of their own to lead 39-35. Two Sonne free throws and a Sunwoo basket tied the game at 39-39, but Antioch JV scored nine of the next 11 points to go up 48-41.
The Jayhawks closed the game with their defense. Zaka hit a 3-pointer from Popp, Boyette-Tindall scored off a turnover and Jayan Shah made a free throw, cutting the deficit to 48-47. After an Antioch JV free throw, Zaka hit a 3-pointer off a turnover, assisted by Boyette-Tindall, for a 50-49 lead. Patel followed with another 3-pointer off a turnover, this one from Popp, and Shah's free throw made it 54-49, Head-Royce's largest lead of the game. Antioch JV hit a late 3-pointer to account for the final margin.
Zaka led Head-Royce with 14 points, going 3-for-5 from 3-point range, and added two steals. Patel scored 12 points, and all four of his field goals were 3-pointers. Boyette-Tindall contributed 7 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals and 2 blocks off the bench. Shah also scored 7 off the bench, making 5 of 8 free throws. Sonne added 7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Sunwoo had a team-high 5 assists along with 4 points and 4 rebounds, and Popp finished with 3 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Neither team shot well. Head-Royce made 33 percent of its shots (18-for-54), and Antioch JV made 30 percent (19-for-64). The difference came from beyond the arc, where the Jayhawks went 9-for-23 and the visitors went 3-for-19. Head-Royce totaled 16 steals and forced 22 turnovers. Antioch JV grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and held a 10-3 edge in second-chance points. Each team scored 10 points off turnovers, and the Head-Royce bench added 14 points.
Head-Royce, now 5-1, returns to action at home against Sacred Heart Prep JV on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.