The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Lady Royals and their suffocating defense was vital in their 59-36 victory over the Scots. In the second quarter, they ended the half on a 16-0 run to pull away and give them their third win of the season. The Scots close their non-region schedule with a 6-6 record. The Lady Royals stand at 4-5, and the win snaps the three-game win streak for the Scots.

First half

The Scots started fast, with senior Dory Jensen making a jumper and two free throws to give them a 4-0 lead. Senior Jazzy Tinajero followed with a layup, and the Scots were up 6-0 with 5:38 on the clock. The Lady Royals would get on the board with juniors Jerzee Hart making a layup and Elle Speredon scoring next to make the score 6-4.

Scots senior Anahi Flores would make a wide-open three-point basket, and Tinajero made two free throws to give the Scots an 11-4 lead with 2:35 in the first quarter. The Scots’ defense dominated the first quarter until Lady Royals senior Sienna Bodily and sophomore Jazzi Prieto made three-pointers. The score at the end of the first quarter was 13-12 in favor of the Scots.

Prieto (l) and Maharaj (r)

The game would turn in the second quarter as the Lady Royals looked inside to Hart, who made two consecutive layups. The Lady Royals led 16-13 with 6:57 on the clock. The Scots answered with the next five points on freshman Aniyah Gomez’s three-point basket and Jenson’s layup. Ben Lomond held a 18-16 lead with 4:23 in the second quarter.

The Lady Royals would get two three-point baskets from senior Alyea Martinez, three points from Hart, five points from Speredon, and a layup from Prieto to close the half. The Lady Royals 16-0 run gave them a 32-18 halftime lead.

Second half

Lady Royals senior Analeise Maharaj would increase the lead to 35-18 with a three-point basket to start the second half. The Scots would come back with a three-pointer by senior Valencia Johansen and make the score 35-22 at the 6:06 mark. A Hart layup and Maharaj’s three-point shot put the Lady Royals’ lead at 18 points, 40-22, with 4:41 in the third quarter.

Speredon and Maharaj would make layups, and freshman Rihanna Jones added a three-point basket to give the Lady Royals a commanding 47-28 lead to end the third quarter. The Lady Royals would outscore the Scots 12-8 in the fourth quarter. A three-point basket by Prieto, two free throws by Hart, and baskets by juniors Ariana Strain and Iva Hunt closed out the scoring for the Lady Royals. Tinajero scored the Scots’ final four points, and the final score had the Lady Royals on top 59-36.

Royals Elle Speredon

Outstanding performances

Speredon led the Lady Royals with 14 points and four rebounds. Hart followed with 13 points and four blocked shots. Hart is the state leader in blocks, averaging 3.3 blocks per game. Prieto and Maharaj controlled the tempo and made excellent passes inside to Hart and Speredon—great team defense with 13 steals led by Martinez’s six. The Lady Royals will start Region 5 play with a home game against the Viewmont Vikings on January 3, 2023.

The Scots were led in scoring by Jenson’s 13 points, followed by Tinajero scoring 11 points. Ben Lomond will start Region 13 play with a road game at South Summit on January 9, 2023.

photos courtesy James Tate