GIRLS BASKETBALL Strong start helps JFK top Rayen for 10th win

The Eagles streaked to a 22-5 lead and then held off the Tigers, 56-45.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- Alyssa Chaves and Aarika Knepp scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, and Warren Kennedy High raced to an 11-0 lead as the Eagles defeated The Rayen School, 56-45, in a non-league girls basketball game Thursday.
"Alyssa [Chaves] and Aarika [Knepp] have been our go-to girls all season," Eagles coach Denise Smith said.
"Alyssa is our outside threat and Aarika our inside weapon," she added. "Tonight, we shot well from the field. Despite winning our last three games, we've struggled to put a complete game together offensively."
The win was the fourth straight for the Eagles (10-6), while the Tigers (12-8) lost their second straight.
Chaves delivers
Chaves had seven of her team-high 18 points (adding five rebounds as well) in the opening period, as the Eagles built their 11-0 start into a 22-5 margin entering the second quarter.
Knepp scored six of her 16 points in the second period, and the Eagles led 35-21 at halftime despite being outscored in the quarter, 16-13.
"We did not play like we are capable of playing," Rayen coach Holly Seimetz said.
"After falling behind as much as we did, we tried to battle back but to no avail," she added. "Losing our final two games of the regular season doesn't bother me; it just shows me that we need to work on some things prior to tournament play. I'll give our team a few days off but we have a lot of work to do before our first tournament game on Feb. 26th."
Holland sparkles
Chaves' six points in the third stanza helped the Eagles open up a 50-33 advantage, but Rayen's Taniesha Holland, who had a game-high 24 points, scored seven points in the final quarter as the Tigers out-scored the Eagles 12-6.
"We're not in a conference so tournament play is special for us," Smith said.
"Rayen is a scary team with plenty of talent; a great second half team," she said. "They gave us a real test. Right now, we feel like we are right on track as the regular season winds down and tournament play is set to begin."
The Eagles were 23-for-39 from the field, including 2-for-9 on 3-pointers, while Rayen was 20-for-55 overall and 4-for-14 beyond the arc.
JFK was 8-for-9 at the foul line while the Tigers were just 1-for-2.