GIRLS' BASKETBALL: ROYAL COMEBACK FOR HIGHLANDERS RALLY FROM BIG EARLY DEFICIT NETS VICTORY ROYAL 63, NEWBURY PARK 53.Byline: KEVIN CONNELLY Special to the Daily News NEWBURY Newbury, town (1991 pop. 31,488), West Berkshire, S central England. In a farming region, Newbury trades in wool, malt, and farm products. Paper, furniture, and metal products are also made. In the Middle Ages the town was an important textile manufacturing center. The 16th-century cloth hall contains a museum. Civil war battles were fought at Newbury in 1643 and 1644. PARK -- Erika Ward stood with a pained expression on her face Wednesday night, shaking her head in disbelief. It was just minutes into the game, generally no time to panic, but the Royal High of Simi Valley girls' basketball team already trailed by double-digits and was on the verge of being chased out of the gym. That all changed in an instant, as the Highlanders responded with a ferocious rally of their own, then held on for a 63-53 victory over host Newbury Park to move into a three-way tie atop the Marmonte League standings. Ward scored 14 points and Rose Lioy added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Highlanders (20-5 overall, 11-2 Marmonte), who won despite trailing 16-3 late in the first quarter. The Highlanders scored 18 unanswered points on the way to outscoring the Panthers 25-1 over a six-minute span to take a 28-17 second-quarter lead. Newbury Park (18-7, 11-2) responded to take a 35-30 three minutes into the third quarter, but Royal went on a 14-0 run and never trailed again. ``We came out with no intensity, but we picked it up in a hurry,'' Ward said. ``Newbury Park is a really tough place to play, but we think we're the best team in the Marmonte League. We hope we proved that tonight.'' With the victory, Royal moves into a tie with Newbury Park and Moorpark (22-3, 11-2) in the Marmonte League standings with one regular-season game remaining. The Highlanders, ranked No.8 in the area by the Daily News, last won a league title in 2003. Royal, Newbury Park and Moorpark each play teams with losing records in their final regular-season contests. ``It will likely end up as a three-way tie, but we feel like we're the champions,'' Royal coach Mike Kohl said. ``We have one of the best offenses around, and tonight we proved we can play defense, too.'' Nikki Graham had a game-high 19points and Alison Turley had 12 points for No. 7 Newbury Park, which has won five of the past seven Marmonte League titles. Jen Mosier had 11 points for Royal. kevin.connelly@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Newbury Park's Nikki Graham, left, and Royal's Kris King battle for the ball during Wednesday's game. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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