GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Kennedy Utilizes Quick Start to Take Care of Pacifica, 68-39

From the opening tipoff, Kennedy High School made itself at home Friday night at Pacifica High School, sprinting to a 14-0 lead and an eventual 68-39 victory in a Garden Grove League game.

Using a 2-2-1 full-court press, the Fighting Irish (9-6 overall, 6-1 league) forced 27 turnovers by Pacifica (7-8, 5-2) en route to a 33-12 halftime lead.

“We felt we could pressure their guards,” Kennedy Coach John Mayberry said, “and we took them out of their game. Usually Pacifica owns the paint, but we kept them outside.”

Kennedy’s front line outscored the Mariners’ front line, 47-20. Forward Jim Barker led the onslaught with 23 points and a career-high seven assists. Center Jermaine Galloway added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The victory kept Kennedy in second place, one game behind Rancho Alamitos, the only team to defeat Kennedy in league play this season. The two teams meet Wednesday at Rancho Alamitos. “Rancho is next up for us,” Barker said. “After we lost to them in the first round, we’ve just kept getting better and better.”

Pacifica saw the improvement in Kennedy’s defense, which forced the Mariners to shoot less than 30% for the first half.

Randy Schulze led Pacifica with 12 points and nine rebounds.