HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

The ranks of the Poly High girls’ basketball team are growing.

A little more than a week after sophomore point guard Loretta Bolongaita returned to the team after quitting early this season, 5-foot-11 senior center Youssra Marjoua came back and played her first game Friday against Hollywood.

Marjoua, the Parrots’ third-leading scorer at 5.1 points per game and second-leading rebounder with nearly 10 a game last season, helped Poly (1-11, 1-1) record a 44-30 victory.

Marjoua, the only senior on Poly’s roster, is a standout volleyball player and was expected to sit out the basketball season to concentrate on that sport when practice times conflicted with club volleyball.

A recent change in volleyball practice times, however, led to Marjoua’s return.

She had 13 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots against Hollywood.

“I knew she wanted to come back,” Coach Lou Goodman of Poly said. “I just didn’t know if she was going to be able to work it out. We’re happy about it.

“We’re glad to have her back for however many games, and not just for her scoring and rebounds. She has leadership ability. She has a steadying influence on a bunch of freshmen and sophomores.”