Rosary Just Can’t Compete With Kearny’s Alexander

Triola Alexander was simply too much for Rosary on Thursday night.

Alexander scored 34 points, highlighted by hot streaks to open each half, to lead San Diego Kearny past the Royals, 59-48, in the semifinals of the Division III Southern California Regional girls’ basketball playoffs.

The Komets (28-2) opened the game with a 12-0 run and went on to deny Rosary (23-11) a return trip to the regional final.

Alexander, a 6-foot-2 center, connected on 15 of 26 shots from the field.

“It seemed she knocked down all her shots. It’s hard to guard a 6-2 player like that,” Rosary Coach Richard Yoon said. “I’m really impressed with how she handled the press. I thought it would rattle her just a little.”

Alexander scored the first seven points of the first half and recorded eight straight points to start the second half, extending Kearny’s lead to 36-19 with 4:37 left in the third period.

The Royals, who shot just 17 of 58 from the field, closed within 41-32 with 7:38 left in the game, but could get no closer.

Jenise Karcher and Jen Farner each had 13 points to lead Rosary.

“We missed way too many layups and easy shots,” Yoon said. “It was difficult [falling] behind but we had a lot of opportunities and we just didn’t make the shots.”

In the first two minutes of the game, Alexander hit all three Kearny shots from the field, including a three-pointer. Meanwhile, the Royals committed three turnovers.

Alexander had all but one of the Komets’ points in their 12-point run to open the game, before Rosary scored on a free throw by Farner 4:52 into the game. The Royals’ first field goal came with 5:25 elapsed on Karcher’s three-pointer.

Kearny took an 18-8 lead after one quarter and built a 28-17 halftime edge despite making only two field goals in the second quarter.

Khadijah Coakley had a game-high 16 rebounds for the Komets.

Latasha Lewis added 14 points for Kearny, including nine in the second half. After Rosary moved within nine, Lewis answered with a three-pointer to start a 6-0 run.

The Komets prevailed even though they made just nine of 25 from the free-throw line.