Troy Overwhelms Foothill’s One-Mann Show

Not even Kristen Mann and all her heroics could save Foothill this time.

Mann poured in 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, both game highs, but it wasn’t enough to offset Troy’s balanced attack as the Knights fell, 71-45, Saturday in a Division I-A second-round girls’ basketball playoff game at Troy High.

“Tonight we had to overcome a great performance by a great player,” Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan said of Mann. “But I think we’re a little more balanced and we tilted our whole defense toward her. We wanted to make the other people beat us and I didn’t think they could.”

In addition to not being able to find offense outside of its star player, Foothill (17-11) was also stifled by Troy’s full-court trap, committing numerous turnovers in the backcourt that led to easy points for the Warriors, who jumped out to a 15-1 lead and never trailed.

“You can’t really simulate that pressure in practice,” said Foothill Coach Ty Watkins. “I think the kids were mentally prepared for it, but physically it hurt us a lot in the first half.”

Despite the mistakes, Mann kept the Knights in it for the first half, scoring all of the team’s 13 second-quarter points. Troy, however, had too many offensive weapons.

Foothill pulled within five points midway through the second quarter, but that was as close as it would get as Troy (24-4) stretched its lead to 22 in the third.

The Warriors had three players in double figures, led by Veronica Johns-Richardson, who recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Guard Alicia Komaki had 17 points, including five three-pointers, and Amanda Livingston had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Troy will play Perris in the quarterfinals Wednesday.