Troy Clamps Down on Appel for Title

It always seems to come down to defense for Fullerton Troy, and its fourth consecutive appearance in a girls’ basketball state title game was no different.

The Warriors wore down Concord Carondelet and wore out Jayne Appel to overcome an early second-quarter deficit and take a 51-46 victory Friday at Arco Arena. The Division II title is Troy’s third in four years and avenged a loss two seasons ago to Carondelet, whose Stanford-bound Appel is considered one of the nation’s top players.

Troy (34-1), the state’s top-ranked team, locked on to Appel, a 6-foot-4 senior who averages 27 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots, and forced her to bring the ball up court. She made eight of her first 12 shots and ended up with 24 points, but in the fourth quarter, after the score was tied, 38-38, she closed out the game making only one of eight. Her shots fell short and so did Carondelet (29-4).

“I’m not going to make a living trying to beat someone like Jayne Appel,” said Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan, whose team won its 27th in a row and whose only loss was to national power New York Christ the King. “She’s a gamer, she’s not going to admit that she was tired, but she was exhausted.”

Appel finished with nine rebounds and four blocks. With her team trailing, 49-46, with 16 seconds left, she missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw situation.

Troy got solid performances from its Arizona-bound forwards, 6-1 twins Rheya and Rhaya Neabors. Rheya guarded Appel most of the night and provided 14 points and four rebounds.

Rhaya had 14 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.