Judges girls pound on Kettle Run in 54-25 blowout

WINCHESTER — Earlier this season the Handley girls’ basketball team traveled to Kettle Run and defeated the Cougars 48-40 in a hard-fought non-district contest.

Immediately following that game the Judges went on a three-game losing streak which they snapped earlier this week with another road win at Skyline.

Three weeks following their narrow eight-point victory at Kettle Run, the young Judges showed just how much they have grown up and matured since that first meeting.

Handley scored the first eight points of the game and never looked back Friday night, rolling over the Cougars 54-25 at Maddex-Omps Gymnasium to sweep the season series.

“I can’t complain,” Handley coach Marvin Scott said. “Any win is a great win. I’m very happy that they put the principles of practice into play tonight. I give my congratulations to all that were on the floor tonight. Our maturity level is suspect at sometimes, but I’m proud of them.

“We’ve beat the teams that we should, and the games that we’ve lost we lost because of a lack basketball IQ, lack of continuity. Here’s a team that hasn’t played varsity basketball before. Though we’ve got four returners, they didn’t play. They don’t have the playing time but they’re getting it this year.”

Handley (10-8) scored the first eight points of the game and seven of those came from freshman standout Angelica Robinson. Robinson scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter, leading the Judges to a 14-3 lead after one. She also pulled down a game-high 20 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.

“Tonight Angelica stepped up and was communicating with her teammates,” Scott said. “I’m very pleased with our two freshman [Robinson and point guard Alysandra Worrell]. They’re starting to make everyone else better and I think that’s indicative of a good player. I looked out there and Angelica was orchestrating and telling them where they needed to be and what we were in.”

The Judges played arguably their best defensive half of the season, allowing only one field goal for the entire first half and only six for the entire game.

Kettle Run (5-13) managed that one field goal and just four free throws in the first half and found themselves trailing 28-7 at the break.

Robinson added seven more points to her total in the third quarter and the Judges added to their lead, holding a 39-17 lead after three periods of play.

The Cougars had no success getting any kind of offense going all night long, committing 26 turnovers for the game.

With the game well in hand, Worrell left the contest late in the third quarter and sat out the entire fourth quarter, but the Judges were able to continue to add to their lead even with their floor leader on the sidelines.

Everyone that was dressed for the Judges saw plenty of action throughout the game and especially in the fourth quarter. Handley outscored the Cougars 15-8 in the final eight minutes of play, with the lead reaching as much as 31 points (53-22) at one point.

Robinson led three Judges in double figures on the night. Sophomore Miriah Smith turned in a quality game with 11 points off the bench and senior Tomekia Waller added 10. Kettle Run’s Melissa McCann scored 13 of the Cougars 25 points.