London Harvey scores 30, Kiki Scott adds 28 as Rosedale Christian rolls past City, 82-51, at 26th BCPS Basketball Academy
Rosedale Christian girls basketball showed flashes of excellent play in the first half Friday against City in the opening game of the 26th annual BCPS Basketball Academy at Dunbar.
In the second half, the Panthers put it all together.
Proving quicker, bigger and more on point, Rosedale got 30 points and dominant work on the boards from 6-foot-2 junior forward London Harvey and 28 points and dynamic all-around play from sophomore guard Kiki Scott in a comfortable 82-51 win over the Knights.
The Panthers improved to 12-4 on the season, while City, which got a team-high 19 points from senior guard Saniya Green, fell to 4-6.
After watching their early double-digit advantage evaporate when the Knights went ahead 34-31 with 1:45 left in the first half, the Panthers closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run. They outscored City 22-6 in the third quarter and never looked back.
Rosedale’s pestering defense set the tone, as it has all season.
“We’re able to create a feverish atmosphere on defense which forces the other team to make mistakes, and then we score a lot off those mistakes,” said first-year Rosedale coach Rob Long, whose Panthers limited the Knights to 17 second-half points. “Once that happens, Kiki starts hitting from the outside, London is banging inside and everything just clicks.”
With the defense ramping up, Harvey controlling the boards and Scott pushing the pace, the Panthers simply overwhelmed the Knights in the pivotal third quarter.
In a two-minute stretch, Scott had seven points, two steals and two assists in an 11-2 run that made it 51-38 with 4:40 left.
“I felt I needed to take charge,” she said. “I knew if I got myself more involved, it would lift my teammates as well. And once I started moving around and making my shots, it opened things up for them and I started passing them the ball and we were all making shots.”
Harvey, who was named her team’s Most Valuable Player for the game, made sure the lead stayed comfortable with 14 fourth-quarter points.
“For me, it’s really about confidence and knowing I can trust my teammates,” she said. “One of my favorite things is knowing that they can deliver me the ball wherever I want it, so that confidence in my teammates makes dominating inside a little easier.”
After falling behind 15-4 midway through the first quarter, the Knights were able to overcome a rough start and briefly get back into the game.
Green, who was named the Knights’ MVP, was the big reason why. With City down 24-16 entering the second quarter, she found her shooting form in dazzling fashion. After scoring the opening basket, she hit two 3-pointers and then a short jumper at the baseline that cut the Panthers’ lead to 30-28 with 5:09 left before halftime.
But after forward Montgomery Bedford converted a three-point play for the Knights’ only lead at 34-31 with 1:45 to play, Rosedale took control as Scott closed the half with a blocked shot followed by a 3-pointer that provided a 39-34 halftime advantage.
“We’re working hard and getting better every day — we just need to finish the plays and box out better,” City coach Breaira Barksdale said. “Our team is growing and we’re going through growing pains, but I think as we continue to get better, we’re going to find more success.”
The Academy continues Saturday at Dunbar with a slate of four boys games: Edmondson vs. C. Milton Wright at 1 p.m.; City vs. New Jersey’s Cliffside Park at 3 p.m.; Patterson vs. Oxon Hill at 5 p.m.; and Lake Clifton vs. Archbishop Curley at 7 p.m.
RC — Speller 14, Scott 28, Hack 3, Sitter 2, Harvey 30, Cox 4, Kelly 1. Totals: 29 18-29 82
C — Dorsey 3, Green 19, Harris 2, Byrd 11, Coleman 9, Bedford 7. Totals: 18 11-17 51
Halftime: RC, 39-34