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WARREN -- Warren JFK hosted St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday in a Portage Trail Conference matchup, and the Eagles prevailed 56-46.
"We started out well moving the ball and shooting," JFK coach Marc Morgan said. "That's our game. If we're going to win, we're going to shoot it well."
The Eagles (12-3, 5-1) got off to a hot start from the field. Sophomore Gianna Pompelia (14 points) took the opening tip and drained one from behind the arc.
"We all played hard," Pompelia said. "Everyone contributed. We worked together as a team. Everyone can score on this team. We just have to keep playing as one."
Senior Ava Darney (14 points) hit one from downtown, and JFK was up 13-3 early in the first quarter. The Eagles kept attacking, and it was 22-13 heading to the second.
Aquinas played a physical brand of basketball, and JFK junior Aniyah Johnson matched that physicality up and down the court.
Senior Veronica Fields got the assist to freshman Laney Johnson after the Eagles displayed good ball movement.
Freshman point guard Didi Ryan, who finished with a team-high 19 points, stole the ball and laid it in. Then, she did it again and JFK led 33-23 at halftime.
"Our biggest thing is execution," Ryan said. "When we come out, we have to come with everything we have. We can't have a slow start. We want to keep improving and go as far as we can."
The Knights (6-9, 1-4) started improving in the third quarter. Sophomore K'Lynn Carter (game-high 23 points) helped cut the deficit to 5 points.
"We brought good energy," Aquinas coach Ryan Hill said. " We worked hard to get back in the game, but we had some bad possessions. We just couldn't close that gap any closer than five points. JFK shoots the ball extremely well. They push tempo. Our girls fought really hard. JFK worked really hard as well."
Hannah Myers went to the floor to steal the ball for the Eagles. Johnson made a basket in the lane, and JFK was up 43-36 at the end of the third.
"If we get hot, then we can get you," said Morgan. "Otherwise, it becomes a closer game. Our defense had to become the sticking point. Sometimes, we're going to struggle on defense. But, we have the hopes that we'll cash in on the other end."
Pompelia cashed in with another one from deep, and Darney finished with a finger-roll as JFK pulled away.
The Eagles got to play the first half of the season with a Lakeview transfer, senior Marina Sanders, on the roster. Because of transfer rules, she's not eligible to play in the second half of the season.
"I was allowed to play the first 11 games of the season," Sanders said. "We built up a lot of momentum. We had a fun time. Now, I'm unable to play the last half of the season and any playoff games. It's a lot different.
"It's hard sitting on that bench, just watching, knowing you could help. It's a big eye opener. But, it's good that I can still help the girls on the sidelines and help make them better everyday at practice."
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