Eastside Prep girls basketball wins 10th in a row, takes out Menlo School

By Greg Lydon

Hub Correspondent

Eastside College Prep- 16 13 16 7 - 52

Menlo School- 13 6 9 15 - 43

Scoring

ESP

Felicia Anderson- 14

Ahjalee Harvey- 23

Ausjerae Holland- 2

Hashima Carothers- 4

Leanne Martin- 9

Menlo

Emma Paye- 8

Whitney Hooper- 15

Drew Edelman- 16

Lauren Lete- 2

Jasmin Williams- 2

Backed by seven triples, including a clutch 3-point dagger from junior guard Ahjalee Harvey late in the fourth quarter, the Eastside College Prep girls basketball team won its 10^th straight game, defeating Menlo School-Atherton 52-43 Friday evening at Menlo College.

The Panthers improved to 15-2 overall and 4-0 in WBAL league action. Eastside's last loss came way back on Dec. 11 against Bishop O' Dowd High-Oakland in a pre-season tourney.

Harvey finished with a game-high 23 points, including four three's, showcasing her speed and newly improved lethal jumper throughout the match-up.

A Whitney Hooper bucket down low cut the Panthers advantage to nine with a little over two minutes play.

Eastside went into the final period up 45-28 and gobbled up clock for the majority of the early part of the fourth.

After the lead was nearly cut in half, the Panthers junior leader put a bow on the road victory with a cold blooded triple from the top of the arch.

Harvey's fourth 3-pointer of the night put Eastside ahead 48-36 with 120 seconds left in the game.

Eastside went onto to win the game 52-43.

“That's one of the areas I worked really hard on over the summer,” Harvey said about her jump shot. “Coach wanted us to come out and put the game away in the fourth quarter. I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”

Menlo, the defending league champ, finished last year with a spotless league record.

This years Knights team is a young one.

Coach John Paye will play as many as five freshman on any given night.

“They have an excellent team over there,” Paye said. “We are very, very young team. They hit seven 3-pointers and we only hit one. All I really want to see is the effort and I got that tonight.”

From the opening tap, the Panthers pushed the tempo.

Harvey opened the scoring finding senior sniper Felicia Anderson for a quick triple.

On the next possession, Harvey drained a 3-ball of her own.

Eastside led 8-2 early and held a 16-13 edge after one quarter of play.

“We have to set the temp every night,” ESP head coach Donovan Blythe said. “I'm only playing five. I don't have an army.”

Harvey scored 15 of her 23 points in the first half, helping the Panthers take a double digit lead into the locker room.

Freshmen center Drew Edelman, who is listed at 6-foot-3 on the roster, led the Knights with 16 points.

Ten of Edelman's 16 points came in the second half.

While ESP stayed hot behind the arch, the home team got cold in the second quarter and hit rock bottom midway through the third.

Hooper nailed a corner jumper early in the second half to make the score 29-21. A five minute scoring drought for the Knights would follow, including a possession where the home team grabbed four offensive boards, but couldn't get any of the second chance opportunities to fall.

ESP went on a 9-0 run during the drought and build up the lead to 45-28 after three.

“Its a tough league,” Blythe said. “These young ladies are tough. We've played 17 games so far with only six players. I'm very proud of where were at so far.”

These two teams meet again Feb. 9 at ESP.