Skyler Florea Hangs 26 on King City as Bluejays Win

Skyler Florea hung 26 points on King City and Northeast's junior high girls picked right up where they left off last year, beating King City 31-12 Monday. Despite the unbalanced scoring line, she had plenty of help as the rest of the cast played a strong floor game and moved the ball well to back her up. 

The game started out close as Florea scored from inside off a pass from Mylee Wilmes and Gracie Kohlleppel added a free throw, countered by free throws from Beatrix Bowden to make it 3-2. But soon, it was apparent that King City couldn't guard Florea inside, as Northeast was getting her the ball at will, and the fouls were mounting for the purple shirts. Bowden tried guarding Florea, but soon picked up her second foul and had to sit, followed by Brylin Armfield, who picked up three. Meanwhile, Northeast was pulling away on the line, raising their lead to 9-2 at the end of one. Defensively, Northeast was moving well with Brianna Meyer and Mylee Wilmes flying around the perimeter to contest shots and passes, while Florea, Blair Nelson, and Hayley Yost were cleaning up on the defensive boards.

With Northeast leading 11-2 early in the second, Florea picked up her second foul, but the rest of the blue shirts held the fort and even grew the lead. Yost hit a heavily guarded shot in the high post and had some good looks there, while the defensive intensity didn't let up as they only allowed Lyla McKinnon's free throw. Florea finally checked in late in the quarter and grabbed a putback to put Northeast up 15-3 at the half.

The Bluejays did not give King City hope to start the third as Florea hit a free throw, knocked one down from the right side, and added another free throw off a steal and Kohlleppel added a putback as Northeast led 21-3 at the 4:10 mark. Brianna Meyer picked up her defense in the half, getting 3 of her four steals and several tieups as well. King City tried a box and one on Florea, but she kept scoring, getting an inside shot off a pass from Kohlleppel to make it 23-4 after three. She hit two free throws and knocked down another shot from the right side as the lead grew to as much as 27-4 before the Bluejays began subbing freely.

For Northeast, Florea had 26, Gracie Kohlleppel had 3, and Hayley Yost 2.

Hayley Yost had 2 blocks. Skyler Florea and Blair Nelson had 1 each.

Blair Nelson had 9 boards. Hayley Yost had 8, Skyler Florea 7, Gracie Kohlleppel and Brianna Meyer 3 each, and Mylee Wilmes and Emma Vicker 1 each.

Blair Nelson had 5 assists. Mylee Wilmes and Gracie Kohlleppel had 3 each, and Hayley Yost had 1.

Brianna Meyer, Skyler Florea, and Gracie Kohlleppel had 4 tips each. Hayley Yost had 2, while Mylee Wilmes had 1.

Skyler Florea had 5 steals, while Brianna Meyer had 4, Blair Nelson 3, and Hayley Yost, Mylee Wilmes, and Gracie Kohlleppel had 2 each.