Rolling Hills Prep Defeats Bishop Montgomery 47-37 in Nonleague Matchup

In a closely contested nonleague match on December 5, 2023, the Rolling Hills Prep (RHP) girls basketball team secured a 47-37 victory against Bishop Montgomery in Torrance. Despite struggles in shooting, RHP leveraged its depth and experience from last season’s CIF State Southern California Regionals qualification to pull away in the fourth quarter.

RHP, now boasting a record of 5-2, showcased a balanced offensive effort with four players scoring in double figures. Guard Leah Sasaki led the charge with a game-high 13 points, while guard Brooklyn Hall and center Mia Fernandez contributed 12 points each, and Regan Enright added 10.

Head coach Moniquee Alexander expressed pride in her team’s ability to stay cohesive throughout the game, particularly after losing an early 9-2 lead. “The biggest thing I always tell the girls is that we’re a family and we take care of each other,” Alexander said. “I think the whole game they did a really good job of that.”

Bishop Montgomery, currently struggling with a record of 3-7, faced challenges without two of its starters. The Knights fell behind significantly, trailing 34-24 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Despite a timeout that sparked a brief rally, the team could not maintain momentum, missing 13 consecutive shots during critical moments of the game.

Knights head coach Rheina Ale highlighted the defensive shortcomings that hindered her team’s performance. “I haven’t seen them play that bad defensively. We couldn’t keep them outside of the paint,” Ale noted. “It’s hard for us to cut the lead if we keep giving them easier shots.”

Bishop Montgomery’s top scorer was guard G’Layah Salazar, who managed to put up 12 points, while guard Kali Pascual added nine. Despite their efforts, the Knights struggled to adapt to new roles, particularly in the absence of returning starter Sophia Dignadice, who is currently with the Philippines national team and expected to return on December 21, 2023.

The game was characterized by a series of runs, with RHP holding a narrow lead of 23-20 at halftime. Hall’s early performance set the tone, as she led all scorers with eight points by the break. Sasaki’s contributions in the third quarter, including three crucial 3-pointers, helped RHP extend its lead.

Enright, who had a slow start, found her rhythm in the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups that pushed RHP’s lead to 43-30. Alexander described Enright as “the most resilient kid in South Bay,” emphasizing her ability to overcome challenges both on and off the court.

Bishop Montgomery managed to score a late layup through Salazar to reduce the deficit, but it was too late to influence the outcome. Ale remains focused on the development of her younger players, acknowledging that the current challenges present valuable learning opportunities. “We have to go through these things in order to get better,” she said.

As both teams continue their seasons, RHP will look to build on this momentum, while Bishop Montgomery aims to regroup and find its footing upon the return of its key players.