Brittany's Game Summaries

Mount Rainier’s Brittany McPhee shoots over Kentwood’s player


Mount Rainier girls basketball beats Kentwood, 66-42 

Sandy Ringer, seattletimes.com, January 24, 2014
It’s just a step along the way, but an important one to the Mount Rainier girls basketball team.

The fifth-ranked Rams clinched at least a share of their third straight SPSL 4A North Division championship Friday night with a 66-42 victory at Kentwood and will no doubt own it outright in the end.

Mount Rainier (14-3, 13-0) is three games up on the second-place Conquerors (11-5, 9-3) with just three to go and has won 50 consecutive division games dating back to the 2010-11 season.

For a team that has placed third at state the past two seasons and is looking to win it all this year, this title might not seem too significant. But that’s not how Brittany McPhee sees it.

“It still means a lot,” the senior all-star said after piling up 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals. “You have to take it step by step. … We try to keep everything in perspective, but obviously the ultimate goal is a lot bigger.”

McPhee said the Rams feel good about the progress they’re making, though the three losses are already more than they endured in either of the past two seasons, which ended 27-2. All three losses have been to ranked teams.

“Better to lose them now than at the end of the season,” McPhee said. “It’s just preparing us for later on, to get a little thicker skin and get a little tougher. And hopefully it’s helping.”

Rams fall at ShoWare

Gerardo Bolong, highlinetimes.com, January 24, 2014
Poor shooting and late game weariness against a powerful inside presence were the core components against state fifth-ranked Mount Rainier in a 68-53 girls 4A basketball loss to No. 7 Inglemoor in the 2014 King Showcase presented by Ram Restaurant and Brewery held at the ShoWare Center on Mon., Jan. 20.
"We were not finishing easy shots, especially in the third quarter," said Brittany McPhee who scored 23 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. 

Taylor Leads GSB to Victories

Taylor Rooks (31) of Gill St. Bernard's fires a layup over the head of Franklin player during a Varsity Girls Basketball game between Gill St. Bernard's and Franklin in Gladstone, NJ


Girls basketball: No. 10 Gill St. Bernard's tops No. 9 Franklin, 65-56

Daniel Gibson, nj.com, January 23, 2014
Rooks registered 30 points, 13 rebounds and five assists to lead Gill St. Bernard's to a 65-56 victory over Franklin yesterday in Gladstone.
The Franklin fans were out in full force and chants of "defense" made this road game against Gill St. Bernard's feel more like a home game -- at least until the fourth period.Taylor Rooks did her best to send them home unhappy and avenge the loss Franklin handed Gill St. Bernard's last month.
The third quarter was the turning point as Rooks scored seven points in the period and pushed the lead to double-digits for the first time. Gill St. Bernard's led by as many as 12 in the period and carried a 45-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
Rooks' baskets came in a variety of ways throughout the game -- floaters, put-backs following offensive boards, layups off backdoor cuts and off drives and 3-pointers. She had the full arsenal on display and looked focused from the opening jump ball. After the game Rooks was pleased with the outcome after losing to Franklin in the first meeting.
"It was definitely in our minds," Rooks said. "That was an inter-conference loss and we knew we had to come back, play our game and win today. It was a very important game."


Gill St. Bernard's (66) at Rancocas Valley (59)

nj.com, January 25, 2014
Taylor Rooks registered a double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead Gill St. Bernard's, No. 10 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, to a 66-59 victory over No. 2 Rancocas Valley in Absecon.

Kaylee's Game update

Natrona County looks to heal after nonconference loss to Sheridan
Jeff, Kirshman, trib.com, January 22, 2014
The Natrona County girls basketball team’s nonconference slate came to a close last weekend with a 55-53 loss on the road against Sheridan.
The loss was the Fillies’ first of the season featuring a lineup that included senior Kaylee Johnson, who fouled out with less than a minute remaining in the game. Natrona County (8-4) had three opportunities in the last 1 minute, 15 seconds to tie the game with free throws -- after trailing 34-16 at halftime -- but it was unable to come through and send the game past regulation.
Keeping pace with the opposition has proven difficult for Natrona County with Kaylee Johnson out of the lineup, and such was the case once again against the Broncs.
Kaylee Johnson registered a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Taylor's Game Updates

nj.com, January 21, 2014
Taylor Rooks has been putting in work all season long for Gill St. Bernard's (8-2). Rooks is the reigning New Jersey Girls Basketball Player of the Year, and she's certainly living up to the honor, averaging 23 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game. Leading a Gill St. Bernard's high octane offensive attack that just put up 104 points in a game last week.

nj.com, January 18, 2014
Taylor Rooks racked up 38 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, five steals and three blocks to lead Gill St. Bernard's to a 104-39 victory over Hillsborough in Gladstone.

newjerseyhills.com, January 17, 2014
Taylor Rooks (15 points/12 rebounds) led the Gill St. Bernard’s girls basketball team (7-2) to a 58-45 win over Springfield (Ma.) Central at the Living Hope Festival in Sparta last Friday.
Taylor Rooks had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 66-38 Skyland Conference victory over Hunterdon Central on Jan. 9.
Rooks (20 pts) paced the offense in a 72-29 thrashing of Immaculata on Jan. 7.

Kaylee Returns to Lead Natrona

Kevin Koile, county10.com, January 14, 2014
#2 Gillette at #1 Natrona
Back from an ankle injury, Kaylee Johnson led the Fillies with 18 points, as they would get back to their winning ways, by topping the defending champion Lady Camels in the process.
The question coming into this game for the Fillies…was their Stanford-bound superstar…Kaylee Johnson had been recovering from an ankle injury…things appear to be ok so far…she would clean up her own mess and score.
Kaylee Johnson is comfortable when she can get offensive rebounds…and second chances…she led all scorers with 18 points.
As far as the injury goes…what injury? She’s just getting back to work. 
Natrona has righted the ship…as they would win going away…56-to-30.

Taylor Leads Gill St. Bernard's to Victory

nj.com, January 9, 2014
Taylor Rooks' 22 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals led Gill St. Bernard's to a 66-38 victory over Hunterdon Central in Gladstone.