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By Kolby Chang

Bulldogs’ Juls Taitano shoots for two over two Royals defenders. (photo by Jesse Castro)

The Okkodo Bulldogs cruised to another win by defeating the Notre Dame Royals 63-44 Friday night at the ND gym. With the win the Bulldogs now stand at an impressive 7-1 with their only loss coming against the Southern High Dolphins.

An aggressive Bulldog offense went right at the Royal defense throughout the evening as the northern school was lead by Felicia Borja’s 19 points, while Juls Taitano added 10 points and Chyna Ramirez chipped in eight points.

The Royals made several runs spearheaded by standout point guard Destiny Castro to keep it close through three quarters but the Bulldogs were simply too much.

“I’m so proud of them. They didn’t give up,” Borja said of her team.

The Bulldogs closed out the first quarter on top 14-9 and kept up their pace going into the second quarter. Lori Okada hit a layup and then followed it up with a putback to make the score 25-14 miday through the second quarter.

Castro then went on a tear as she went to the house with a layup, buried a running right-handed floater and then sunk a fadeaway runner to cut into the Bulldog lead.

With the score now 27-21 at the start of the third, Castro kept her foot on the gas as she ripped away a pass and completed the fastbreak with a layup. Castro went coast-to-coast on the next play to get her team within four points of the lead. In spite of the run, the Bulldogs did not flinch and countered by spreading the floor and attacking the hoop.

Bulldogs’ Ke’ann Castro makes her move around Royals’ Britney Blau for a layup. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Ramirez drained a corner three-pointer and Ke’ann Castro dropped in a slick floater to put the Bulldogs up 36-25. Destiny Castro, however, continued her assault with two strong drives to the hoop as the Royals closed out the third down 36-31.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Bulldogs as they kept the Royals at bay thanks to their balanced offense and tight defense.

The Royals had their chances but missed some second opportunity shots that could have cut into the lead.

Borja left her stamp on the fourth quarter as she went headfirst toward the hoop, took the contact, finished the layup and drained her free throw to make the score 58-40.

Castro finished with a game-high 22 points, six steals and seven rebounds.

Other Scores

Academy 83, Sanchez 24
JFK 48, GW 35
Harvest 39, Guam High 34

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Royals’ Crorina Dudkiewicz goes up against Bulldogs’ Juls Taitano and wins the tipoff. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Bulldogs’ Ke’ann Castro puts it in the bucket for two points unopposed. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Bulldogs take a timeout to go over their coach’s game plan. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Royals’ Destiny Castro goes end to end to put this layup in. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Royals’ Kimberly Murphy reaches to take control of the rebound. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Bulldogs’ Rea Dimag calls out the play to her teammates. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Royals during a time, gathered around their coach. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Bulldogs take a timeout to go over their coach’s game plan. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Royals’ Destiny Castro dumps the ball with a no look pass to her teammate. (photo by Jesse Castro)

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