MISSION HILLS – The Alemany and Troy girls basketball programs needed no introductions Saturday night. The teams were meeting for the fourth time in the past two years and know each other well.
However, Troy keeps winning the more meaningful contests, and it did so again with a 57-50 victory in the first round of the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.
Troy knocked off Alemany in last year’s Open Division consolation championship game.
Troy made outside shots and took advantage of second opportunities to stymie the much bigger Warriors.
Kianna Smith, a McDonald’s All-American selection, scored 24 points to lead Troy, which avenged a loss to Alemany on Dec. 9 in the Troy tournament semifinals.
Naomi Hunt scored 14 points for Troy (20-6), which will be home against Sierra Canyon in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night.
After Alemany went on a 10-2 run in the second half, Troy regrouped behind Smith and freshman Aaliyah Tu’ua.
Smith, headed to Cal, scored eight points in the fourth quarter and Tu’ua came through with two baskets.
“We just hit some shots when we needed to,” Troy coach Roger Anderson said. “We attacked some gaps. We are real lucky to come out here and do this a second time.”
Jillian Archer scored 22 points, including 14 in the first half, to lead Alemany (20-7).
Troy jumped out to an 8-0 lead before Alemany led by one-point a the end of the first quarter.
Alemany closed to within 42-41 early in the fourth quarter after falling behind, 40-31.
Smith made six of seven free throws down the stretch to help Troy hold off Alemany.
