FRISCO - HP went on the road again Tuesday and scored another victory, this one coming against an athletic Frisco Centennial team the Lady Scots could see again in the playoffs.

The Lady Scots (5-3) got off to a quick start with an 8-2 run to open the game, and once HP built the lead into double digits in the second quarter, Centennial (3-8) got within nine only once. HP has won its last two games heading into this weekend's Garland ISD Tournament, and takes on Mesquite Horn at 4 p.m. Thursday at Sachse High School in the opening round.

It was a big game for Haylee Anigian-Rios, who nailed a pair of three-point shots in the first half that sent HP out to a 23-11 lead while Kaitlyn Read was dicing up the defense with scoring drives to the basket. Read and Anigian-Rios gave the crowd a highlight play in the second quarter when she somehow dropped a halfcourt pass through three Centennial players on the fast break that Anigian-Rios caught in time for a lay-in on the other side.

Read scored 10 points in the first half and Anigian-Rios had eight in the first half, which matched Centennial's entire output as HP led 28-18 at the break. The Lady Scots' defense had a solid half as well, holding Centennial to six field goals.

Alex Reynolds came off the bench to score another highlight, stretching over a defender on the right side to score a running jumper past the defender's perfect position. 

HP increased its lead with a 5-0 scoring run to start the second half helped in part by a three-pointer by Sydney McDaniel. Libby Ethington was a stalwart on defense with five blocks to go with her eight points, most of which came on short jumpers in the lane.

Read snuck inside for more points, and Anigian-Rios rained in another three-pointer and finished with a season-high 15 points to bolster the second-half scoring. Reynolds sank another field goal and had two free throws in crunch time to finish with six points. 

Amanda Goodwin had three points, and Courtney Klingaman scored two along with being an impact player on defense.

 

Centennial made a run in the final two minutes to get within seven at 56-49, but HP made enough free throws and created three turnovers with its defense to kill the rally.

The win marked a reprieve of sorts for HP against Frisco ISD schools that have eliminated the Lady Scots from the playoffs the past two seasons. Centennial is expected to be a playoff contender in District 9-4A, which faces HP's District 10-4A mates in the first round of the playoffs. The win also upped HP assistant coach Brandon George's record to 2-0 at the helm of the Lady Scots while head coach Amy Matlock is on maternity leave.