Freshman Kendall Perry paces Dr. Phillip's rout of Harmony

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Kendall Perry scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the first half, and the Dr. Phillips Panthers held Harmony scoreless in the second and fourth quarters Thursday while routing the Longhorns 70-9 in a Class 7A, Region 2 quarterfinal.

Perry, a freshman, also had six steals and three assists for the defending champion Panthers (26-1), who will host fellow 2022 Final Four team Vero Beach on Tuesday. Vero Beach routed St. Lucie Centennial 63-24.

“We stopped their best player from scoring,” Perry said. “I saw opportunities to take it to the basket, and I took my time and finished my layups when I went to the basket.”

Perry had 13 points, five steals and three assists while the Panthers built a 45-7 halftime lead. Dr. Phillips scored the game’s first eight points. Once sophomore Anilys Rolon hit a 3-pointer for a 14-2 lead, the Panthers never led by less than 10 points.

The game matched two teams that had only two seniors each and were led by underclassmen. The Panthers, who have beaten three other teams by 50-plus points, stifled the Longhorns in the first half with a full-court press.

Dr. Phillips coach Anthony Jones said the six-day layover left the Panthers itching to face another foe.

“When you have a long layover before you play that first regional game, they get very intense in practice and get tired of beating up each other,” Jones said. “They were very excited today and just play a game. It was bad timing for Harmony. We were eager to get on the court and have some fun and play some good defense.”

Even when Dr. Phillips backed off into a half-court defense, the Panthers tested Harmony like few have.

Faith Wener had five first-quarter points for Harmony (16-5), which made its first regional appearance since a 2014 7A final berth. But the Panthers’ press forced the Longhorns to wither. Wener led Harmony with five points.

Wener’s 3-pointer with 2:29 left in the first quarter was the last points for Harmony until Ellah Husbands hit a jumper with 7:04 left in the third quarter. The Longhorns would not score after that.

Dr. Phillips junior Trinity Turner also had a big game, scoring 12 points – all in the first half. She also had three steals.

Jones said that when Perry and Turner are both rolling, it softens up defenses for other Panthers to score.

“We’re just coming in with high energy, defense,” Turner said. “We’re just trying to execute plays.”

Sophomore Anilys Rolon had 13 points and three assists for the Panthers. She hit three 3-pointers, including two in the first quarter. Elise Horne, a 6-1 sophomore, scored six points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, helping Dr. Phillips outrebound the Longhorns 38-15.

With the second half played under the running-clock mercy rule, Dr. Phillips emptied the bench, with subs getting all the fourth-quarter minutes. Every Dr. Phillips player took a shot, and nine of 11 players scored.

Perry said she was happy for the break, but also reveled in cheering for her teammates. “Whenever they get in, we welcome them, get them hyped, get them energetic,” Perry said. “Whenever they score, we all go crazy. It’s just a great moment.”

Jones said the Panthers love starting fast and finishing strong to get the bench players opportunity to gain confidence.

That will be important, considering the Panthers are focused on a state-title repeat.

“We did what we’re supposed to do, because we have goals,” Jones said. “That’s just one stepping block closer to reaching our goal.”