Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Coming off a 22-8 season and all five starters returning, the Lady Longhorns basketball team was expected to be good.

The hoopers did not disappoint their followers in the opening game of the season, squashing the Holbrook Roadrunners 46-27.

Playing Nov. 24 in Wilson Dome, senior Jenna Robertson led the team to the victory with team highs in points (15) and rebounds (16).

“She played a really good all-around game,” coach Stacy Anderson said.

Shining on the Wilson Dome court is nothing new for Robertson, who last fall was one of the volleyball team’s most accomplished players.

In addition to Robertson’s exploits buoying the Payson effort, Kayla Morgan stepped up with 11 points and Christina Deaton had eight.

Last season both Morgan and Deaton were All-East region first team players.

Anderson also cited senior point guard Cydney Figueroa for “a nice job when Holbrook tried to put the pressure on,” and the defense because “Holbrook wasn’t able to get to many shots off.”

Also, she added, “We played together well as a team, but will continue to practice on the little things.”

Among those details she’ll probably work on is doing away with the turnovers that frequently stalled the Lady Horns against Holbrook.

Payson’s victory was nailed down in the second quarter when the team went from a 14-7 lead to a 20-8 cushion by completely shutting down the Roadrunner offense in the stanza.

After that, Anderson said, “I would say it never felt close enough to make me nervous.”

At the onset of the fourth quarter, Payson led 46-27.

The Lady Horns return to the Wilson Dome hardwood on Dec. 2 against Fountain Hills. The varsity game will be preceded by a jayvee clash.