On Thursday, the GLCPS Royals earned a 42-27 victory over the King’s Academy JV team. The Royals leaned into inside scoring and defensive pressure, leading to new team records in points (42) and rebounds (29).
Head coach Jonathan Dyer guided the Royals to a 12-point lead by halftime, which continued to increase in the following quarters. The enthusiastic home crowd at the Dennison Memorial Center cheered throughout the match.
Ezven Cruz Mendez totaled 10 points and six rebounds as a key contributor in GLCPS’ front court. The senior reflected on the victory and offered advice to the next class of players.
“We played as a team. We had our offense better than previous times, our defense was at peak level, and a lot of my teammates played a lot better,” Cruz said. “I want to say to whoever comes here next, you’ve got to play right. We need dedication, teamwork, and just have fun doing it.”
Jeremiah Martinez Osorio registered a team-high 15 points and added five rebounds. Ishmmael Martinez had 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Xavier Echevarria-Mojica, Jaiden Andrade, and Adrian Alves each contributed two points. Brian Jones Rivera, Junior Torres, and Marwane Oustat each grabbed one rebound.
Brock Romanowicz was a defensive anchor, securing three rebounds and making key stops throughout the final quarter. The freshman expressed confidence in his growth and the future of the team.
“I was kind of nervous at first, but then I put my head in the game,” Romanowicz said. “I felt really proud of myself. We did amazing. I can’t wait to see what we do next year as an established team. I’m excited for the future.”
The Royals’ win caps a season of hard work and improvement on both ends of the floor.
Mr. Santos teaches GLCPS multilingual learners, is a sports writer for Newsweek and Sports Illustrated, and is an internationally award-winning musician.
