Basketball Recap: Justine Henry's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Mary Louis Academy over Rutgers Prep

After flying high against Bishop Loughlin last Wednesday, Mary Louis Academy came back down to earth. The Mary Louis Academy Hilltoppers took a 75-71 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Rutgers Prep Argonauts. While losing is never fun, the Hilltoppers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 89th in New York, while the Argonauts are ranked eighth in New Jersey).

Several Hilltoppers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Justine Henry, who dropped a double-double on 16 points and ten rebounds. Mary Louis Academy is 2-1 when Henry posts eight or more boards, but 3-5 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Arielle Barnes, who went 7 for 11 en route to 17 points and five assists.

Rutgers Prep's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Ava Lamonica, who went 9 of 19 on her way to 25 points along with five rebounds and four steals. Another player making a difference was Hailey Benbow, who went 6 for 11 en route to 17 points and six steals.

Mary Louis Academy now has a losing record at 5-6. As for Rutgers Prep, the win (which was their third in a row) raised their record to 9-2.

Mary Louis Academy wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next match, a 67-51 defeat against Audenried on the 19th. Rutgers Prep has also already played their next game (against Hunterdon Central), but no score has been uploaded at the time of writing.