The Encinal Jets basketball team took down Head Royce of Oakland 67-53 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to improve its record to 11-8 overall. The Jets won the non-league contest in a special holiday afternoon game on the road. 

Both the Jets and the Jayhawks came out scorching hot on offense to start the contest. The two teams posted their highest point total of any quarter in the game in the first quarter. The Jets held onto a narrow 18-17 lead at the end of the first period. 

Neither team could shake the other in the second period as both squads scored 16 points in the quarter. Encinal held a slim 34-33 advantage at halftime.

The Jets returned to the court in the second half with a new found effort on defense. The Jets held the Jayhawks to 11 points in the third period and nine points in the final quarter — the only quarter they scored single digits. While the Jets turned up the intensity on defense, their offense stayed hot. Encinal posted 17 points in the third period and 16 points in the final quarter.

Four players on the Jets scored in double figures. Sophomore Aneglo Gregory led the team with 18 points. Senior guard Eugene Sanya scored 16 points, junior Stephen Northington put up 12 points; and Javen Johnson scored 11 points. Northington also posted six assists, while Sanya grabbed 10 rebounds.

Three players on the Jayhawks (Kyle Brandt, Isaiah Martin and Max Schmitz) posted a team high 12 points.

The Jets are looking like a lock to qualify for the North Coast Section playoffs. They are currently 11-8 overall and 3-0 in the West Alameda County Conference, including a 45-33 league win over rival Alameda on Jan. 9. It was the Jets second victory over the Hornets this season (47-45 on Dec. 5). 

The Jets have gotten off to a great start in 2016. They have won five of its seven contests since the calendar turned to the New Year. They hold victories over Emery (53-27 on Jan. 4), Hayward (70-46 on Jan. 11), Tennyson of Hayward (78-40 on Jan. 15) and the aforementioned victory over the Hornets.

The Jets will face Piedmont in its next contest tomorrow at home.