PREP ROUNDUP : Kuhlmann Leads Canyon Past Santa Ana Valley

Robynn Kuhlmann scored 27 points as Canyon gained the early advantage in Century League girls’ basketball with a 75-50 victory over Santa Ana Valley on Tuesday at Canyon High.

Canyon (12-6, 2-0) opened league play with a victory over defending champion Villa Park, which along with Santa Ana Valley is expected to challenge the Comanches for the title.

Canyon Coach Nelson Herrera said he was fortunate to win the first two league games.

“When I looked at the league schedule, I was thinking, ‘Oh no, Santa Ana Valley and Villa Park right off the bat,’ ” Herrera said. “But this kind of re-sets the tone for league. I’m happy to get these teams out of the way.”

The Comanches led, 14-8, after the first quarter, and scored 28 points in the second quarter to take a 42-28 halftime lead. Sarah Spjut scored all of her 13 points in that quarter and Kuhlmann ended it with a three-pointer at the buzzer.

In the first half, the Falcons (10-5, 1-1) committed 14 turnovers and made three of 12 free throws. They finished with 30 turnovers.

Tanya Whitlock, who finished with 19 points, kept the Falcons close in the second half. Her fourth three-pointer of the game, which came midway in the fourth quarter, cut Canyon’s lead to 56-44. But Canyon went on a 19-3 run, keyed by 10 points from Kuhlmann, to put the game out of reach.