The host Homer girls basketball team topped Southcentral Region foe Kenai Central on Wednesday in the Alice Witte Gymnasium.

The Lady Mariners defeated the Kards 37-21, moving to 3-1 in the region. The Kenai girls fell to 2-2.

Homer dominated the court during the first half of the game, leading 22-6 by halftime. The Kardinals were able to close that gap somewhat, trailing 29-12 after the third quarter and ending with a 16-point gap.

For Homer, Rylee Doughty led the team in points with 11. Marina Carroll and Laura Inama both had six, Tonda Smude, Sailey Rhodes, and Kaylin Anderson all had four, and Kelli Bishop had two.

For Kenai, Damaris Severson led with eight points, followed by Kailey Hamilton with five, Jaiden Streiff with four, and Beth Morris and Elizabeth Hanson with two each.

Homer head coach Chad Felice said the Mariners did a good job of working together on the court.

“They played as one unit,” he said. “Yeah they just played together and they came out with great energy. Nobody cared who scored as long as we were scoring.”

Felice also praised Homer’s defense against Kenai.

Homer now goes on to host Redington on Friday and Houston on Saturday. Felice said the team is in the “homestretch” with the majority of games left being against fellow region teams.

“This is where we see where we’re at,” he said. “This is only our fourth region game.”

Cook Inlet Academy girls 43, Kodiak ESS 40

The host Eagles notched a close Peninsula Conference victory after Kodiak ESS on Wednesday.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.

Wednesday girls

Mariners 37, Kardinals 21

Kenai 2 4 5 10 —21

Homer 10 12 7 8 —37

KENAI CENTRAL (21) — Pierce 0, Hamilton 5, Hanson 2, Streiff 4, Severson 8, Morris 2.

HOMER (37) — Rhodes 4, Bishop 2, Anderson 4, Doughty 11, Inama 6, Carroll 6, Smude 4.

3-point goals — Homer 1 (Doughty).

Homer’s Laura Inama jumps to shoot a basket during a Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2020 basketball game against Kenai Central High School at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Kenai’s Jaiden Streiff dribbles past Homer’s Sailey Rhodes during a Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 basketball game at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)