Sports

Robinson, Romero lead TMLA rout of South Shore

Mary Louis’ Camille Romero takes the open shot. (Damion Reid)

Karin Robinson and Camille Romero got to start together for the first time in a Mary Louis uniform, but it was nothing new to them.

“It was basically like we were playing AAU,” Robinson said. “Just different jerseys.”

The guards, who play together with Positive Direction, put their chemistry and array of skills on display against South Shore, seemingly taking turns running the Hilltoppers’ offense, rebounding, getting to the rim and knocking down jumpers.

Romero, a senior, scored 17 points and the junior Robinson had 14 points and eight rebounds in an 80-46 rout of the Vikings in the Bergtraum Holiday Classic in Manhattan Tuesday.

“You can never have too many quality point guards,” TMLA coach Joe Lewinger said. “I’m glad we have them.”

Romero began the season as the team’s starting point guard with Robinson, the team’s star, catching up on her mandatory practices after an academic suspension. Lewinger told Romero, who was a key reserve last season, that anything she earned is hers until she gives it away. She has done nothing but continue to prove herself.

“I think she has,” Robinson said. “Ever since AAU she has.”

The duo was in the middle of a 10-2 second-quarter run after South Shore (6-1) had closed within 20-17 early in the quarter. Robinson got it started with a drive and Romero hit Christy Calderon (12 points) for a layup to cap it with 3:35 to go before the half. Robinson was grabbing rebounds on one baseline and then making a plays down the other end.

“It’s like the Wildcat offense,” Lewinger said. “You don’t have to wait for a pitch to get going. First person who gets the ball is off.”

Robinson had to go to the bench with three fouls early in the third quarter, but it did not stop the scrappy, undersized Hilltoppers (4-1) from extending their lead to 51-31 on a Romero fast break layup off a block from Reana Mohamed (13 points) with 3:50 left in the third.

“We knew they looked a little tired so we tried to push the ball as much as possible and get the lead a little bigger,” Romero said.

Mary Louis was playing without three of its top forwards. Senior Andrea Busch, who was expected to be back from a partial tear of her ACL, suffered a setback in her rehabilitation, and could miss the rest of the season. Julia O’Connor suffered a hair line fracture in her hand and Liz Gully is still recovering from an ankle injury.

“I’m so proud of them,” Lewinger said. … “If this was last year we may have crumbled under that height disadvantage.”

The Hilltoppers, ranked No. 6 in the city by The Post, handled No. 5 South Shore’s pressure and never let them get into a flow on offense with a collapsing zone that cut off the driving lanes for junior star Jasmine Odom (10 points) and suffocated post Fannisha Price. Taylor Lloyd added eight points for the Vikings as TMLA, which had not played since Dec. 15, walked away with an impressive win over a one of the PSAL’s best squads. Mary Louis plays Francis Lewis, another of the league’s top teams Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Bergtraum.

“Coach Lewinger was telling us before the game that they want to prove something to everyone else and beat us,” Romero said. … :They are like Francis Lewis. We have to play good against them too.”