A near flawless game plan executed by the Sydenham Golden Eagles led to a low scoring first half, but the Holy Cross Crusaders solved it in the third quarter and they went on to claim a 33-16 home-court victory in the only Kingston Area Secondary Schools senior girls basketball game played Wednesday.

Kelsey Murphy led the Crusaders with 11 points while guard Mackenzie Melim, a first-year senior who missed last season after knee surgery, turned in a terrific defensive performance.

Sydney Gauthier, another Grade 11 Crusader, put in what coach Kelly Dixon described as a solid all-round effort, with eight points, rebounds at both ends of the floor and defensive pressure throughout.

The win was the second in a row to start the season for Holy Cross, while Sydenham slipped to 1-1.

Play resumes today with three games: Frontenac at Napanee at 4 p.m., Kingston at Regi at 5 o’clock and Loyalist at La Salle at 5:30.