FULLERTON — Rosary girls basketball coach Richard Yoon was admittedly vocal about his team’s energy level as it entered the postseason.

After a slow start, the Royals settled down before eventually blowing past Crean Lutheran 66-46 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs Thursday night at Rosary Academy.

“We didn’t play our best, for sure,” Yoon said. “We came out a little sluggish, having the four days off coming off of Mater Dei, I think kind of hurt us a little bit. I think we took them for granted in the beginning.”

Top-seeded Rosary (21-6) will host North Torrance on Saturday in the second round.

The Saints (18-11) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after an Ashley Heyer 3-pointer before Rosary started to force turnovers to create easy shots on the other end.

The Royals took their first lead, 13-12, after back-to-back baskets by Allison Clarke.

Clarke finished with a game-high 25 points, but it was sophomore Mya Barnes who provided the initial spark that Rosary needed.

“Mya is our utility, she does everything,” Yoon said. “She does every aspect of the game. She can take it to the basket, she can shoot, she rebounds, she does everything for us, and she’s definitely a big, vital part of our team.”

Barnes filled up the stat sheet by contributing 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks, and Mary Lawson added 10 points.

Crean Lutheran trailed by 19 points in the third quarter before going on a 7-0 run. But the Royals had an answer for every run the Saints made.

Crean Lutheran freshman Quinsey Bryan (11 points) and Elizabeth Elder made some critical shots during that run, then sophomore Jane Hewitt, who had a team-high 19 points, drilled a 3 for the Saints to make it a 10-point game.

Rosary quickly inbounded and Barnes took an outlet pass for an easy bucket before the third quarter buzzer sounded.

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“We were trying to manage the momentum shifts,” Crean Lutheran coach Bianca Ziemann said. “I have to give it to Rosary. Well coached, very good team, but I can’t be more proud of our girls. We never gave up. I’m proud of our effort and energy. It’s a young group and the future is bright, but I just feel for our seniors right now.”

Yoon knows going forward it will only get tougher for this team.

“With our big 3, Allison, Ava (Dominguez) and Mya, we gotta have two of those kids make a difference or else we’re not going to win,” he said, “so if one doesn’t have a good night, the other two have to do it and they know it.”

Dominguez found herself in some foul trouble during the first half, but she knocked down a corner 3-pointer to give Rosary a 20-point cushion in the fourth quarter.