Bloom’s Kamryn Turner didn’t become an elite basketball player overnight.

The junior guard’s recipe for success involves only one ingredient.

“Just practice, practice, practice, practice, practice,” she said. “I stay in the gym every day and practice.”

Turner estimated there have been times that she has taken more than 1,000 shots a day in addition to working on other skills.

Does she ever get tired?

“You can’t get tired,” she said.

Rich Township, however, is probably getting tired of Turner. She scored 25 points Monday night — including 19 in the second half — to lead the Blazing Trojans to a 52-41 win over the host Raptors in Richton Park to take sole possession of first place in the Southland Athletic Conference.

Freshman guard Sinaee Price added 11 points for Bloom (19-8, 9-1), while Jayla Tyler had seven steals and Kay-Kay Williams led the Blazing Trojans with five rebounds.

Sherrie Emmons paced Rich Township (18-8, 8-2) with 19 points. Queen Thigpen came off the bench to haul down eight rebounds.

The Raptors held a 19-13 halftime lead, but Price and Turner hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the third quarter and tie the game. It also opened the floodgates of a 39-point second half.

Bloom coach Sherman White appreciates all aspects of Turner’s game, even if he believes it goes beyond the flashy or noticeable number that comes from her 18-point scoring average.

“As good as she is on the offensive end, she is as good or better on the defensive end,” White said of the 5-foot-8 Turner. “Kam is a lockdown defender and at this level can realistically guard one through five and guard them aggressively and effectively.”

Tyler said Turner brings “everything” to the table for the Blazing Trojans.

“That’s my girl,” Tyler said. “That’s my right-hand man. I depend on her for offense, defense, passing.”

At the same time, Tyler also brings versatility to the floor for Bloom. In a Jan. 18 game against Crane, she scored 14 points in a two-minute eruption during the fourth quarter of a 57-49 win.

She scored just two points Monday and was off with her free-throw shooting, but her three steals in the first half and four in the second half were valuable in slowing down the Raptors on offense.

“That’s a lot of steals and that’s a testament to the type of player she is,” White said of Tyler. “She will do whatever the team needs. She’s everything we need out there on the court.”

Last season, the Blazing Trojans finished 21-9, with four sophomores and a freshman earning most of the starts. Everyone is back this winter, with some talented freshmen added to the mix.

“This year, we are really coming together,” Turner said. “Last year, we were young, and this year we are growing and developing and we’re a much stronger team.”

Turner, meanwhile, got started in the sport via her family. Older sister, Autumn, helped her along. Kamryn has been playing since second grade and still loves the sport all of these years later.

“I love the defensive part of it,” Kamryn said. “It’s also about being around teammates that I love.”

Tuner and her teammates had a ton of fun during the sophomore game. Freshman guard Dionni Rogers pulled double duty Monday. She tallied four rebounds in first half of the varsity game.

But what had the Blazing Trojans yelling and jumping around was Rogers’ 36-point performance in the sophomore game for a 62-56 win. Rogers scored 21 points in the first half.

“She never stops playing,” Turner said of Rogers. “No matter what, she keeps going. Even if she makes a mistake, she’s going to keep playing.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.