Following a loss to Edmonds-Woodway in early December, Juanita High girls basketball coach Todd Brink voiced concerns over a lack of offensive support for Rebel standout Tea Adams.

The San Diego State-commit had scored a career-high of 36 on Dec. 5, yet the Rebels failed to come back from a big first-half deficit and lost 59-55. But over the past several weeks, help has grown up around Adams and Juanita has turned the mounting successes into a confidence-building four-game winning streak.

Adams led the Rebels to a 57-29 nonconference win over Mount Si on Dec. 21, but many of her 18 points came on fast-break layups. At halftime, it was sophomore post Alexis Intong who led with 10 points. Adams and two other players were tied with seven.

“We work to get the guards involved, we work to get the high posts involved, we work to get everyone involved,” Adams said. “We’ve really been focusing on that in practice and making sure that everyone gets their hands on the ball — not just fast breaks.”

Intong battled with Mount Si’s Sela Heide, a 6-foot-7 freshman, for much of the first half. Despite giving up six inches, Intong routinely won the battle. Intong scored eight points in the second quarter, including several hard-fought buckets in the paint.

“She won the game on the boards, she scored inside, she was a force on defense and on offense, and that makes a difference,” said Brink, who lauded the Rebels’ 18 assists. “Hannah Kleppe being very active out there and making it hard — it makes a big difference.”

The Rebels (5-2) led 16-4 after the first quarter and 36-11 at halftime, and with the game well in hand, Juanita went to work on a few unfamiliar sets and unfamiliar lineups. Even with Adams on the floor, the senior rarely looked for her own shot.

“When you’re open, shoot the ball instead of looking for me and Brittany [White], the two seniors,” Adams said. “I think a lot of it is that we have a young team … so we’re kind of building, and this is our second year having a new coach.”

“We’re trying to get our plays down so when we play good teams, we actually know the plays and everybody can be an option and contribute to the team,” she said.

Juanita ran a four-high set on back-to-back possessions in the second half, despite turning the ball over on the first try. The Rebels had shot attempts from nearly every player and had five players with at least five points: Intong with 12, Kleppe with nine, White with seven and Tara Rouholfada with five.

The work on sharing the rock and getting players comfortable in support roles has paid off, but it’s not a new philosophy for Juanita. The team’s mindset is emblazoned on the warm up shirts: ‘Do it for H.E.R.’ Heart, effort, relentlessness.

“We try to live through that motto and we want to play for each other: I’m going to do it for her, I’m going to do it for my teammate,” Kleppe said. “I think we just try to embody that it’s more of a team sport than a personal sport, and through that we’ve had a lot more success.”

The Rebels head to Kingston next week for the Battle for the Cove. Juanita is scheduled to play Jackson High at 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 28 and Kingston at 4 p.m. on Dec. 29. The Rebels also have a nonconference game scheduled against Bothell at 2 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Bothell High School.

KingCo play is set to return on Jan. 4.