Team Phantom continued its strong start to the Unrivaled season with a 78–69 victory over Team Vinyl on Friday night at the Sephora Arena, pulling away late after withstanding a second-quarter surge led by Vinyl guard and VIS Mentor Rhyne Howard.

Phantom improved to 4–2 with the win, while Vinyl dropped to 2–4 following its second straight loss. Despite the result, Howard delivered one of the night’s most impactful performances, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting and three rebounds while serving as the focal point of Vinyl’s offense.

Howard, a VIS Mentor and part of Vinyl’s starting lineup, opened the game aggressively, scoring Vinyl’s first points at the free-throw line and repeatedly attacking the paint to draw contact. With Unrivaled’s seven-minute quarters placing an emphasis on pace and efficiency, Howard made it clear early that Vinyl intended to play with a physical edge.

Despite trailing by as many as 13 points in the second quarter, Howard didn't falter.

Her late scoring capped a 15–3 run that brought Vinyl within one point at halftime, 47–46. At the break, Howard and Dearica Hamby shared the team scoring lead, underscoring Vinyl’s reliance on its primary options to generate offense.

Throughout every basket—for or against them—Vinyl never stopped pushing.

Even as Phantom imposed its physicality and disrupted rhythm, Vinyl continued to fight possession by possession, refusing to let the game slip without resistance. The challenges mounted with tougher defense, stalled stretches, and moments that could have fractured belief, but the response was persistence rather than retreat.

And Howard embodied that mindset.

Understanding the urgency of the moment, she attacked relentlessly, forcing contact, creating opportunities, and shouldering the responsibility of keeping Vinyl within reach. Her approach wasn’t about waiting for the game to come back naturally; it was about demanding it. Each drive, each possession reflected a player determined to compete through fatigue and frustration, setting the tone even when the odds tilted away.

That edge didn’t go unnoticed. Hamby highlighted Howard’s ability to seize control in difficult stretches, noting, “She’s unguardable when she locks in.” It was a reflection not just of skill, but of resolve, the kind that draws defensive focus and still presses forward. Even the small details, like Howard’s custom SpongeBob SquarePants sneakers, underscored a confidence and individuality that stood firm despite the pressure of the moment.

Howard's individuality and drive fuel her, regardless of the scoreboard.

Though Vinyl ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback, their effort never faded. Howard’s performance was less about numbers and more about intent, applying pressure, challenging the defense, and keeping belief alive late into the fourth quarter. It was a reminder that resilience isn’t always rewarded with a win, but it defines how a team grows.

As Vinyl looks ahead, there’s encouragement in that response. Consistency is still a work in progress, but performances like Howard’s show a team willing to give everything, even when circumstances aren’t favorable. The result may have gone Phantom’s way, but Vinyl’s fight ensured it was earned, and that matters moving forward.