By ERICK WALKER
Reporter staff
The Kentridge boys basketball team isn’t ready to concede anything just yet.
Especially not the South Puget Sound League North Division title. Saturday night at top-ranked Federal Way, the 10th-ranked Chargers proved as much.
Behind potentially the best combination of guards in the division, the Chargers zapped much-hyped Federal Way 67-66.
Guard Shaquielle McKissic continued his torrid shooting, leading the Chargers with 18 points. McKissic has scored 69 points in his last three games combined.
“Offensively (McKissic) can get things done,” said Kentridge coach Dave Jamison.
Gary Bell and Laron Hill, also guards, added 16 points apiece for the Chargers. Daniels collected a team-leading seven rebounds and five assists as Kentridge improved to 3-1 in league play heading into last night’s round of SPSL games.
What does this win mean to the Chargers?
“It puts everyone back in the mix,” Jamison said. “I think we’re still chasing Auburn now.”
Auburn, which won the SPSL 3A crown last year, upended Kentlake on Saturday, 64-61. The Trojans, who knocked off Kentridge last week (69-65), have not yet played North heavyweights Federal Way or Kentwood.
Over the weekend, however, the talk buzzing around the North was all about the Chargers. Federal Way, which can just about run an all-leaguer out at every position, was considered a runaway favorite for the league title when the season began.
Of course, Kentridge knows a thing or two about success as well. The Chargers have won or shared the North title in each of the last two years. They’ve also qualified for state two straight seasons, taking second in 2007.
But Jamison wasn’t about to get too excited over the win.
“(The Eagles) were shorthanded and I’ve been on the other end of that,” Jamison said. “They have that target on their back. It’s hard for them to get up for every single game.”
ALSO: Fifth-ranked Kentwood challenged Federal Way last week, only to fall short in the end, 61-53. The Conquerors (2-1) bounced back two days later with a 65-62 win over Auburn Riverside. Josh Smith (21 points) and point guard Tre Tyler (16) led the way. … Kentlake (0-3) gave unbeaten Auburn a run for its money on Saturday, falling 64-61. Michael Salazar led the way for the Falcons with 15 points while Jeff Budinich added 12. … Barento Ahmed and Davonte Hoffman did their parts, each scoring 22 points on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to help Kent-Meridian notch its first win of the season as the Royals fell to Auburn Riverside 82-72. K-M was unable to stop the hot hand of AR’s Mitch Hagerty, a first-team all-leaguer last year, who scored a game-high 31 points. … Christian Behrens poured in a game-high 20 points, but it wasn’t enough for sophomore-laden Tahoma in a 72-40 loss to Jefferson on Saturday.
