In the space of about 24 hours Kentlake and Kent-Meridian learned the hard way how challenging it can be to beat the same team twice in one season while Kentwood proved the exception to the rule.
Kentwood beat Kentridge 76-65 on Jan. 27 at the Les Schwab Shootout at ShoWare Center in Kent. The Conquerors beat the Chargers 59-48 in the first meeting of the season in December.
“We continue to take strides towards consistency and it is great to see,” wrote Kentwood coach Brian Davis in an email. “I remind the guys that playing with a collective joy is critical to further success.”
Pure athleticism kept Kentridge in the game in the first half as Kentwood struggled to contain Jawan Stepney, who led the Chargers with 19 points, with support from Da’Lorian Sampson with 12, Roddy Hanson with 11 and John Okot-Okidi, who chipped in 10.
Then Austin Benson and Taylor Jones took over in the second half. Benson finished with 21, leading all scorers, while Jones tallied 16 points and Jeremy Smith chipped in 13.
Kentwood spread its offense and got Kentridge on its heels while Benson dropped in three pointers before the Conks finally stretched out the lead to double digits with about four minutes left in the game.
Earlier in the evening at the Shootout, Kentlake helped Kentwood’s cause by upsetting Kent-Meridian, which was in first place in the South Puget Sound League North Division heading into the night.
The Falcons jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the first quarter but the Royals quickly turned the tables and ended the period with a 17-10 advantage.
Kent-Meridian expanded its lead during the second quarter and went to the locker room up 35-27.
Kentlake came out of halftime and lit it up in the third quarter, outscoring K-M 23-9, as the Falcons started scoring points in the paint thanks to drives by Jaron Heck, Ayanle Jama and Austin Pernell.
Bryce Demecilio drove, got the bucket, was fouled then made the free throw to give Kentlake a 40-39 lead before K-M answered to make it 42-40.
With 2:51 left in the third Pernell tied it at 42-42 then Dedrian Miller followed shortly afterward with a long jumper from the wing to take a 44-42 Falcons lead.
After Demecilio got a board off a Jama miss then followed with the final bucket of the third quarter, Kentlake finished the third period with a 50-44 lead.
Gary Bailey tied the game up with 4:50 left on the clock when he drained the three to make it 56-56.
Martel-Taylor Barone made the first of two free throws with 4:28 left to put K-M up 57-56 but Demecilio answered when he faked out his man then stepped up and drained a three ball to give Kentlake the 59-57 lead.
That’s when Pernell went to work in the lane, driving for lay ins or drawing fouls, finishing with 21 points including 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
Heck chipped in 18 points while Demecilio had 12 and Miller had 10.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 5-5 in league play, holding onto its playoff hopes while the loss coupled with Kentwood’s win moved Kent-Meridian into second place.
Kentwood and Kent-Meridian square off Saturday, with the Royals having won the first contest of the season in December, but this time could well decide who wins the division depending on the outcome of the Kentwood-Mount Rainier game Tuesday night.
Kentlake struggled the next night, however, against Mount Rainier. Despite being down by nine points going into the third quarter to the Rams, the Falcons couldn’t overcome turnovers and a more balanced offensive attack and lost at home Jan. 28, 81-62.
In the first meeting of the season, Kentlake upset Mount Rainier, giving the Rams their first league loss of the year in December.
GIRLS HOOPS:
Kentlake 51, Kent-Meridian 29: The Falcons avenged their first loss in school history to the Royals earlier in the season with a decisive victory at the Les Scwhab Shootout at ShoWare.
Kentlake held Kent-Meridian to just two points in the first quarter and single digit scoring in the third and fourth quarters.
Stephanie Luce and Alyssa Simonson led the Falcons with 16 and 10 points respectively. Kentlake took advantage of Luce’s height advantage, she’s 6-foot-4, as she both crashed the glass as well as took a number of passes in the low post for easy lay-ins.
That success didn’t translate against Mount Rainier the next night, though, as the Rams beat up the Falcons 67-37 thanks to 23 points from Brittany McPhee and 20 from Kiana Gandy.
Luce had 20 points against Mount Rainier while Simonson added 11.
Kentwood 54, Kentridge 32: Kentwood handled Kentridge easily and improved to 9-3 in league with the win, staying solidly in third place in the division behind Mount Rainier, which is undefeated in SPSL North play and Auburn Riverside, which has one league loss.
Balanced scoring and stingy defense were the keys for the Conks, who got at least two points from everyone who stepped on the floor against the Chargers, with Maddison Rankin leading the squad with 16 points while Sarah Toeaina chipping in 11.
Kentwood takes on Mount Rainier Tuesday night, Thomas Jefferson Wednesday, both of which were after the Reporter’s press deadline then finish the season with Kent-Meridian on Saturday and Auburn Riverside on Monday, Feb. 6.
