The Kentwood High boys basketball team may have a new look, even a new style of play.
But the same results have followed for the Conquerors.
Behind 18 points from both Jason Boyce and Alec Wilson, the ninth-ranked Conquerors turned back No. 4 Jackson 68-63 Saturday night at Highline Community College in the feature matchup of the Les Schwab Preview.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship, which Kentwood won 67-58. This time, however, the Conquerors did it without star Josh Smith, who is now starting at UCLA.
The key?
A tenacious defense, including a variety of fronts thrown at Jackson star Brett Kingma. Kingma finished with 28 points, though was held to just five in the first half and connected on only 6 of 20 from the field.
“The defense has carried us,” first-year coach Brian Davis said. “The kids are very savvy defensively. They understand when to switch, they understand schemes and have been able to adjust quickly to what I’ve asked them to do.”
Kentwood clung to a two-point, 20-18 lead after the first quarter before taking command in the second. The Conquerors outscored Jackson 14-6 in the second quarter to take a 10-point, 34-24 lead into the break.
Kentwood’s Boyce took control of the game in the second half, scoring 16 of his 18 points during the third and fourth quarters.
“Jason stepped up big in the second half,” David said, noting that the senior also connected on 8 of 10 from the line. “He hit some clutch shots. He hit a big shot against Hazen. Hit a big shot against Skyline.”
Mikelle Everett, who was one of the key defenders on Kingma, added eight points while Austin Benson and Taylor Jones chipped in six apiece.
It was Kentwood’s sixth win in a row to open the season.
Now, however, the Conquerors turn their attention toward Kentridge and star Gary Bell. The Conquerors play host to the Chargers (3-0 in league, 4-0 overall) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a showdown between unbeatens.
Bell enters the game as the South Puget Sound League’s leading scorer, averaging 25.5 points per game.
“We’re hoping he fouls out,” Davis joked in regards to the Kentridge star. “Gary, in my mind, is the most skilled, complete player in the state of Washington.”
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