Let ’em run and get out of the way.
That’s been Kentridge boys basketball coach Dave Jamison’s philosophy with his ultra-athletic guards all season long.
And once again Wednesday night, it paid big dividends.
Guards Shaquielle McKissic, Laron Daniels and Gary Bell combined for 48 points, leading Kentridge past Rogers 58-42 in a West Central District III loser-out game at Foss High in Tacoma.
After the win, Jamison admitted some of the best coaching he’s done this season is simply getting out of the way of his guards and letting them do their thing.
“I like them going,” he said. “They make basketball plays. I’ve gotten some credit for things that they do that I don’t deserve. I am more than happy to let them go do their stuff.”
And Kentridge’s terrific trio did just that against Rogers. McKissic led all scorers with 21 points, Daniels added 17 while Bell chipped in 10.
But it was Daniels who set the tone early. Down 8-2 with 5:29 remaining in the first quarter, the Kentridge senior drained consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game. Moments later, Daniels came away with a steal, dished to McKissic streaking to the basket and, just like that, Kentridge took a 12-10 lead.
The Chargers didn’t trail the rest of the night.
“We needed a spark and I knew that I could provide that,” said Daniels, who added five rebounds, three assists and three steals. “We were just firing away. We took what they gave us.”
With the win, Kentridge (15-9) advances to play Kentwood (19-6) at 8 p.m. at Auburn High on Friday night in a loser-out, winner-to-state game. The winner will take the district’s No. 4 seed to the state tournament, which begins on Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome.
Kentridge and Kentwood split a pair of games this season.
Against Rogers, Kentridge held a 14-12 lead after the first quarter before taking command with a 14-2 run.
McKissic lit the fuse this time, scoring six straight points. McKissic highlighted the surge by slicing through a trio of Rogers’ defenders before sending home a one-handed jam at the 3:48 mark.
“We know where everybody is going to be on the court,” said the 6-foot-3 McKissic, who is nicknamed “Jetpack Shaq” by his teammates because of his jump-out-of-the-gym leaping ability. “It’s just chemistry.”
Along with his 21 points, McKissic also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out three assists.
Any thoughts Rogers had of a comeback ended quickly in the third quarter, when the Chargers went on a 10-4 run to start the second half, taking a 54-35 lead.
It’s the second time in two weeks Kentridge has beaten Rogers.
And the difference Wednesday night proved once again to be the sheer quickness and athleticism of their three guards.
“They play so well together. They get along, they’re good friends. They all hustle on defense, they share the ball and score on their own right,” Jamison said. “It has just been a joy to coach those three guys. And the other two guys (Dylan Zylstra and Colin Williamson) complement them well.”
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