They have a new home.
And the Kent-Meridian High boys basketball team is hoping new results follow.
Due to gym renovations at the high school, Kent-Meridian will be playing the majority of its home games this winter at Mill Creek Middle School, a venue that will seat roughly 300 fans.
The Royals also will play a pair of “home” games at Green River Community College, when it hosts Kentridge on Dec. 9 and Kentwood on Jan. 4.
Third-year coach Brian Lockhart is hoping the cozy confines of Mill Creek play into the hands of the Royals’ athletic, push-the-ball style of play.
“It should play into our style based on it being confined and us playing up-tempo,” Lockhart said. “We’re looking to go even more up-tempo this year than we were before. I will not start my best players, but I will end with them. My best five will close out the fourth quarter.”
Despite last year’s 2-14 league record, Lockhart has plenty of options from which to choose, too. Though the Royals graduated leading scorer Barenton Ahmed (12.4 points per game), they return their next three top scoring options from a year ago: Jordan Thompson Walker (10.8), D’Juan Miller (7.6) and Gary Bailey (6.4). Meanwhile, sophomore Martel Taylor Barone (4.6), who showed flashes of excellence as a freshman last year but also was a bit timid at times in the physical SPSL North, is expected to continue his ascension.
“His fierceness and intensity inside has changed a lot,” Lockhart insists.
The Royals return a total of seven players from last year’s team, which endured an emotionally difficult season that included the death of teammate Dorian Tursic. Tursic died in January when the 2004 Chevrolet Impala was driving crashed into a tree. The Royals lost 10 of their final 11 games after the accident.
“There were some difficult circumstances last year,” Lockhart conceded.
With a clean slate in a new home, Kent-Meridian has reason for optimism this winter. Along with returning the bulk of last year’s scoring punch, the Royals also will be one of the deepest teams in the SPSL North, a league that appears on paper to be more balanced than it has been in years. Kent-Meridian hasn’t advanced to the postseason since the 2004-2005 season, and has struggled mightily in recent years.
However, the athleticism and ability is in place for the Royals to make a run for one of the five postseason berths.
“This will be the best of the three teams that I’ve had for sure,” Lockhart said. “We have a lot more depth, the players are interchangeable. I really think we will be vying for one of the top four spots.”
A top-four spot in a new home.
ROYALS: AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Brian Lockhart, 3rd year.
• LAST YEAR: 2-14 in league (8th-t), 5-16 overall.
• TOP RETURNERS: Jordan Thompson Walker, sr., guard; Martel Taylor Barone, so., forward; Brandon Harris, sr., forward; Davontae Bradley Hoffman, sr., guard; D’Juan Miller, sr., guard; Sergio Arroyo, sr., forward; Gary Bailey, jr., guard.
• TOP NEWCOMERS: Arman Brar, jr., guard; Abu Kamara, so., forward; Sam Hoard, sr., forward; Mike Banks, jr., guard.
• STRENGTH: Depth, athleticism.
• WEAKNESS: Defense, rebounding.
• LAST STATE BERTH: 1992.
• OUTLOOK: Kent-Meridian is deep and talented, but must avoid digging itself an early hole and play defense for an entire four quarters. The Royals’ depth, which runs about 8 deep, should give teams fits and help them remain fresh late in games. If K-M can remain focused, a playoff berth is a distinct possibility.
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