Kent-Meridian senior Christian Mortimer drives to the basket. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kent-Meridian senior Christian Mortimer drives to the basket. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kent-Meridian boys drop game to Highline

Royals lose third straight game.

Kent-Meridian High School boys basketball head coach Marcus Graham prepared himself for a season like the one he is currently having. After 11 games, the Royals are just 3-8 after dropping a non-league contest to Highline, 52-46, on Jan. 13.

Highline came in with a 4-7 record, one win better than the Royals. For Graham, this felt like a game that was the Royals’ for the taking. A game that could move the needle in the right direction for a team searching for a direction.

Instead what occurred was frustration and more of the same for the Royals.

“There is a little frustration, but I know I have nine inexperienced varsity players… I trained my mind to prepare for these games. For the most part, when you shoot poorly at the free throw line down the stretch, this is going to be the outcome,” Graham said.

A slow start plagued Kent-Meridian and set the tone for the type of game would unfold. But what was a positive sign was a relatively unknown player for Graham. So unknown, that he wasn’t even listed on the varsity roster and it was a hunch that even the JV coach was unsure of.

Graham started freshman Keelan Dollente in his first ever varsity game. He was named a starter and made an impact finishing with a team high of 10 points.

“I am blessed to have a freshman that came up big for me today,” Graham said. “I just threw him in the fire and he led us in scoring. … I felt like it was his time to shine.”

As a freshman, Dollente felt comfortable in his first varsity action of his career.

“I was a little nervous, then I got in the game and let the game come to me,” Dollente said.

From a coaching perspective, Graham wanted the seniors to take a step up in a game like tonight. But unfortunately for the Royals and Graham, Highline just got it done to take the win.

“I wish my seniors had stepped up. My three headed monster disappeared tonight,” Graham said.

The Pirates shut down the Royals coming out of halftime as just Muhammad Secca recorded multiple field goals (4) as they trailed 35-30 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Royals got within one point on six made free throws as JB Boqulon, Christian Mortimer and Raymond Wong all made both sides of their free throws. But as the half continued, the Royals went 2-6 on the other free throws, which hamstrung the comeback.

In the fourth quarter, Kent-Meridian scored just three shots from the floor. The lack of rhythm on offense came from the Royals just getting a bit overanxious.

“I felt like we were just rushing the ball too much. We were on our own tempo,” Dollente said.

With 1:31 left, the Royals were within one point, 46-47, but couldn’t find a bucket as time expired.

Defensively, the Royals holding the Pirates to under 60 points should have been enough to win the game. But it wasn’t to be, and is just the third time Kent-Meridian has lost when holding a team to under 60 points in the last two seasons (9-2). The other two losses are Enumclaw (36-34) and Highline (50-45).

“We just gotta play better… 46 points is not enough. We need to put the ball in the hole. But I trained myself for this, if I wasn’t bald already I would be bald, “Graham said.

“We just have to take our bumps and go up and build up our freshman for the future,” he added.

Kent-Meridian takes on Federal Way at home on Jan. 17 before making the to short trek to the ShoWare Center on MLK day to take on Seattle Academy.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Freshman Keelan Dollente keeps his eyes up for a teammate. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Freshman Keelan Dollente keeps his eyes up for a teammate. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Sophomore Raymond Wong fights off a Highline defender for the Royals. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Sophomore Raymond Wong fights off a Highline defender for the Royals. Ben Ray / The Reporter

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Luke LeChance (Jr. Swim) and Alena Ton (Jr. Basketball) named this weeks winners.

Photos provided by Jayla Keowla
Picture of Jayla, Troy and Jaylen growing up combined with a photo this year.
Introducing the Kentridge Keowlas

Jayla, Troy and Jaylen are part of a long line of basketball players with the Keowla last name.

t
Former Kentwood High star Vandersloot to return to Chicago

WNBA point guard spent last two seasons with New York Liberty

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Julie Foree

Foree has been coaching for 15-years and currently coaches at Cedar Heights Middle School.

Kentridge players celebrate a basket. Photo provided by Robbie Mullikin.
Pack the Gym delivers a celebration of sport and community

Kentridge and Kentwood battle it out on the court in Unified basketball action.

Graphic provided by Kent school District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kent-Meridian

Farzad Karimi (Sr. Wrestling) and Harnur Kaur (Jr. Flag Football) named winners.

Kent-Meridian senior Christian Mortimer drives to the basket. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kent-Meridian boys drop game to Highline

Royals lose third straight game.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi takes a three-pointer against Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Hoops: Kentwood and Kentridge split doubleheader

Kentridge girls and Kentwood boys take home wins in rivalry clash.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentlake and Kentridge

Jaxon Love (wrestling), Miley Lam (BBall), Jordyn Keith (BBall) and Finnegan Linnane (Wrestling)

The Seattle Thunderbirds traded Sawyer Mynio to the Calgary Hitmen for two players and four draft picks. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kent-based T-Birds trade away top player for 2 players, 4 draft picks

Defenseman Sawyer Mynio sent to Calgary Hitmen as last-place Seattle builds for future

Kentlake’s Matthew Lawrence reels the ball in against Decatur. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake boys basketball drops sixth straight

Falcons search for answers in HS Bryce Demecilio’s first season.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Jerry Garza

Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Jerry Garza