Kentlake High School boys basketball has been in a difficult position since the pandemic — just 17 wins over the last five seasons, counting this year.
For context, Kent-Meridian has won 39 games over that same timeframe.
This year, under Head Coach Bryce Demecilio, there is a point of emphasis to focus on building a program rather than winning and losing basketball games.
On Jan. 3, the Falcons traveled to Federal Way to take on Decatur High School, another program searching for a culture of its own. Decatur ended up taking down the Falcons 77-55, handing Kentlake their ninth loss of the season (1-9).
From the outset, it seemed like this game was going to be tightly contested. After the first quarter, Decatur had just a two-point lead, 17-15, at the end of the first. Senior Kaven Bews had five points, leading the way for the Falcons.
Demecilio liked the juice that his guys brought early on.
“The energy and intensity they came out with (was positive). … Our sense of energy was good in the first half,” Demecilio said.
In the second quarter, the Falcons enjoyed a lead, but also let it slip away just as fast as they got it. Camden Franzen scored five straight points to take a 20-17 lead over Decatur, but the Gators quickly took the lead back and then some.
“He’s definitely a big glue guy for us. He’s kind of a utility guy for us. He goes inside and outside… He’s one of our strongest guys, physicality-wise and filling that role,” Demecilio said.
Decatur went on a 19-0 run, which ended the quarter being a 24-5 run. All the momentum from the first quarter was gone.
Coming out of halftime, Kentlake could not slow down Decatur senior Darcemon McJimpson Jr. The Gator shooting guard scored 15 points in the third quarter. It could have been much worse for the Falcons, but Jasraj Ghumman kept Kentlake in the game despite the deficit. He had eight points in the third quarter, and five in the fourth quarter for the Falcons.
“When his shots fall, he does a lot for us … When he makes his shots, the energy changes the whole team dynamic for us. He opens a lot more opportunities for four (Bowes) and zero (Matthew Lawrence),” Demecilio said.
At the end of the third quarter, Decatur’s lead was 18 point at 58-40. A game that looked like it could be Kentlake’s second win of the season slipped away and slowly became just like too many before.
Since 2022, Kentlake has lost 33 games by 20 points or more. During that stretch, the Falcons played a total of 49 games, going 6-43.
Demecilio has a long road ahead of him to get Kentlake to where he wants it to be. But he has markers for what success is for his program.
“Kids coming in every day with good energy and intensity. Putting in the work when they need to do it, instead of just doing it while they are at practice. Doing it on their own time. But the biggest thing right now is setting a culture that we are trying to change,” Demecilio said.
Kentlake since their Decatur defeat fell to Evergreen (Seattle) by a score of 67-65 on Jan. 4. The Falcons play the top two teams in the NPSL in Auburn Mountainview (Jan. 6) and second place White River (Jan. 14).
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Kentlake senior Camden Franzen drives to the basket. Ben Ray / The Reporter
