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All Basketball - Boys Stories
After 16 lackluster minutes, a spirited second half powered the Truman Cougars to a 62-51 home victory over in-city rival Kennedy on Thursday night.
Truman’s usually potent zone defense was no problem for the Eagles in the first half as solid ball movement led to a number of open looks throughout the first two quarters.
The Cougars led 18-12 late in the first quarter, but Kennedy’s Kareth O’Neil knocked down a triple with less than 15 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to three after eight minutes.
Kennedy stepped up defensively in the second and opened the quarter with a 10-0 run over the first five minutes for a 25-18 advantage.
“Kennedy came over here to win the game,” Truman Coach Chuck Suttles said.
Aaron Foster-Smith helped spark the Cougar offense with seven straight points and Truman went into the half trailing 29-27.
“We had EMS come in at halftime and check us for a pulse,” Truman Coach Chuck Suttles said. “We just stood around and watched in the first half. Kennedy was playing great defense, but we kind of turned that around in the second half.”
Kennedy led by five early in the third, but Truman roared back and took the lead three minutes in after a Foster-Smith triple put the Cougars up 35-33.
“Basically, it was a tale of two halves. They won the first and we won the second,” Suttles said.
Truman would not trail again.
Foster-Smith scored nine points in the quarter and led the Cougars to an 18-10 third quarter advantage for a 45-39 lead entering the fourth.
The Cougars pulled away immediately in the final quarter, scoring nine straight points over the first 2:15 for a 54-39 advantage. Truman’s defense was effective throughout the second half, allowing only six Kennedy field goals after allowing 12, with five triples, in the first half.
Truman moved to 3-0 in league play with the win after defeating Carlson earlier in the week. Momentum aside, the win holds special significance for Suttles and the Cougars based on the yearly competitiveness with their in-city rival.
“It’s always a great game against Kennedy,” Suttles said. “Kennedy has really been rising to the occasion and they’ve been pushing us around for the last three years.”
“Finally, we said ‘no’ to it in the second half and it was good to see our kids come alive, pick up the intensity and play the way we need to play.”
Foster-Smith led all scorers with 31 points, including a pair of dunks, to go with seven rebounds. Devain Newbill scored all eight of his points in the second half for Truman and Robert Whitehorn added seven points and six assists.
O’Neil and Andia Marsh each scored 13 points for Kennedy while Dantell Traylor added nine points and 10 boards. Marsh also pulled down seven rebounds and had six steals.
Kennedy went 1-1 this week in league play after a 43-33 victory over Melvindale on Tuesday.
The Cougars (5-1, 3-0 DRL) will travel to Trenton on Tuesday while Kennedy heads to Allen Park that same night.
BOYS' BASKETBALL: Truman pulls away from rival Kennedy in league win (PHOTO)
Truman's Aaron Foster-Smith had a big night with 31 points and seven boards in the Cougars' 62-51 win over in-city rival Kennedy on Tuesday night.
Truman’s usually potent zone defense was no problem for the Eagles in the first half as solid ball movement led to a number of open looks throughout the first two quarters.
The Cougars led 18-12 late in the first quarter, but Kennedy’s Kareth O’Neil knocked down a triple with less than 15 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to three after eight minutes.
Kennedy stepped up defensively in the second and opened the quarter with a 10-0 run over the first five minutes for a 25-18 advantage.
“Kennedy came over here to win the game,” Truman Coach Chuck Suttles said.
Aaron Foster-Smith helped spark the Cougar offense with seven straight points and Truman went into the half trailing 29-27.
“We had EMS come in at halftime and check us for a pulse,” Truman Coach Chuck Suttles said. “We just stood around and watched in the first half. Kennedy was playing great defense, but we kind of turned that around in the second half.”
Kennedy led by five early in the third, but Truman roared back and took the lead three minutes in after a Foster-Smith triple put the Cougars up 35-33.
“Basically, it was a tale of two halves. They won the first and we won the second,” Suttles said.
Truman would not trail again.
Foster-Smith scored nine points in the quarter and led the Cougars to an 18-10 third quarter advantage for a 45-39 lead entering the fourth.
The Cougars pulled away immediately in the final quarter, scoring nine straight points over the first 2:15 for a 54-39 advantage. Truman’s defense was effective throughout the second half, allowing only six Kennedy field goals after allowing 12, with five triples, in the first half.
Truman moved to 3-0 in league play with the win after defeating Carlson earlier in the week. Momentum aside, the win holds special significance for Suttles and the Cougars based on the yearly competitiveness with their in-city rival.
“It’s always a great game against Kennedy,” Suttles said. “Kennedy has really been rising to the occasion and they’ve been pushing us around for the last three years.”
“Finally, we said ‘no’ to it in the second half and it was good to see our kids come alive, pick up the intensity and play the way we need to play.”
Foster-Smith led all scorers with 31 points, including a pair of dunks, to go with seven rebounds. Devain Newbill scored all eight of his points in the second half for Truman and Robert Whitehorn added seven points and six assists.
O’Neil and Andia Marsh each scored 13 points for Kennedy while Dantell Traylor added nine points and 10 boards. Marsh also pulled down seven rebounds and had six steals.
Kennedy went 1-1 this week in league play after a 43-33 victory over Melvindale on Tuesday.
The Cougars (5-1, 3-0 DRL) will travel to Trenton on Tuesday while Kennedy heads to Allen Park that same night.
Last Updated: 1/10/2013 10:40:52 PM EST