CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – On day one of the Zaxby’s Holiday Tournament, Kenwood boys basketball hosted Portland Friday in the nightcap.
It was a tightly contested game for three quarters before the Knights found their rhythm offensively, knocking down key shots to pick up a 59-42 victory over the Panthers.
In a low-scoring first half, Portland closed out the second quarter on a 6-0 run to knot the score at 22-22. Kenwood boys basketball coach Jason James shared what he said to his team during the break.
“Just be ourselves,” James said. “That’s something we got away from in the first half. We were trying to be a team that we’re not on both ends. That was the main thing. Get back to being who we are, try to do what we like to do and go from there.”
Jaylen Washington came up big, time and time again from beyond the arch. James discussed what the performance may have done for the sophomore and how beneficial it was for his team.
“He really helps us when he can score,” James said. “He made some big shots, but they were good shots though. I think that’s the thing. When we get him taking good shots and he’s able to make them, it really helps our offense. It helps us get into our defense too. When the ball goes in, everyone has a little bit more bounce to their step. It was good to see.”
On the final play of the third quarter, an emphatic dunk from James “Scooter” Williams gave Kenwood a 41-34 lead before the Knights pulled away down the stretch.
Kenwood faces off against Summit, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in the second round of the Zaxby’s Holiday Tournament.
“They’re as good a team as maybe any we’ve played,” James said of his team’s next opponent. “We’ll try to get some rest and try to prepare like we always do for a tough, hard-fought and physical game. They’re a very good basketball team, so we have to play a lot better than we did tonight to be able to stay in the game.”
Washington and Williams tied for a game-high 20 points while Kemari McIntosh recorded eight points for the Knights.
Duncan Smallwood led Portland with a team-high 10 points followed by Dequan Bradley with eight points and Dawson Kennedy with seven points.