Kentrigde boys basketball coach Dave Jamison loved the mid-morning tipoff his team drew in the first round of the state tournament.
Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, the Chargers showed why.
Behind Gary Bell’s 19 points and 17 from Shaquielle McKissic, Kentridge ran past Mariner 65-50 in a first-round Class 4A state tournament game.
“They kind of took turns,” Kentridge coach Dave Jamison said about his two standout guards. “Shaquielle scored 11 of his 17 in the first half and Gary scored 13 of his 19 in the second half.”
With the win, Kentridge (18-8) advances to play Inglemoor (18-6) at 3:30 on Thursday in a state quarterfinal game. Inglemoor knocked off Roosevelt, 42-40, in its state opener on Wednesday.
Kentridge (18-8) held control of the game throughout, taking a 5-0 lead just seconds in and holding an 18-15 advantage after one quarter of play.
Mariner remained close primarily due to its hot first-half shooting. The Marauders connected on 11 of 17 field goals in the first half.
Kentridge, making its third straight state appearance, would not be denied, pushing its lead to 51-35 early in the fourth quarter. Mariner fought back, getting to within seven points at 55-48 with 2:37 to play.
The Chargers, as they have much of the season, remained calm.
“We weren’t nervous at all,” Jamison said. “I thought we were excited to be here, but nothing to be scared of.”
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