Coach Brian Lockhart is optimistic about the Kent-Meridian High boys basketball team’s chances, but tempers it with the knowledge that the greatest challenge to his players will be remaining academically eligible to play.
“This is the first season opener I’ve won since I’ve been here,” says Lockhart, in his seventh year. “They have the makeup, and with a couple of additions we’ll be very deep.”
His key players this year include Romane Jackson, who has led the Royals in scoring with 23, 24 and 14 points in the first three games; Aarmani Reece, a transfer from Chicago; and Angel Chima, who will help round out the starting lineup as “the most cerebral player,” says Lockhart.
“I’m able to play 10 guys and not really miss anything. And with the way we play — which is in your face, pressure, pressure, pressure, try to wear you down in the fourth quarter — that fits right where we’re at.”
Early pressure will be a key trait for Lockhart and the Royals. He remembers that it worked especially well in his fourth year when Kent-Meridian carried a 12-4 South Puget Sound League record and finished second in league playoffs.
Kent-Meridian opened this season strong with victories over Renton, Auburn and Tahoma and a loss to South Kitsap. Despite being down to five varsity players in their first game, the Royals persevered and came out on top. Balancing the team’s bravado — which is healthy but dangerous — and tempering their expectations to sustain morale has been a challenge for Lockhart, especially after two difficult prior seasons.
The team returns to the league after several seasons of being clipped by small technicalities, says Lockhart. In 2013 the team had a stellar year of victories but was cut from playoffs due to an oversight on one of their players who was ruled ineligible by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) as a fifth-year senior.
“It was tough to rebound from,” says Lockhart.
Last year the team faced a rough season of 6-14 that left them demoralized, and Lockhart has made it a point to build morale and players belief in themselves while still
making sure they’re resilient to adversity.
“That’s what I gotta fight with,” he says, “they punish themselves.”
Another major factor in maintaining the team will be sustaining academic achievement and program eligibility, which has consistently hampered them over the years. Even now academic ineligibility is keeping him from pulling a full team.
“We’ve been snake-bitten every year where there’s a kid, come playoff time, doesn’t take care of his stuff in the classroom and becomes ineligible,” he says. “My best shooter I’ve ever had in the program, that happened to him.”
Lockhart hopes to compete for a league title this season, and has faith that his full team will be able to deliver.
“With my full team going at it, I think we have a chance,” he says. “We had a 22-8 summer, were in a few championship games in our tournaments. We didn’t win any of them, but they were there.”
For now, Lockhart will have to compete with keeping his top players eligible and making sure they don’t over or undervalue themselves to keep his team performing at its peak.
The Royals play at Kentwood at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Royals play at Kentlake on Friday, Dec. 19 before the holiday break. They will compete on Dec. 26 in the Kennedy Catholic tournament in Burien.
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Kent-Meridian Royals
Coach: Brian Lockhart, seventh year
Career record here: 56-72
Last year’s league record/place: 4-12, last
Last year’s overall record: 6-14
Starting returners: Jordan Lockhart, Sr., 5-8
Top Newcomers: Deangelo Counts, Sr., 6-3; La’Teric Landers, So., 5-10; Armani Reese, Sr., 6-4; Paul Johnson, Sr., 5-10; Kelan Robinson, Jr., 6-3; Tavion Williams, So., 6-1.
Kentridge Chargers
Coach: Dave Jamison
Last year’s league record: 16-0, first
Overall record: 25-3, state appearance
Key Returners: Deon Thomas, 5-7, Sr., PG; Nick Hopson, 6-3, Sr., F; Joran Ticeson, 6-6, Jr. F; Elijah Ticeson, 6-0, Jr., G
Key Newcomers: Micah Simmons, 6-4, Sr., F; Ethan Walker, 6-3, Jr. F; Braiden Beckman, 6-2, Sr., F; Rick Ziegenhagen, 6-4, Sr., F; Matt Fleming, 6-3, Jr., F; AJ Chappell, 5-6, Soph., G
Team Outlook: Competitiveness, size, and teamwork are strengths. Experience, inside scoring, and guard depth are weaknesses
Editor’s Note: Look for a feature next week on the Kentridge boys team
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