While it wasn’t pretty from start to finish, the host Kenston Bombers trailed 15-4 after one before downing the visiting NDCL Lions 59-54 on Dec. 9.
Game photos click here.
While it wasn’t pretty from start to finish, the host Kenston Bombers trailed 15-4 after one before downing the visiting NDCL Lions 59-54 on Dec. 9.
The nerves of the home opener may have been a factor, but the Bombers didn’t waver in their comeback bid.
“(Nerves) are no excuse,” Kenston Head Coach Josh Jakacki said. “We were over-helping on the corner threes, trapping in non-trapping areas, our rotations and communication were terrible — but I have to say, at no point did I feel really threatened because we were still manufacturing good shots that just weren’t falling.
“(NDCL) came out and hit some shits, but we didn’t think that would continue throughout the game. We stuck to the game plan: pressure them full-court. We started making some shots, made some slight adjustments, started guarding our yard, and that got us the opportunity to inch back into the game.”
Wesley Jacobson opened the NDCL side up with a 3-pointer on the wing. Luke Keep scored on the break, then found Jack Sonby underneath for an early 8-0 lead.
Ethan Burge worked the offensive glass, and Brendan Hernan scored in the post, giving his Lions a 15-4 lead after one.
Kenston made an 18-9 run to trim the gap in the second quarter, led by Kahlil Hinton’s six points, plus a pair of Eli Ellis 3-pointers, cutting the deficit down to 24-22 at the break.
In the third quarter, the two heavyweights exchanged blows, with Jacobson and Ellis trading pairs of 3-pointers, and Sonby was finding the range as well.
Hunter Yates is going to work in the post for Kenston, racking up six points in the frame.
But through it all, NDCL still led 42-38 thanks, in part, to a Jason Rook transition dunk.
The final frame became The Hinton Show as he posted 11 fourth-quarter points, including a thunderous transition slam to ignite the crowd, followed by a chase-down block in transition that led immediately into a layup for him at the other end.
Hernan scored twice more in the post, but the biggest play of the night came from Jared Lechak, who then deflected a pass, saved it from going out of bounds by throwing it off a Lions player, and gave the Bombers the ball back with under a minute left to shoot free throws and close out the come-from-behind win.
Lechak, a senior, knows his role is to be a defense-first guy.
“Jared didn’t play as much because (Ethan) Burge came back, and we were riding with the hot group in the second half,” Jakacki said. “We’ve told our kids from day one they have to be able to handle the temperature in the room, but most importantly, be ready to play when their number is called.
“We had no qualms about putting Jared in at that moment, knowing he’s great on the defensive end and trusting he’s going to make the right basketball play. He made a winning play — those types of plays don’t go unnoticed in big moments — and it’s guys like Jared we have to keep relying on in those spots.”
To sweeten the whole deal, it’s Lechak first year on varsity.
Jakacki continued, “The better part of the story is that this is a kid who’s a senior, who’s never played varsity and didn’t have a uniform to speak of last year. He showed up, put his work boots on, and has been grinding since May 18, and for him to step up in that moment is really special.”
Ellis led the Bombers with 18 points, connecting on four of 10 3-pointers with six rebounds, while Hinton stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and steals, and shot an uber-efficient eight-of-11 from the field.
Burge scored 11 on four of five shooting, with seven rebounds to boot. Yates rounded out the top scorers with eight points and five boards.
It was a tough loss for NDCL, which had led by 11 at one point.
“Our 2-2-1 zone press was really effective at the start, but once we got gassed, we started to struggle,” Keep said. “It took a toll on us, and (Kenston) just started running on us.”
The Lions are learning as a unit, even with loss. It’s a young group, Keep said, and he and Hernan are the only two seniors.
“There’s going to be a lot of growing pains, but we’re going to work through it together,” he said. “We’re going to have to get used to playing alongside one another; it’s going to take time. It’s a tough loss.”
Hernan led the way with 16 points, while Keep and Jacobson each added 11 with a combined four 3-pointers. Sonby pitched in eight points.
Kenston is 3-1 and next plays Dec. 20 hosting Hudson. NDCL is 1-4 and hits the court Dec. 16 at home against Padua.
