It wasn’t pretty at the start, but the Kentwood Conquerors did what they needed to do Monday night, beating Auburn Riverside at home, 49-39, to clinch first place in the South Puget Sound League’s Northern Division.
Kentwood (14-6 overall, 12-4 SPSL) will play Curtis in a battle of division champions Friday night at the Showare Center in Kent. Both teams are assured spots in the district tournament.
Kentwood did not score for nearly six minutes to start the game.
Auburn Riverside scored the first seven points and built the lead to 14-5 before Kentwood started chipping away.
“We came out with no energy,” Kentwood senior Jeremy Smith said. “We need to come out fast.”
Kentwood coach Brian Davis said he thought fatigue was a factor.
“We played three games in four days,” Davis said. “They’re high school kids and they can get tired.”
Smith keyed the comeback, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second quarter to cut the Conquerors’ deficit to two points.
Joe Kramer made a 12-foot baseline jumper to give Kentwood its first lead, 25-24, with 1:10 to play in the second quarter.
Kentwood opened the second half with 10 consecutive points for a 37-26 lead. Smith and Taylor Jones exchanged baskets during the run, with Jones contributing a steal and coast-to-coast layup.
Smith scored 17 points, and fellow senior Jones had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Auburn Riverside (4-16, 3-13) was led by senior guard Bridger Harlington. Harlington had 17 points and nine rebounds.
Kentwood made its second-quarter comeback while Harlington was on the thin Auburn Riverside bench with two fouls. The Ravens trailed by eight points on a 3-pointer by Justin Jacobs, but could not draw any closer.
The Conquerors clinched the outright league title with the win.
“At the beginning of the season everyone doubted us, but we knew after a couple of games that we could win this,” Smith said. “We were the underdogs in a way.”
Davis also had faith in his team all season.
“I thought if we played well, we’d have a chance, and that’s what we did,” Davis said. “It’s a tough league.”
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