Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Simon Kenton beats Holmes out of blocks
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
Simon Kenton scored the first 14 points of the game Tuesday against Holmes, and the Pioneers advanced to the semifinals of the Ninth Region boys basketball tournament with a 54-43 on the Bulldogs' floor.
Simon Kenton will play Highlands at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The Bluebirds defeated Dixie Heights 56-43.
“A quick start was imperative,” Simon Kenton coach Scott Humphrey said. “Holmes, they play as good a defense as anybody.”
Simon Kenton got off to its quick start by going to its top three scorers.
Senior Kevin Cristello (16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists Tuesday) started with six of the first eight points; sophomore center Mike Brock (18 points, 11 rebounds) added five, and senior guard Jordan Stowers (10 points, 10 assists) — who scored his 1,000th career point and now has 1,007 — finished the run with a 3-pointer with 1:56 left.
“Jordan, Brock and Cristello are the core,” Humphrey said. “When they play big, we play well.”
Holmes senior forward Jamarcus White scored the Bulldogs' first points with 1:37 left in the first quarter. Coach David Henley said having one bad quarter has been a problem all season.
“We picked a different one every game,” Henley said.
But credit Holmes with not giving up — the Bulldogs have lived with lots of adversity. Sophomore guard Brandent Englemon missed a month of the season because of a collapsed lung, and senior guard Sid Rice injured an ankle a week ago.
“These kids learned to stay together,” Henley said.
Brock's five points and a pair of Eric Reed free throws put Simon Kenton ahead 21-5 with 5:47 to go in the first half. But Holmes outscored the Pioneers 16-9 the rest of the half, and Rice led the run with seven points.
HOLMES (43) — Hill 2 0 5, B. Smith 3 0 9, Englemon 3 2 10, Walker 0 2 2, Rice 4 0 9, Jackson 1 2 4, Kornegay 2 0 4. Totals: 15 6 43.
SIMON KENTON (54) — Stowers 4 1 10, Cristello 7 2 16, Brock 6 6 18, Reed 1 4 6, Baker 0 2 2, Ben Harris 0 2 2. Totals: 18 17 54.
Holmes ....... 2 19 7 15—43
Simon Kenton ....... 14 16 12 12—54
Three-point goals: H-B. Smith 3, Englemon 2, Rice, Hill; SK-Stowers. Records: H 10-18, SK 22-8.
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Simon Kenton beats Holmes out of blocks