Four standouts from South-Central League game threes
The South-Central League is beginning to heat up as Pueblo West and Pueblo East both moved to 3-0 in league with wins over Pueblo County and Pueblo Centennial, respectively, on Tuesday. Pueblo Central stayed right behind with a 57-49 overtime…
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Continue ReadingThe South-Central League is beginning to heat up as Pueblo West and Pueblo East both moved to 3-0 in league with wins over Pueblo County and Pueblo Centennial, respectively, on Tuesday.
Pueblo Central stayed right behind with a 57-49 overtime win over Pueblo South to put the Wildcats at 2-1 in league.
Here are some performances that stood out at the Southwest Motors Events Center on Tuesday.
Pueblo East’s Darnell Kindred is a walking bucket
The S-CL’s leading scorer in Kindred proved it Tuesday in Pueblo East’s 70-45 win over Pueblo Centennial.
Kindred, who averages 17.1 a game, posted 21 on the Bulldogs, primarily doing his work from knocking down elbow jumpers, or driving his way to the bucket for a layup.
The Eagles’ senior continues to provide a calming presence on offense for a team that likes to get after it in a full-court press defense and turn turnovers into points.
Having Kindred has allowed the Eagles to run a smoother half-court offense compared to last year when the Eagles made a run all the way to the final four in Class 4A.
Steven Hemphill can shoot from everywhere for Pueblo Central
Pueblo Central’s Steven Hemphill makes a layup while being fouled against Pueblo South on Jan. 28, 2020.Not far behind Kindred in scoring is Pueblo Central’s Hemphill, who dropped 23 on Pueblo South in the Wildcats 57-49 overtime victory.
The junior, who averages 15.6 a game, hit a big 3-pointer in the OT period to help distance the Wildcats to a much-needed league win if they want to stay close to Pueblo East and Pueblo West at the top.
Hemphill also knocked down eight shots from all around the floor while also getting down low for a couple layups.
In his first full season of varsity minutes, Hemphill has continued to show signs of being a dangerous scorer moving forward this season and into his senior year next season.
Tarrance Austin has Pueblo South trending upward
The Colts are in a rebuilding season with many young players seeing significant varsity minutes, but their sophomore guard in Austin has been a veteran presence after starting all last season as a freshman.
Austin is second in the S-CL in scoring with 15.9 a game and can do it from either shooting well beyond the arc, or using one of his many post moves down in the paint.
Austin led the way for the Colts against Pueblo Central with 14 points, including a 3-pointer in OT to try and keep the Colts within striking distance.
But with Austin running the floor, the Colts offense had a much better flow and continues to improve behind the sophomore as the season has progressed.
Brandon Solano trying to power Pueblo Centennial
Pueblo Centennial’s Brandon Solano goes up high for a layup against Cheyenne Mountain on Dec. 19, 2019.At 2-13, it’s been a tough season for the Bulldogs, but that hasn’t stopped Solano from giving it his all each night.
The senior guard can jump out of the gym as he continued to pull down boards for Pueblo Centennial against Pueblo East, a game in which the Bulldogs were within five with less four minutes to go in the third quarter.
Leading the upset charge was Solano, whose speed after coming down with a rebound and court vision to find the open guy led to many fastbreak points or easy layups for the Bulldogs.
Pueblo Centennial has fought tough so far in the S-CL despite the 0-3 mark, and with the way Solano is giving it his all so far, an upset for the ‘Dogs wouldn’t be too far fetched.