South Sound Rivalry: Kentwood vs. Kentridge
NPSL rivals Kentwood and Kentridge recently faced off in a game that came down to the final minute. The Chargers of Kentridge hosted Kentwood’s Conquerors, and the environment was everything you’d hope for in a rivalry game. Kentwood featured a…
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Continue ReadingNPSL rivals Kentwood and Kentridge recently faced off in a game that came down to the final minute. The Chargers of Kentridge hosted Kentwood’s Conquerors, and the environment was everything you’d hope for in a rivalry game. Kentwood featured a squad filled with impressive athleticism, and while Kentridge may have been outmatched in that regard, they came into the game with a deliberate game plan and a defense that was ready for the challenge. In the end, Kentwood stole a road victory with a final score of 56 to 49. Here is a quarter-by-quarter look at the plays and the players that shaped the game.
1st Quarter: Kentwood 17, Kentridge 12
The Kentridge Chargers came out with a clear plan to work the ball into their senior leader Owen Paznokas, a 6’5″ forward and our 27th ranked player in the 2020 class. The lefty did a great job ceiling off defenders and finishing tough shots under the hoop all night. He would finish the game with 12 points. Kentwood’s athleticism was on display from the jump. Senior Alphonse Oywak had a big block on defense, and point guard Iyzik Pam (2021), the teams leading scorer and first-teamer from last season, added a step-back three after shaking his defender. Kentwood junior Cameron Williams came up big with timely threes, one of which came in the first quarter on his first touch of the game. Kentridge’s Drew Liddell (2021) had an impressive game last night, especially on defense, and he drew a charge from Pam near the end of the quarter.
2nd Quarter: Kentwood 26, Kentridge 27
Kentridge senior point guard Isaiah Hayes provided his team with consistent hustle and racked up 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and forced 3 turnovers. He was matched up against the taller Pam, and Hayes played excellent defense against a very athletic opponent. Hayes’s ball movement helped to get his teammates going, one of whom was junior Adrian Pop who knocked down mid-range jumpers all night and finished with 16 points. Drew Liddell added to the scoring with a backdoor cut and lay-in and continued to be tough defensively, adding a block. Kentwood sophomore Logan Stempniak used his long 6’5″ frame to make an impact on both ends with blocks and tough finishes through contact.
3rd Quarter: Kentwood 39, Kentridge 44
The third quarter was the strongest for the Chargers who saw more good shooting from Adrian Pop and a timely three from Drew Liddell on his only attempt of the game. Kentwood’s Oywak had a highlight lay-in that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd, and sophomore Jaelin Green, another outstanding athlete, added great defense to go along with his 10 points. Isaiah Hayes finished the quarter with a drive and dish to Drew Liddell that put the Chargers up by five going into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter: Kentwood 56, Kentridge 49 (final)
Iyzik Pam had the ball in his hands for much of the fourth quarter, and he used his athleticism and impressive handles to shake his defenders and finish with a nice floater and his second three of the game. Owen Paznokas continued his strong work under the basket and had a tough finish that drew a foul and brought fans to their feet. Cameron Williams knocked down his second big three of the game as the Conquerors began to crank up the pressure. With four minutes remaining, Kentwood’s coach Blake Solomon made the decision to switch to a full-court press that was effective in forcing a turnover from the Chargers. On what was the play of the game, Iyzik Pam drove to the basket and missed a tough lay-in, but he stuck with the play and grabbed a loose ball before making the go-ahead lay-in with two-minutes to play. Kentridge would extend the lead to four after senior Trevon Erickson grabbed an offensive rebound and finished his put-back to seal the win.
Awards
Offensive MVP – Iyzik Pam | 6’1″ G | KWHS 2021
Pam was the most impressive prospect on the court in this game. He’s an outstanding athlete, and his combination of speed and ball-handling allowed him to shake defenders and get open looks all night. He has a full arsenal of skills that allowed him to consistently get to the basket through traffic. He has room to improve as a passer, but his talent is a huge up-side. Pam finished with a game-high 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting. *Feature Image
Defensive MVP – Drew Liddell | 6’3″ G | KRHS 2021
I was very impressed with Liddell’s contributions on both sides of the court. He led his team with 17 points, but he had a bigger impact on defense drawing charges and blocking shots. He has an unassuming 6’3″ frame, but he has great length, instincts, and timing that allows him to be an effective shot-blocker even when it appears like he’s been beaten to the hoop. Despite all of his physical skills, it’s his intelligence that is likely his strongest attribute. Drew is inrolled in three Advanced Placement courses and is maintaning a 4.0 GPA.
Best Underclassman – Jaelin Green | 6’4″ F | KWHS 2022
Green finished the game with 10 of his teams 56 points. He took a big fall on a contested lay-in in the first quarter but jumped up to knock down both of his free throws. Green has explosive athleticism that he uses to his advantage on both ends of the court.
The rematch of this rivalry game will take place on January 29th at Kentwood High School.