Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Gorillas find their rhythm in last 11 minutes
Davenport junior Brenick Soliday works around a screen set by junior Wyatt Telecky Tuesday against Kettle Falls. Soliday scored 24 points in Davenport's 62-44 win over the Bulldogs Nov. 30.
DAVENPORT-It took 21 minutes of game time, but the Davenport boys basketball offense finally started moving the ball and finding some flow with three minutes left in the third quarter of the Gorillas' home opener against Kettle Falls. That rhythm, aided by an offensive outburst from junior Brenick Soliday, allowed Davenport to pull away from the Bulldogs 62-44 Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Davenport started strongly thanks to lockdown defense and took a 17-4 lead. Zane Edwards capped an 8-0 Kettle Falls run in response with a three-pointer at the first quarter buzzer, and Davenport led 17-12 after one. Five Gorillas, including three off the bench, scored in the opening frame.
Kettle Falls outscored Davenport 15-13 in the second quarter to make the margin a slim 30-27 at intermission. Davenport's offense consisted largely of standing around and watching Tennesee Rainwater take jump shots, which weren't falling for the junior.
"They came out more aggressive and in our face, and we didn't respond the way I was hoping," Davenport head coach Matt Henry said. "It's the first game of the season against a quality, well-coached team...so it took us a while to get our rhythm."
Kettle Falls then scored six straight points in the third quarter to tie the game 33-33 as Davenport's offensive stagnation continued. Then, Soliday caught fire and Davenport's offensive movement and defensive energy turned up a notch. The Gorillas finished the third quarter on a 12-0 run aided by three Soliday treys and extended its lead throughout the fourth quarter.
"We started sharing the ball a little bit better (and) got more comfortable playing in our offenses," Henry said.
Soliday finished with 24 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and no turnovers to lead Davenport. Rainwater finished with 15 points on 5-20 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Davenport's bench, which included senior Jake Coffman, junior Cash Colbert and sophomore Jaeger Jacobsen, provided a spark for the Gorillas. Coffman had nine points and three steals, while Jacobsen had seven points, four rebounds and three steals.
"We're really lucky to have a deep bench, and it'll be a real challenge for the coaching staff to make sure we're putting the right guys in the right spot at the right time," Henry said. "It's going to be whoever needs to come in, whatever the matchup is like, that's who we'll go with that night."
Jacobsen's brother, senior Jarrett Jacobsen, led the team with six rebounds.
Davenport will look to continue its winning ways vs. Liberty Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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