Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Davenport gets hot after slow start
Davenport senior Tennessee Rainwater gets to the rim against Reardan Tuesday. Rainwater scored 35 points and missed just three shots in the Gorillas' 74-39 win over the Screaming Eagles Dec. 13.
DAVENPORT-For the first five minutes of the rivalry boys basketball matchup between Reardan and Davenport, it looked like the visiting Screaming Eagles might have figured something out about the Gorillas.
Then, the threes started raining in for Davenport and the Gorillas overcame a slow offensive start to win 74-39.
Reardan came out packing the paint, taking away Davenport's driving lanes and forcing contested three-point shots that the Gorillas couldn't hit. This allowed the visitors to jump out to a 9-3 lead that had those clad in maroon ecstatic.
"We can't over-help on them, because they're very talented," Reardan head coach Brian Graham said. "We knew who their shooters consistently are and our goal was to let those other kids shoot those outside shots and not over-help...and make them earn it."
Davenport was able to finish the first quarter on a 7-2 mini-run thanks to threes from Tennessee Rainwater and Brenick Soliday. Turns out, that was only the beginning of the onslaught.
Rainwater, whose main flaw historically has been an inconsistent jump shot, caught fire. He hit four of his five three-point attempts in the second quarter and went on a personal 14-5 run to give Davenport a lead.
"Rainwater plays to drive traditionally," Graham said. "We were playing him for it, and he hit a shot, as he can. He just got hot from there."
Other Gorillas joined the fun, with Jaeger Jacobsen and Evan Gunning hitting open treys, and Davenport suddenly led 34-19 at halftime.
In the second half, things only got worse for Reardan. Davenport scored the first 14 points of the third quarter and led 56-25 after 24 minutes of game time.
Rainwater led the way, hitting two more threes and getting out in transition for easy dunks and layups. He finished with one of his most efficient scoring lines of his career, bagging 35 points on 14-for-17 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 shooting from behind the arc.
"This summer I've really been working on all three levels of my game, so whatever was open, I was looking for it," Rainwater said. "They came out early and we weren't ready, so that just shows we can't underestimate anyone."
The lone blemish on Rainwater's night was a technical foul in the second quarter that cost Davenport two points and drew the ire of the Reardan faithful.
Soliday was the only other Gorilla in double figures with 12 points. Jacobsen and Cash Colbert each had eight points and six rebounds for Davenport.
Logan Flaa led Reardan with 12 points, while Rysen Soliday scored seven points and snared five rebounds.
Davenport is a perfect 3-0 this season, but should get a good challenge in its next contest Friday night against St. George's at home. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
0-2 Reardan, meanwhile, is at home for the first time against Chewelah Friday 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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