Kennett ends losing streak with second upset over Bernie

The Kennett Indians (6-8) ended a four-game losing streak Tuesday night in the team’s second upset over Bernie (9-4) at home after successfully contending with the Mules’ impressive long range shooting game. Putting up over 80 points against Bernie once again, Kennett won 81-66.

“We knew we had to win tonight and that's the bottom line,” Kennett head coach Noll Billings said. “I told the guys before the game 'Boys, you lose tonight and you're in a bad, bad situation.' I think (Bernie) is as good with guard play as we see all year. The difference is the size and the speed on other positions.”

“I'll give it to our guys,” he continued, “I think we've gotten better since Bloomfield and I think we've gotten better since we played them last time, and it showed tonight.”

Kennett pulled off their first 87-83 upset over Bernie at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, which in part led the Indians to a fifth place finish. Bernie’s Tristan Johnson poured in 44 total points in their last matchup, and their second contest this season was no different.

An astonishingly deep 3-point shot by Johnson allotted the Mules a five point lead early in the first quarter before Kennett rallied to close the gap and pull ahead 23-20 entering the second.

“Anybody that keeps up with basketball here is going to remember Tristan Johnson for a long time,” Billings said. “I don't remember him getting an easy bucket – we had a lot of fresh legs and fast guys guarding him, and he just kept finding ways to make shots.”

The Indians cashed in on several forced turnovers in the second quarter and outscored Bernie 25-12 to establish a 16 point lead before halftime. Kennett’s halftime lead would largely hold and grow consistently until the final buzzer.

A layup by Kennett’s Will Gaines-Parker early in the third quarter pushed Kennett past the 50 point mark. A 3-point play by Joseph Tribble and another by D’Shun Wilson led into the final quarter and ushered the Indians ahead by nearly 20 points, 65-47.

The Indians hit the 20-point margin in the first play of the fourth quarter before Bernie went on a run to briefly cut their deficit to 15 with a 3-point shot by senior Michia Schooley.

“I was never comfortable because I know how well they can shoot the ball,” Billings said. “Even looking up and being 20 points up, in three trips they can cut it to 12 or 15 points. They push the ball up the court so well that you're never really able to relax if you're smart.”

Back to back 2-point plays by Kennett’s Blake Raspberry and a layup by Gaines-Parker once again secured a 21-point lead as minutes dwindled in the fourth quarter.

Will Gaines-Parker paced Kennett with 17 points, followed by D’Shun Wilson with 14, Ashton Dismukes and Joseph Tribble with nine, and Zy’Kerrion Taylor and Blake Raspberry with eight.

Bernie was led by Tristan Johnson with 32 points, followed by Landon Ellsworth with 16, and Michia Schooley and Traven Owens with six apiece.

Kennett had lost four games in a row going into Tuesday night’s matchup, their most recent being to Jackson at home last Friday night. Bernie most recently lost to Advance last Friday night by just four points.

Kennett also took a decisive 56-30 junior varsity victory Tuesday night over Bernie as well.

Next up, Kennett travels to Notre Dame (5-8) Friday with JV beginning at 6 p.m. Bernie hosts Dexter (9-4) Friday at the same time.

“We've got to win it,” Billings said. “It's a must-win. The schedule doesn't get easier. It gets harder. Friday will be our fourth game in five days and then we turn around and play again on Saturday. But the long term goal is to get better and that comes with playing a lot of basketball.”