Senath-Hornersville's first half lead secures win over Kennett

The Senath-Hornersville and Kennett High School boys basketball teams continued their longtime rivalry with a contest between two teams that have had struggling seasons. KHS entered the contest with a record of 5-13 and SHHS 9-10, but the two coaches knew going in that it was going to be a battle as almost all these games generally are.

The first quarter was no exception as the score after one was 12-10 in favor of SHHS with both teams swapping three-pointers and field goals with several free throws from both teams attempted on hard fouls on shot attempts by both teams.

What turned the entire game was the first six minutes of the second quarter. From the start until two minutes to go in the half, Kennett was outscored 13-2 with the Indians' one bucket coming at the two minute mark. SHHS capitalized in that stretch with five consecutive scoring drives on turnovers increasing that two point first quarter lead into 31-12 at that point. The half ended with SHHS leading 33-14 and outscoring KHS 21-4. Kennett had more turnovers in the second quarter than they had points scored.

Kennett head coach Fred Garmon stated, "Stretches like that have haunted us all season."

SHHS head coach Kyle Moore said after the game that, at the start of the third quarter, he liked what he saw when his team extended the lead to 19. However, "We started doing what we have done all year, is let teams back into games in the second half," Moore said.

Senath became passive on defense, allowing Kennett easy inside looks and open three-pointers bringing the score to 46-31 after three, with what Garmon said was much better and aggressive defense down the stretch with Kennett ending the third quarter outscoring Senath-Hornersville 17-13.

With 3:02 left to go in the game, Kennett called a timeout after pulling to 54-45, and then Garmon called another timeout after a three-pointer at the 1:17 mark to pull within seven 55-48.

A breakaway layup by the Lions at the 1:15 mark increased the lead to 57-48 with SHHS running the clock down and Kennett not fouling, resulting in the final being 60-49 SHHS.

Although Kennett only trailed by two points after the first, the Indians outscored their opponent in the third and fourth period 17-13 and 18-14, but the six minute stretch at the start of second quarter, being outscored 21-4, was a deficit too deep to overcome.

Senath-Hornersville has rebounded well with two wins in a row over South Pemiscot and Kennett after two back-to-back losses to Malden by two and to Portageville by one. The Lions' next opponent is against Corning on Feb. 8th.

Kennett's next opponent is against Dexter at home on Friday.