Kennett sprints past Bernie to claim BCT title

Jerry Jarrell photo Bernie Jake Welch hangs in the air trying to get a shot over the defense of Kennett's Randicks Caruthers during championship action Wednesday at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Kennett defeated Bernie, 67-47.

But in the end the Mules found themselves in a race for the championship trophy that they just couldn't win on this night.

Kennett's depth and speed paid big dividends in a tournament that saw teams play four games in five nights as the Indians raced past the defending champs, 67-47, to claim the school's first Christmas Tournament title since 1981.

"Depth was big for us," Kennett coach Jim Vaughan said after celebrating the victory with players and fans. "We played 10 tonight and we're solid with those 10. They've (Bernie) got five solid guys, not to take anything away from their bench. But when they had to get into their bench it was in our favor.

"I think our bench was just stronger than their bench. And that's just how we play," Vaughan continued. "We've got to go fast and we've got to keep it up tempo. We've got to make their legs more tired that our legs in the second half. And I think you see what happens when we do that and do it effectively."

The strategy started showing up slowly as the Indians looked comfortable building a 16-9 first quarter lead and increasing it to 12 (35-23) at the half.

Kennett was quickly back on the attack in the third as baskets by Fred Garmon (14 points) and Dwight Usry (12 points) around a Bernie turnover pushed the advantage to 39-23 before Quinton Stevens hit what would be the only 3-pointer of the game for the Mules.

Bernie dug in but couldn't close the 13-point gap and went to the final frame down, 47-34.

Bernie's Jake Smith, who finished with a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds, struck first to open the fourth and Jake Welch (7 points) hit two free throws to make it a nine-point game (47-38), but Kennett went on a 9-3 run to surge ahead, 56-41, with 3:45 to play.

Kennett still looked fresh down the stretch as the Mules appeared to wear down and were unable to mount a late challenge to the Tribe's title run.

It was the first taste of defeat for the 10-1 Mules this season.

"Hat's off to Kennett," Bernie Brad Botsch commented. "They played very well and were the better team tonight. I thought our kids played hard, we're just not making good basketball decisions on the floor right now. Kennett really got out and guarded our shooters tonight as well and we didn't get a whole lot of clean looks at the basket.

"I think we'll bounce back from this," Botsch added. " I believe the kids realize that there are some things we have to do a lot better and they'll work hard to improve in those areas."

For Kennett (6-4), it was a long wait to hoist the championship trophy once again.

"None of these kids were even born yet," Vaughan said of Kennett's last BCT title. " I think it was '81 since we've done this? It's big for our program. It's special for our town. Kennett's needed a champion for a awhile and we've given them a small part of that and it's special for anyone involved with it."

Notes: Kennett's last BCT title came in 1981, a 53-52 win oer South Pemiscot. The Indians also won titles in 1974-75 and 1978.