Tribe routs Green Wave to open 2009

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Cameron Conder (42) and Malden's Dywhite Jackson battle for a rebound during the first half of Tuesday's Bootheel Conference basketball game at Kennett. [Click to enlarge]

The Tribe got a 3-pointer from Jarvis Finley to end the first quarter and rolled from there to a 69-32 victory over the Malden Green Wave Tuesday night in Bootheel Conference play.

"We were up four (points) at the time he hit that 3 and it put us up seven to end the quarter," Kennett coach Jim Vaughan said. "I think we did carry some momentum into the huddle and out of the huddle back onto the floor entering the second quarter."

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Jeremy Hughes (left) is guarded by Malden's Dee Collier (right) during the first half of Tuesday's Bootheel Conference basketball game at Kennett. [Click to enlarge]

Kennett also recognized sophomore guard Randrick Caruthers Tuesday. Caruthers, who may not be able to play again after being diagnosed with a heart condition, started Tuesday's game before leaving after the opening tip, giving him a chance to be in one more game.

"That was special," said Vaughan. "I can't take credit for the idea -- somebody gave me the idea to do it. I know it meant a lot to his mom and to Randrick. I know it certainly meant a lot to his basketball family."

After Finley's triple gave the Indians (5-4, 2-1 Bootheel) an 18-11 lead after one period, Kennett took command of the game in the second quarter.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Randrick Caruthers (32) is hugged by Kennett coach Jim Vaughan after leaving the game during the first half of Tuesday's Bootheel Conference basketball game at Kennett. [Click to enlarge]

Cameron Conder scored six of his 10 points in the period as the Tribe went on a 15-2 run, taking a 20-point lead (35-15) on Trey Abmeyer's basket with 3:17 left in the half.

Conder's big game was one of three by the Tribe's inside guys, as he, Blake Parr and Jeremy Hughes combined for 24 points on the evening.

"We made a point to get the ball to the lane whether it was by dribble or by feeding it ..." said Vaughan. "Our four post guys tonight -- I can't praise them hard enough for how they worked for position. That made it easier on our guards to get the ball where we needed it to be."

Kennett continued to dominate in the third period, going on a 12-0 run to make it a 57-26 game on a Greg Bowles basket midway through the quarter.

The Indians capped the game by holding the Green Wave scoreless in the final period.

Tuesday's win is even bigger in light of the Bootheel Conference race and Kennett's loss to state-ranked Portageville last month.

"We're probably not going to be the 1 seed in the tournament, so we're going to do everything we can to be the No. 2 seed," Vaughan said. "So every conference game is (key) for us."

The Tribe has another Bootheel Conference game Friday when it travels to Hayti in a makeup of a game that was iced out last month.

"They've won three games in a row," said Vaughan. "Playing at their place, that makes it tough. I'm proud of what we did tonight but we go back to work tomorrow."

MALDEN (fg ft-fta pts) -- Gregory 1 0-0 3, Collier 2 2-3 7, Jackson 2 0-0 5, Wilson 1 0-0 2, Matthews 4 1-1 9, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Lemarr 1 0-0 2. Totals: 13 3-4 32.

KENNETT -- Garmon 3 0-0 6, Finley 4 7-8 16, Parr 4 0-1 8, Usry 1 0-2 2, Gooden 0 0-0 0, Abmeyer 4 1-2 9, Hampton 2 0-0 6, Bowles 3 0-0 6, Caruthers 0 0-0 0, Hughes 2 2-4 6, Conder 4 2-4 10, Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 12-21 69.

3-pointers: Malden 3 (Collier, Gregory, Jackson); Kennett 3 (Hampton 2, Finley)