2008-01-21-bh-kw-bp-doug

Kentwood uses Dept. of Interior Boxscore
By Craig Smith

Seattle Times staff reporter

Kentwood's 6-foot-10 Josh Smith, scored 29 points on 14-of-15 shooting and 6-7 Jeremy Green scored 27 as the Conquerors beat Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma 80-75 Monday in the King Holiday Hoopfest at Edmundson Pavilion.
Bellarmine boys basketball coach Bernie Salazar wasn't surprised that Smith missed only one shot.
"When you're that tall and you're shooting that close ... " Salazar said. "He's a good player and has really good hands and really good touch around the basket. When he gets in good position, it's usually two points."
The game, named the Jim Reding Classic after the late Seattle Times prep-coverage coordinator, featured Kentwood's interior strength against the state's highest-scoring backcourt. Bellarmine junior Avery Bradley scored 30 points and his classmate, Arizona recruit Abdul Gaddy, scored 26. The twosome combined for 78 points in a win over Gig Harbor last week.
Bellarmine Prep (14-2) is ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 4A. Kentwood (13-3) is No. 6.
Kentwood's game plan was summarized in one word, repeated three times, by the 280-pound Smith: "Inside, inside, inside."
Smith, a sophomore who is on the national recruiting radar, collected five offensive rebounds and six overall.
The Conquerors shot an impressive 68.6 percent (35 of 51) and were 9 of 9 from the field in the third quarter.
Kentwood coach Mike Angelidis called Green, a senior who is being recruited by in-state Division II schools, "the difference" on his team this season. He also praised the work of his guards in distributing the ball and contending with Bellarmine's speed.
Bellarmine never led and got off to a miserable start, trailing 16-2, but closed to 40-35 by halftime. Bradley could have put Bellarmine ahead with 8 seconds left in the third quarter but missed a breakaway dunk. Kentwood went downcourt and Tre Taylor hit a three-point basket for a 58-54 lead.
Bellarmine cut the lead to 66-65 with 4:18 to play on a layup by Bradley, but Kentwood then went on an 8-2 run that featured two layups by Green, a basket by Smith, and a dunk by Green.