SLIDESHOW: Kennedy boys end season

By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

TACOMA - Frigid shooting and missing energy cost Kennedy Catholic dearly in a season-ending 67-48 boys basketball loss to Lakeside (Seattle) on Fri., March 6, at the 2015 WIAA Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires state Hardwood Classic held on the court of the Tacoma Dome.

"We didn't come with energy," said Lancer head coach Don Hoffman. "In the first and fourth quarters, we didn't execute well. We played well in the second and third quarters, but a game is four quarters."

In almost an antithesis of the previous game, the Lancers were ice cold from the field from the outset with their shooting percentages and never truly got a strong flow of strength.

With quick, snappy team passing and leadership from Isiah Brown on both ends of the court, the Lions sped to an 18-10 lead after one quarter.

As the Lions led 18-11 early in the second quarter, Daejon Davis joined in the Lakeside offense to vault the Lions into a 25-11 domination. Emilio Mancol banked a runner and drained a three-pointer that was partially offset by a pair of Isaiah de la Fuente free throws, but A.J. McGrew converted a three-point play ahead of Keannu Royster's inside goal bring the Lancers within 27-21 with just less than one minute left in the first half.

By the halftime break, Lakeside led 29-22 with the Lancers still shooting poorly.
KC had shot 8 of 24 on total field goals and dwindled to 8 of 27 total field goals in the second half.

Parker Diller, A.J. McGrew and Keannu Royster combined forces to forge ties at 31-31 and 33-33.

Midway through the period, the Lions responded with a 24-6 charge that was led by Brown, mainly regular penetration of the Kennedy defense for high-percentage shots near the rim as the Lancers were trapped in the Lions' den in a 57-39 deficit with 2:46 remaining in regulation.

It was a particularly tough loss for McGrew, who fought hard for 20 KC points and six rebounds.

"I'm upset the season ended this way," he quietly said. "I'm proud of the team. We reached our goal of the Tacoma Dome, but I didn't want it to end like this."
The season is over for this edition of John F. Kennedy boys basketball at 23-5, but the experiences from an excellent adventure will always linger.

"It was a great season," concluded Hoffman. "We had lots of awesome memories of the team. After the dust clears, they'll think about how much they accomplished. There will be great experiences they'll always remember."

Sasonoff grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with four points. Diller finished with nine points, followed by Royster (eight) and Mancol (seven).

Brown scored a game high 27 points for Lakeside while Davis closed with 19 points, 15 caroms and five assists.

Kennedy Catholic's state player roster includes Emilio Mancol, Parker Diller, Keannu Royster, James Jolly, A.J. McGrew, Michael Sasonoff, Andrew Ellingson, Tre'Shawn Harrison, Emmett Abdian, Haydon Clifton, Jacob Thurber and Zac Martin.
Head coach Hoffman is assisted by coaches An Lieu, Jeff Huling and Donnie Moore.
Bob Bourgette is the athletic director with Rico Peretti and Bob Lewis keeping statistics.

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