The mighty grew stronger in District 6-AA.
Any chance at a three-team race theoretically ended as state-ranked Tyner beat third-place Howard 59-40 Monday night in Henry Bowles Gym. The Rams further distanced themselves and second-place Brainerd from the rest of the district.
Tyner’s Jaylen Bowens and Howard’s Rico Kleaver battle for a rebound Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 at Howard High School.“We’ve been trying to focus on clock management, and we did that well tonight,” Tyner coach Keitha Booker said. “We’re an up-tempo team, but I’m trying to get those guys to understand that we are able to slow the ball down when we need to. And I think we’re doing a much better job of that.”
Tyner played fast early, but Howard’s pressure and size kept the Hustlin’ Tigers close in the opening minutes. Forward Markel Fitch swatted away a Tyner layup attempt on the game’s first possession, but Fitch was called minutes later for a technical that proved costly.
The technical came after one of the area’s top players, Kevin Cameron, was fouled driving to the basket. Cameron hit four free throws, and Tyner scored a basket on the ensuing possession to take a 13-6 lead.
Cameron ended the first quarter with a 3-pointer at the buzzer and started the second period on the receiving end of an alley-oop dunk.
“Once they picked up the foul and I shot the technical free throws, the basket opened up a lot for me,” Cameron said. “I started to get going, and my teammates were getting me the ball.”
Cameron got help from point guard Ke’Markus Young, who filled the stat sheet with 10 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
“He is the heart and soul of our team right now,” Booker said. “He plays that point guard position to a ‘T.’ He’s one of those point guards who will come out and give you 10 or 15 points a night, but if you look at the stat sheet, he’s contributing all across the board.”
The loss was the second straight for the Hustlin’ Tigers after they were upset Friday by Central. Coach Walter McGary said there is still time to right the ship, but the players have to start playing like a team.
“The biggest thing is we have to come together,” he said. “Right now, we’re not a team. We’re just a group of individuals. My big people aren’t playing, and when your big people aren’t playing and aren’t rebounding, we are just a mediocre team.”
But if McGary’s forwards come together, Booker believes they are a team to fear.
“Like I tell people all the time, Howard is the team that scares me,” Booker said. “They come out and they compete. They play hard.”
Howard faces Brainerd at home Friday. Brainerd won the previous matchup 80-53.
Tyner will travel the same night to Red Bank to take on the Lions.
Contact Mark Pace at mpace@timesfreepress.com.