Josh Smith powers Kentwood to victory | Prep Boys Basketball

KENT — For the first time this season, Josh Smith was healthy enough to play like the "Big Dawg" emblazoned on the back of the black socks he wears during games.

However, the reason for Kentwood's 74-56 victory over 10th-ranked Kentridge in the Les Schwab Shootout had more to do with the 6-foot-9 big man's ability to play within the framework of his team than his ability to take over the game.

"This is a team game and I realize that," said Smith, who was fighting off a cold. "I don't care if I don't score any points as long as we win."

Smith, who said he's 100 percent healthy, but still working on his conditioning, finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 25 minutes. He let the game come to him and the attention he drew inside created open shots for Tre Tyler (14 points) and driving lanes for Isaiah Malvar (12 points).

"When Josh went down, it allowed us to play a little bit differently," Conquerors coach Michael Angelidis said. "We had to play more as a team, move the ball."

The Conquerors (8-8, 8-5 SPSL) looked inside to Smith early, while Kentridge standout Gary Bell struggled to find his rhythm. On the Chargers' first possession, Smith sent a message by nonchalantly swatting away Bell's layup attempt.

Bell scored 11 of his 25 points in the third quarter, but the Chargers couldn't slow down the Conquerors on the offensive end.

"The floor was kind of weird," Bell said. "In the third quarter I got used to it, but it was too late."

Kentridge (12-6, 9-5) was still in the game late in the third quarter, trailing by 11 before Tyler knocked down a pair of threes to end the period and push the lead to 17.

While Smith seems fully recovered from the partially torn patellar tendon he suffered against Federal Way on Dec. 8, the senior admits there is still work to be done. He said he is down to 290 pounds, but that he would like to lose 10 more before the end of the season.

"He's 100 percent healthy," Angelidis said. "He's not in shape yet. He's been sitting around and he's a big fella to start out with. He's working himself into it and he wants it. In some ways this might end up, for us, being really good. He's fresh."

Mason Kelley: 206-464-8277 or mkelley@seattletimes.com