King Holiday Hoopfest | No. 6 Kentridge stunned by King's

Kentridge came into the final game of King Holiday Hoopfest Monday night fresh off a win over another Class 4A boys basketball power, second-ranked Federal Way.

King's, a Class 1A school, had lost to Bellevue Christian on Saturday, and even the Knights from Shoreline had their doubts about beating No. 6 Kentridge.

But after a first half in which the Knights played like they thought they had no chance, they responded to a halftime tirade by their coach to pull off a shocking 45-40 victory over the Chargers.

"[Kentridge] won a big game against Federal Way last week and my guys all knew that," said King's coach Marv Morris. "In fact I heard them talking about it. Then we went out Saturday and played Bellevue Christian and just stunk up the place."

After his team scored only 13 in the first half against Kentridge, Morris feared his team was headed for another stinker, so he let his players have it during the break.

"I tell you what, I went off at halftime," Morris said. "I was really upset. We were playing a little shy, like we were intimidated. ... It was probably the first time I've done that in a couple of years, but they responded."

The Knights (10-1) responded in a big way, opening the second half with an 11-0 run for a 24-19 lead.

"I've never heard him yell like that," said 6-foot-10 King's post Charlie Enquist, who scored 16 of his team-high 18 in the second half. "I guess yelling just got us a groove."

The quick start in the second half by King's was a big confidence booster.

"Once we were ahead like that it was like, 'Oh, we can beat these guys,' " said Enquist, who also had six rebounds and four blocks while helping to hold Kentridge's leading scorer, Renado Parker, to a season-low six points.

Travis Sterling led the Chargers (11-2) with 13 points and six rebounds.

"I don't think we overlooked them," said Kentridge senior forward Josiah Brensdal, who scored 11. "We had a lead but we let them back in. Sometimes you just don't got it. They played hard though, give them credit. They beat us."

O'Dea too much for Lynden

O'Dea is starting to feel at home at Edmundson Pavilion. That could pay big dividends when the Class 3A state boys basketball tournament rolls around in March.

The Irish beat Lynden 53-31 in the Jim Reding Classic Monday at the King Holiday Hoopfest. O'Dea is 2-1 on the UW floor, with the loss against Fairfax of Los Angeles in the T-Mobile Invitational last month. Fairfax is ranked No. 20 in the nation by USA Today.

"The court's definitely a lot bigger," O'Dea guard Jamelle McMillan said. "Guys seem to be confident with their shot. Bigger crowd, bigger lights, but that's the stage we're used to playing on, some of us. When you get to state, it's good we were able to play on this court three times."

The third-ranked Irish (9-1) shot nearly 45 percent while Class 2A Lynden (7-2) hit 37 percent.

"An off day and O'Dea is a bad combination," Lynden coach Brian Roper said.

This was a rematch of last year's 3A state semifinal game, which O'Dea won 52-39 before losing to Seattle Prep in the final. Lynden wound up third. The Lions' other loss this season was against St. Benedict's of New Jersey, rated No. 2 in the nation.

Chris Banchero tossed in a game-high 17 for O'Dea, hitting seven of eight free throws. McMillan scored all 11 of his points in the first half and took only one shot in the second.

"I'm not out to score 30 or 40 points a night," said McMillan, who averages 14.8. "We just take what they give us and play O'Dea basketball."

Chris Bolt, a 6-foot-5 senior, led Lynden with 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Jim Reding Classic was played in memory of a long-time prep sports coordinator at The Seattle Times who died in 2004.

Other boys games

Kentwood 65, Garfield 54

The Conquerors took control with a 10-0 run that gave them a 37-22 lead in the final minute of the first half.

Cody Thueringer led Kentwood (6-6) with 21 points. Josh Smith, a 6-7 freshman, added 11 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks.

DeAndre Taylor scored 17 and Aaron Dotson had 15 for Garfield (3-6).

Curtis 69, Bothell 46

Down 32-25 at halftime, the ninth-ranked Vikings (10-3) got an earful from coach Lindsay Bemis and responded with a huge third quarter featuring the start of a 16-0 run.

"We came out really flat and emotionless and got what we deserved," Bemis said. "In the second half we played the way we're capable of. When we play hard, we're not bad."

Mike Moran scored 17 for Bothell (2-8). Gerald Hill and Chad Rasmussen paced Curtis with 17 and 16, respectively.