VELMA —
Velma-Alma coach Kenny Bare wanted to get a head start on spreading some holiday cheer Friday night, and he did so amongst his players.
Fourteen Comet players scored, with eight of them putting up five or more as V-A rolled to an 82-36 victory over Rush Springs in its season opener at J. M. Carey Fieldhouse.
“Coach Bare always talks about this disease of ‘I’ and how it can kill a team instantly,” V-A guard Jaz Gayanich said, who scored 12 points on the evening. “We played as a unit and scored as a unit. Our chemistry is going well this year and we need everyone.”
Two free throws and two baskets were about as good as it got for the Redskins in the first quarter as Velma was behind for just 12 seconds at 2-0, before going on a 23-4 run to end the quarter.
Smothering defense and frequent substitutions made life difficult for the Redskins, who had little time to adjust in between players going to and from the bench.
“I’m very pleased, everyone got to play a lot and we got after it defensively,” Bare said. “We’ve just got so many kids who can run and handle the ball. We can’t think we’re as good as we need to be. Our kids know that and we’re going to keep working.”
V-A led 63-31 at the end of the third quarter, with most of the first team players being rested.
However, just because they weren’t on the floor didn’t stop the excitement as many other Comet players proved to be just as effective as their counterparts.
“This team has depth and that’s an asset for us,” Bare said. “All season long that’s going to give us a chance at winning games.”
Rush Springs managed to make it to double digit points at the 4:01 mark of the second, but by that time the score was 31-10 in favor of the Comets.
On the evening, the Comets shot 11-of-18 from the free throw line, combined with a 4-of-12 performance from behind the arc.
Rush Springs meanwhile shot 9-of-16 from the charity stripe, while struggling from 3-point range at 3-of-10.
Checotah Lynn scored 11 points for the Comets (1-0), while Dallen Mercer and Zac Cable each put in 10 on the evening. Austin Dennis scored nine, with Dallas Bare putting in eight points. Jake McGuire registered six points, while Tanner Southerland put in five points.
Rush Springs (0-2) was paced by Keith Pitman, who led all scorers on the evening with 19 points.
V-A will be back in action Tuesday night on the road taking on Comanche. Tip-off from Tommy D. Weast Gymnasium is set for 8 p.m.
Sports
Related Photos
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Velma-Alma’s Dallen Mercer flies to the hoop as Rush Springs player Cap Snow and teammate Zac Cable look on during the first quarter Friday night in Velma. Evan Grice/The Duncan Banner
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Velma-Alma’s Austin Dennis brings the ball down during the third quarter Friday night against Rush Springs. Evan Grice/The Duncan Banner
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