Kingston cruises to win in home opener
Moore leads the way with 39 points in Tigers’ triumph over Schenectady
Brian Moore scored 39 points and Kingston High’s boys basketball players showed fans just how good they can be when they share the ball Wednesday, rolling to a 94-55 non-league triumph over Schenectady in the team’s home opener.
“In the locker room, I told all the seniors, it’s the last time we can say it’s our first home game, so we want to leave it all out there,” said Moore, who also had seven assists and three steals. “We know (with) the first home game we want to make a statement to the section and show everybody we’re here.”
Sophomore Shy’quan Royal made his Kate Walton Field House debut for the Tigers as the new point guard and delivered with four points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Also big on the boards were Daivel Jackson (14 points, 12 rebounds), Jimmy Moot (10 points) and Chris Bamba (eight points).
“If we can get extra guys like that involved like we did, that’s great,” Kingston coach Ron Kelder said.
“Any given night a role player can give you 15, 10 points,” Moore noted. “We just got to get everybody comfortable and involved and we will be scary.”
Kayshawn Cruz paced (1-1) Schenectady with 17 points.
Kingston came out strong with a 10-0 run as four different players scored. Moore then got into a groove, moving without the ball and his teammates finding him. He scored 14 points in the final five minutes of the opening quarter and had 34 by halftime.
“I liked when we shared the ball. When we shared the ball, we played very well. We got
Brian on that run and it was all Brian moving without the ball,” Kelder said. “He can catch the ball in the corner, on the wing or cutting to the block. He’s all over the place. He’s a tough guard, because he’s moving so much. But all our guys were moving very well without the ball.
“When we share it, we’re pretty good.”
Moore, who sat out the final six minutes, finished with six 3-point field goals (two shy of his school record). His career high is 46 points from last season.
The Tigers were relentless, building a 28-15 lead in the first quarter and expanding it to 56-31 by halftime. Nine players ended up scoring for Kingston, which improved its record to 3-0.
Moore hit a trey to open the second half, then soon dealt assists inside twice to Jackson and once to Moot.
“After awhile, I just wanted to get my teammates involved, because they know it’s not going to be every night that I’m going to be that hot person,” said Moore, who knew it was the home debut for seven newcomers. “I just wanted to dish the ball and get everybody involved as much as possible.”
Kingston’s big men took over in the second half with Jackson scoring 12 and Bamba and Moot each scoring six. Brady Short came off the bench for five of his seven points.
“I’m very happy with our effort, very happy with our energy level,” Kelder said. “I think we can defend better, especially in the half court and on the ball, but sometimes it’s tough in a game like that. You’re being successful the way you’re playing and you’re extending leads and you tend to get a little complacent, just a little sloppy.”
“I think the second half we got a little gassed, but it is a long court,” Moore said. “When we play away games, on smaller courts, it’s going to get really different.”
The Tigers are back home Friday, playing John S. Burke Catholic. SCHENECTADY (55)—Fisher 1 4-4 6, C. Davis 0 2-2 2, White 0 2-4 2, Cruz 8 0-0 17, Sanders 2 2-2 7, Clayton 1 4-4 7, Codey 1 0-0 2, Margani 1 0-0 3, Johnson 2 0-0 6, Carrington 0 0-0 0, Harris 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 14-16 55. KINGSTON (94)—Royal 1 2-3 4, Warnecke 3 0-2 6, Moot 5 0-1 10, Daivel Jackson 7 0-0 14, Moore 14 5-5 39, Bamba 4 0-0 8, Ridge 1 0-2 2, Short 3 0-0 7, Perry 1 1-2 4, Faircloth 0 0-0 0. Totals 39 8-15 94. Schenectady 15 16 13 11—55 Kingston 28 28 24 14—94 3-point field goals: Harris 2, Cruz, Margani, Clayton, Sanders; Moore 6, Short, Perry. Team records: Schenectady 1-1; Kingston 3-0.