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Kennett senior rising against foes, especially late in battles
Friday, December 20, 2024
Kennett High School senior guard Dyson Watson drives into the lane against the defense of Dexter High School forward Gibson Booker during the recent SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com
Charleston High School boy’s basketball coach Jamarcus Williams is familiar enough with tonight’s opponent (Kennett) that he knows where the scouting report needs to begin, and that is with containing the Indians’ talented senior point guard Dyson Watson.
Just 10 days ago, Watson lit up Charleston (2-4) over the final eight minutes of play to lift his team from a double-digit deficit to a 77-74 victory in the SEMO Conference Tournament.
“… we had a fun conversation at halftime and the kids responded,” first-year Kennett coach Seth McBroom told Semoball.com following the win. “They just knew that quitting was not an option. We always have a chance. We chipped away and some good things happened for us.”
The 6-foot-1 Watson scored a game-high 28 points against the Bluejays, with 12 coming in the final quarter when the Charleston lead evaporated.
“Honestly,” McBroom said after his team narrowly fell (55-52) to Dexter in the same tournament, “we don’t have a lot of (offensive) stuff in yet, which is partly my fault, but partly it’s just that we’ve only had 24 practices, and I’m new to these guys.
“We’re kind of piecing this thing together.”
Without an inordinate number of sets, natural ability can be utilized, which is what Watson can do.
He has the ability to score on multiple levels, from 3-point range to the rim, as well as get to the free throw line because he is a tough kid to defend.
“Watson is a great point guard,” veteran Dexter coach Chad Allen said after battling Kennett. “They like to try and spread you out and let him take you one-on-one.
“(Watson) did a great job of doing that (against us).”
Watson had 21 points against the Bearcats.
“Dyson has been a senior for us,” McBroom said. “He’s been a leader. In the second half (against Dexter), we really didn’t even run anything, we just let him play and spread everybody out.
“It’s working.”
It is, relatively speaking.
The Indians are off to a 3-4 start and have a pair of defeats that have come by a combined 10 points. For a program that has won just 19 games over the past three seasons combined, this start is a positive sign of things to come.
After losing to New Madrid County Central by 16 points (64-48) in the SEMO Conference Tournament, the Indians grew by knocking off the Eagles by 10 (71-61) just six days later in Kennett.
“I love our guys,” McBroom said, “don’t get me wrong. Battling back like that (against Dexter) is a sign of high character, but we have to fix some things. We are not paying attention, and we are not getting the little things done.”
Tonight’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. in Charleston.