Kamiakin boys roll by Southridge 61-37

By the Tri-City Herald

KENNEWICK -- Justin Pedley scored 16 points to help carry Kamiakin past Southridge 61-37 in a CBBN 3A matchup Saturday.

Offensively, both sides started slowly, with Kamiakin leading 9-6 after one quarter.

"In the first quarter, both teams really didn't find any offense, and then it was a pretty good defensive battle," Southridge coach Jason DeVere said.

But the Braves won the free-throw battle, making it to the line 16 times in the first half while the Suns got there twice.

Kamiakin went 22-of-30 for the game, while Southridge was 14-of-18.

Brad Scott finished with 13 points to pace the Suns.

KAMIAKIN -- Clyde 12, Wilmoth 5, Williams 5, En'Wezoh 11, Quinn 4, Hunt 2, Justin Pedley 16, Crandall 6, Shoop. Totals 16-42 22-30 61.

SOUTHRIDGE -- Mazzei 2, Mendenhall 5, Vorheis 1, Molt 5, Brad Scott 13, Haberling 6, Wyborney 5, Mandell, Hayes, Willard. Totals 10-41 14-18 37.

Kamiakin 919 22 11 -- 61

Southridge 6 4 10 17 -- 37

KENNEWICK — When it comes to basketball, Kamiakin coach Brian Meneely is a big believer in the team concept, and the recent play of his 8-0 Braves speaks loud and clear to that fact.

One man certainly does not make a team. Here's one thing Meneely won't deny, however: Returning two elite post players to a team coming off a third-place finish at state certainly doesn't stink.

With the Braves' big-man senior duo of Justin Pedley and Zach En'Wezoh, the Braves have what might be the best post tandem in the state, which will make them tough to beat if they do return to the 3A state tournament.

"When you go against the elite teams at state, the majority of the time those teams are big and strong. You need guys who can rebound and defend. It's a big deal," Meneely said. "We've been pretty fortunate the last couple years to have a good run of bigs, and we're seeing a lot of the fruits of their labor.

"They spent so much time in the offseason weightlifting and doing plyometrics. That's when players are made. The difference between good and great is what you do when nobody's looking."

Nine months after the Braves' most successful state finish since 1992, the pair were more than ready to hit the floor in the winter and begin another journey to the state playoffs.

"Last year was great, but me and Zach decided we need to get back where we started," said Pedley, a 6-foot-6 senior averaging 18.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. "We took that vision this summer and applied it to our team. We see it as our mission to get back to Tacoma."

RICHLAND — Following in the footsteps of an all-state guard can't be easy for Kamiakin's starting backcourt trio of Cooper Clyde, Cody Wilmoth and Javan Williams.

But if they continue their current level of play, those three will be giving their raucous but lovable fan base even more reasons to cheer instead of lamenting the loss of Case Rada, now a redshirt freshman at Boise State.

"It's tough to follow in someone's footsteps. We just do what we have to do," said Clyde, who led all scorers with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting. The 6-foot-1 junior drained three of four from the 3-point line and added three steals.

"This is a fun team. Everybody plays together so well," he said.

Clyde, Williams and Wilmoth combined for 30 points and just five turnovers for the Braves during an impressive 77-49 win over Richland at Art Dawald Gymnasium.

Kamiakin (4-0) also shot 60 percent (29-of-48) from the field, including 7-of-14 from the 3-point line.

"We shot it well tonight. Anytime you can shoot that well in somebody else's place, you're going to do well," Braves coach Brian Meneely said. "I was really happy with how we defended."

Richland (2-2) struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 19 percent (5-for-26). Meanwhile, Kamiakin used their tandem of Zach En'Wezoh and Justin Pedley to establish themselves inside. They combined for seven points and seven rebounds inside the first three minutes as the Braves opened up a 9-3 lead.

KENNEWICK — Playing at home for the first time this season, the Kamiakin boys basketball team got off to a dream start.

The Braves rattled off the game's first 17 points en route to a 73-29 rout of Moses Lake in nonleague action Saturday.

"The student section does a great job of pumping us up," Kamiakin's Justin Pedley said. "And we hit our first few shots and did a good job from there."

The Braves showed why they will be a force to be reckoned with not only in the CBBN, but statewide.

Using the one-two punch of Pedley and Zach En'Wezoh inside, the Braves also hit eight 3-pointers, much to the delight of the large home crowd.

"They were excited to play at home," Kamiakin coach Brian Meneely said. "We play four of our first five on the road, and the students and the community were excited to see this edition of the team.

"We realize this isn't the goal. We need to keep progressing."

If this is the base the Braves are starting from, the rest of the league is in trouble.

Cooper Clyde and Pedley hit 3-pointers 33 seconds into the game, Javan Williams had back-to-back lay-ins, Pedley had a lay-in and then Cody Wilmoth had a layup and a 3-pointer to stake the Braves to a 17-0 lead with 4:46 left in the first quarter.

"The guards were hitting the open shots," Pedley said. "We've been passing the ball around and getting a lot of assists."

Kamiakin's guard play was strong Saturday and will be an area to watch throughout the season, as the Braves are replacing Tyler Holle, Case Rada and Riley Hayfield.

Wilmoth, Williams and Cooper Clyde all played well against Moses Lake, helping stretch the defense with their outside shooting.

Justin Pedley and Zach En'Wezoh combined for 39 points, 22 rebounds and 12 assists, and Kamiakin jumped out early and cruised to a 77-56 nonleague win at Hermiston on Friday.

Cooper Clyde added 15 points for Kamiakin.

Alonzo Ortiz poured in 26 points to lead the Bulldogs.

Justin Pedley and Zach En'Wezoh combined for 40 points and 31 rebounds to lead Kamiakin to a 62-47 road win over Chiawana on Saturday night in Pasco.

Pedley scored 23 points and had nine rebounds, while En'Wezoh added 17 points and 12 rebounds, giving the Braves an insurmountable edge inside.

"They overpowered us inside. Whether they were in a zone or man-to-man, they just dominated the paint," said Riverhawks coach Chad Herron. "(The Braves) are going to be a force."

Chiawana led 12-8 after one quarter, but Kamiakin took a 26-20 lead at the half and pulled away over the final 16 minutes.

Miquiyah Zamora led Chiawana with 25 points and five rebounds.