KENNEBUNK — Heading into Friday night’s boys basketball game against Freeport, Kennebunk senior captain Austin Sandler admitted he had some nerves about the way his team would fare at the start considering the amount of off time the team has had over the past few days.
“Missing two days straight of school, I thought we might be a little bit flat,” Sandler said.
From the very beginning, Sandler couldn’t have been more wrong ”“ not that he was too distraught.
The Rams got their new year started off on the right foot by taking a 10-0 lead just three minutes in and never looking back on the way to a comfortable 60-33 victory over the Falcons in a Western Maine Conference game.
Sandler led the way with 15 points, one below his season average, as 10 different players got on the score sheet in all for Kennebunk.
“Everyone came ready to play and everyone did what they’re supposed to do,” Sandler said. “We came together as a unit, and that’s what coach (John) Dube emphasizes. That’s what you saw tonight.”
After hitting nine of their first 18 shots to take a 20-4 lead after one, the Rams kept it up the rest of the way, shooting 48 percent from the field in total.
“When you get everybody involved, that’s when guys are working harder,” Dube said. “If one guy’s scoring 30, it’s tough for the other guys to buy in. That’s what we’ve been trying to do, and it’s come along.”
Even more crucially for Dube, Kennebunk (2-5) also turned it over only 12 times, about half their season average.
“Twelve is a goal and anything below 15 is good,” Dube said. “Team-wise, effort-wise, execution-wise, that’s the best game we’ve played. That’s what we’ve been trying to get to. When you make shots and you get up early, kids trust it.”
Kennebunk had no problem getting on top early, taking a 4-0 lead after two possessions thanks to some yeoman’s work down low by Jack Lapham, who twice grabbed an offensive rebound in traffic and put it back in.
“When Jack’s warm and he’s got his head in the game and is grabbing rebounds like that, it gets everyone going,” Sandler said. “He’s a big part of our team, so once he starts stepping up everyone starts stepping up.”
Lapham’s quick start did rub off as six different Rams scored in the opening eight minutes, while Freeport (0-7) managed just six shots from the field thanks to eight opening-quarter turnovers.
The Falcons did hold their own in the second quarter to trail 29-14 at halftime; but after Jack Davenport (10 points) scored two quick baskets to get Freeport back within 11 to start the third, Kennebunk hit its next four shots ”“ three of them by Sandler ”“ to open up an unassailable lead.
Lapham finished with eight points in total, while Nate Gilbert also added eight ”“ including a pair of 3’s ”“ and Patrick Grady scored seven off the bench for the Rams, who host unbeaten Greely on Tuesday in a rematch of the Rangers’ 50-45 win back on Dec. 13.
“We’ve been playing better and we’re going to be a good team,” Dube said, before adding: “But only if we can play like this.”
— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or cdunbar@journaltribune.com.
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