NPSL Battle: Kentwood vs. Auburn
In a postseason divisional showdown, Kentwood high school took on Auburn in a highly anticipated NPSL seeding matchup that many saw coming. Auburn ran a close race with the federal way for the NPSL Olympic division this season, going 13-1…
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Continue ReadingIn a postseason divisional showdown, Kentwood high school took on Auburn in a highly anticipated NPSL seeding matchup that many saw coming. Auburn ran a close race with the federal way for the NPSL Olympic division this season, going 13-1 in league and 20-3 overall, led by talented young players like Maleek Arington and Tre Blassingame. On the other side, Kentwood, who went 13-8 overall, took first in the NPSL cascade division by a slim margin, but their talent mirrors that of years past, with dynamic offensive talents like Iyzik Pam and lock down defenders like Alphonse Oywak. This intense seeding battle drew a jam-packed gym at Auburn high school, and did not disappoint, as it became a back and forth shootout, with no team gaining a definitive advantage until the final 5 minutes of action, where the Auburn trojans would run away with the game, and win 50-40.
Player(s) of the game
Cameron Williams 2021 kentwood. Williams provided a spark off the bench for Kentwood, who were undermanned without their star PG Iyzik Pam. Williams hit 3 key 3 pointers to keep Kentwood in the game, all of them from well behind the arc and one of which to put them up heading into the 4th quarter. In addition, he crashed the boards and blocked shots like a big and nabbed 2 steals to set up transition buckets.
Maleek Arington 2022 Auburn. Arington’s talent is undeniable, with the ball in his hands, he was a threat all game. When his deep shot wasn’t falling, he was able to put the ball on the floor and have 3 key drives to the hole using his exceptional handle and sneaky speed. Arington’s performance was especially impressive considering Auburn was playing without fellow 2022 dynamic scorer Tre Blassingame. As is seemingly custom at Auburn games, Arington received “MVP” chants from the home crowd as the game neared its end.
Plays of the game
With just 2:50 left, and the Auburn Trojans only leading by 8, a key offensive rebound essentially sealed the game, allowing Auburn to run the clock and force a Kentwood foul. However, it was who secured the board that made the play so special. As a mid-range-jumper clanked off the back iron, 5’7 Kaden Hansen rose up to snatch the gimme-board from a significantly taller Kentwood defender with inside position. Hansen was able to take the ball back out and get it in the hands of Maleek Arington, which would set up clutch free throws.
The final nails in the coffin came with 1:10 left in the 4th. Having just scored to close the gap to 7, kentwood was reluctant to foul, Allowing Auburn to take full advantage of their full shot clock. With 3 seconds left on the shot clock, 6’5 junior Amar Rivers got the ball at the left elbow, faked to his right and spun back left, shooting and knocking down a clean fadeaway as the shot clock rang. Rivers’ beautiful shot put the Trojans back up by 9 and put the game out of reach for the conquerors.
Key takeaways.
If you didn’t know by now, Auburn is legit. Their only in-conference loss this season came to fellow contender Federal Way high school, and when they met a second time, Auburn was ready, beating them by 10. They were well aware of how hungry Kentwood would be coming into the game, and it was apparent early on that neither team would let this game go easily as no team led by more than 5 until late in the 4th, but the Trojans were hungrier. Their chemistry and cohesiveness is visibly apparent, and their talent is striking. Look for the Trojans to make a deep run into the postseason this year, and watch as their young talent will only get better in the years to come.
As for the Kentwood conquerors, the result wasn’t satisfactory, but the game was not without its bright spots. The conquerors played a tight match, they played with intensity, fire and tenacity. The bench fought just as hard as the starters, and when they needed a play, there was no limit to who could step up. Even playing without their talented PG Iyzik Pam, Kentwood showed they are capable of giving any team a run for their money. This may not be the state championship Kentwood team of years past, but they are an eager, hungry group with a program that knows how to win.