Tribe uses defense to sweep away Hayti

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Devin Jones (right) drives down the floor against the defense of Hayti's Cedric Harris during the second half of Tuesday's eighth-grade boys basketball game at Kennett Middle School. [Click to enlarge]

The Kennett Indians used strong defense to build up a pair of big early leads as they rolled to a pair of victories over Hayti in junior-high boys basketball Tuesday at Kennett Middle School.

The Tribe won the seventh-grade contest 47-32 and took a 42-28 win in the eighth-grade contest.

In the eighth-grade game, Kennett scored the last 16 points of the half to take a 23-6 lead to the locker room, then held Hayti to just one field goal in the third period to push the lead to 34-10 entering the final quarter.

Kevonte Mitchell scored a game-high 15 points to pace Kennett, while Brandon Meek added eight to pace a balanced attack.

Dylan Riddick and Terrance West each scored seven points to lead Hayti, while Demetrius Luster added five as Hayti outscored the Tribe 18-8 in the fourth to make the final score closer.

In the seventh-grade game, the Tribe once again dominated the opening half as it rolled out to a 31-11 lead at the break.

Bud Hilburn scored all 12 of his points in the first half to lead all scorers, while BJ Carr added 11 (eight in the opening period) and James Parker chipped in six.

Brandon Burden scored 12 points of his own to lead Hayti, while Indagnel Pressberry tossed in eight and DeVan Riddick finished with six.

Kennett is back in action Thursday at Sikeston before the Tribe returns home Monday to host Malden.