Dynamic duo: Caruthers, Garmon lead Tribe to best start in years

Staff photo by Mike Buhler
Kennett's Randrick Caruthers (left), seen here driving on a Malden defender on Tuesday, leads the Indians in four statistical categories this season after returning from a career-threatening condition.

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From winning three out of four games against defending state champions Greene County Tech, Ark. and Portageville to winning its first Bloomfield Christmas Tournament title since the early 1980s, people are taking notice of Kennett.

A lot of the reason for the Tribe's success this fall is the junior backcourt duo of Randrick Caruthers and Fred Garmon. The two point guards have combined this season to average nearly 25 points and 12 assists per contest, helping Kennett score 68.8 points per contest.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler
Kennett's Fred Garmon (right), seen here shooting over a Malden defender Tuesday, has emerged as a rising star for the Tribe this winter.

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Caruthers just taking the court is an amazing story. After collapsing at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament in 2008, Caruthers was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening heart condition and was told he would never play the game again.

However, a second opinion cleared him to play and Caruthers -- known to many as "Wooda" -- returned to the court in the Tribe's season opener at Jonesboro, Ark.

Since then, Wooda has made the most of his second chance, being named to the all-tournament teams in both tourneys that the Indians have competed in this season and racking up impressive numbers in the process. Through 12 games, Caruthers is averaging 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.17 steals per game -- all tops on the Tribe.

"It just shows the type of competitive kid he is," said Vaughan. "He could probably score more -- he almost averages seven assists a game so he values other people. ... His stats themselves prove what kind of competitive kid he is."

A good example of that came at Bloomfield. Even though Caruthers averaged just eight points per game, he dished off six assists per contest, collected almost five boards a night and averaged two and a half steals in each of the four games, earning an all-tournament selection.

"He's had three games where he's almost had a triple-double in points, rebounds and assists -- he's been that close," Vaughan said. "He's the kind of player that it seems whatever gap needs to be filled, he fills it."

Garmon shares his coach's high opinion of his teammate.

"Wooda is doing a great job this year leading us," Garmon said. "I expect him to become even better this next part of the season."

On the other side of the court, Garmon put himself squarely on the area basketball map at Bloomfield, scoring a team high 14.8 points per game while averaging 7.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.25 steals per night to join Caruthers on the all-tourney team.

There's a lot of people who now know who Fred Garmon is," said Vaughan. "I've read that he was arguably the best player in the tournament for what he meant to his team. He's committed himself to offseason training. He's put on some muscle mass, he's gotten faster and more explosive -- and it's shown in his game."

Indeed it has. Garmon is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per night, second in assists at 5.4 per night, third in rebounding at 4.1 boards per game and third in steals with two each contest.

"He's seen more of the scoring load this year -- and he's had to," said Vaughan. "We lost Jarvis and Blake who put up pretty good points for us last year, so we're looking for people to fill the scoring gaps."

Despite his success this season, Garmon has not let it go to his head.

I've had a pretty good start," Garmon said. "I feel my turnovers aren't as good right now but it will be very soon."