LYNN — The KIPP Academy girls and boys basketball teams are off to a good start this season with their latest wins coming Friday night against South Shore Public Charter School.
View photo gallery of both boys and girlsl games
The KIPP girls won 54-9 to keep their record perfect at 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization. The Lynn team built up a robust 29-4 lead by the half led by point guard Alex Huffman and center Marie Kamba, who each scored 10 points in limited action. Nayeli Germosen helped the cause with seven points.
KIPP head coach Nat Jones went to his bench in this one and the players responded. KIPP is coming off an impressive win over Edward Kennedy last week, which was one of only two schools to beat KIPP last season.
Jones has coached this group of players since they were in the sixth grade and when they moved up to the high school, he moved up with them. As middle schools, this group won its league title every year. Jones currently has 12 sophomores, a freshman and a seventh grader on the roster.
Point guard Alex Huffman is the glue on this team, leading in scoring with a 15.5 points per game average. She’s also tops in assists and steals. Pleilerkay Gaye is the other guard. Anaidys Uribe gives the team some great defense at forward. Helen Maldonado is the other forward and although only about five-feet tall, she a force when it comes to rebounding, Jones said. Kamba starts at center.
Up until this year KIPP held many of its practices in the parking lot with its home games at Fecteau-Leary. This year, with the completion of its new high school, KIPP has a home court.
The team’s cheering section last night was a little larger than usual. The Gordon College women’s basketball team, which put on a clinic at KIPP earlier this school year, was on hand for the game.
BOYS
KIPP 58, South Shore 20
The KIPP boys team had a tough first season playing at the varsity level last year, but with last night’s win the Panthers, 3-2, have already matched last season’s total.
Ricardy Mehu had 16 points, nine steals and eight rebounds for KIPP, which also had big games from Desi D’Oleo (12 points, 6 steals, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and Danya Smith (8 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals).
KIPP head coach Duane McClendon said although the team went 3-13 last year, it was a year of learning and it’s paying off.
“We beat a team last week that beat us by 30 points last year,” McClendon said.
The Panthers have some firepower in the lineup with guards Pedro Morales, who averages about 15 points per game, and Josh Puati, who transferred from St. Mary’s. Puati is good for 14-15 points per game. Smith gets McClendon’s nod for most improved. He’s averaging about 10 points per game. KIPP was without its big guy, 6-5 Seniel Garcia, last night due to illness. Alex Berndin, who is new to the sport this year, contributed a basket off the bend.
As far as expectations go this season, McClendon things the team has a shot at making the playoff.
“It depends on how much poise and patience we have,” he said. “
KIPP has three games next week beginning with City on a Hill on Monday.
Joyce Erekson can be reached at [email protected].
