Guerra lifts Kent School over Hill School, 73-53
POTTSTOWN >> Every year, the Dave Mercer Invitational at the Hill School draws talented teams from the Northeast corridor. And often, players who are unfamiliar to folks in this area pass the eye test in a big way.
Kent School’s (Conn.) Kylan Guerra was one of those players Saturday afternoon when his team took on host Hill School. The 6-foot senior from White Plains, N.Y., the New York City area’s top scorer last season, changed the game in a New York minute.
Guerra scored 20 first-half points, finishing with 27 in Kent’s 73-53 rout of the Blues. He hit five three-pointers, and his quickness and creativity set the tone for his team as the Blues, off to a good start this season, experienced a little reality check. Guerra was one of several players in a relatively tight seven-man rotation who helped control the pace.
“I just think we’re not where we need to be to play consistently, successfully against the best teams,” said Hill School coach Seth Eilberg, whose team is now 5-2. “There were stretches there where we got good shots and made stops. Then they got hot, and we’re trying to change defenses, but we just couldn’t string anything consistently together. We’d have a good run, then we’d turn the ball over or miss a free throw.
“Kent played great. They were just on fire.”
Kent missed only one of eight three-point attempts in the first half. They tore out to an 18-7 first-quarter lead, when Guerra was just getting warmed up. He scored 12 in the second quarter and, with Maxime Boursiquot, Jamil Gambari and Jack Stevens pitching in, Kent held off a Ram surge in that period to re-establish control.
Seven-one Hill School center Solomon Ruddell (Los Osos, Calif.) was active on both ends of the floor, leading the Rams with 14 points and showing impressive flashes of all-around big man skills.
“I thought Solomon played his best game of the year. He made a real impact at both ends,” Eilberg said. “It’s great to see him continue to improve.”
Seth Stankiewicz (Reading), who had hit 18-of-26 three-pointers coming in, couldn’t find the range in this one, and while the Blues struggled to mount momentum offensively, Kent translated turnovers and misses into transition opportunities and shared the ball beautifully. Gambari, Boursiquot and Stevens joined Guerra in double figures.
“I know that Seth and these guys put together a great tournament every year,” Kent coach Jason Coulombe said. “Seth is one of the best coaches I coach against every year. I know his teams are going to be disciplined, they’re going to be well-coached and selfless, so we knew we’d have our work cut out for us.”
Hill School, which hasn’t won this 46-year-old tournament since 2007, will play a third-place game today at 1 p.m. against Peddie School.
The Blues did make a decent run in the second quarter. A DaQuan Morris three, a bucket from Bryce Allen and a putback by Ruddell got them within 23-14. Further good work by Ethan Norton and Ruddell — who had a steal and a block in one sequence — made it 26-20.
But then Kent was off to the races, getting a couple fast-break hoops, another Guerra three, and two of three free throws when Guerra was fouled shooting a three. The lead was 39-24 at halftime, and Hill couldn’t make much of a dent in it from there.
“I thought our guys played hard enough; they always play hard,” Eilberg said. “But we have to play smarter, execute better if we’re going to beat the best teams. It’s frustrating, but we’ll stay together and keep getting better, and we’ve got a chance to play another good team tomorrow and get us ready for the challenges ahead.”
