Coronado tops Kernels on first night of Miller Classic

The Kernels had four players score in double figures, but it wasn’t enough to beat Coronado.

“Those guys just kept making shots,” said Coronado head coach Jeff Kaufman, whose team beat Mitchell 80-63 Thursday in a high school boys’ basketball game during the Mike Miller Classic at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

“We were a little more athletic and it played in our favor, but (Mitchell) never stopped shooting and making shots on us.”

Mitchell was led by senior guard Cole Morgan, who had 16 points including three 3-pointers. Senior guard Seth Cavanaugh recorded 14 points, junior forward Ethan Jones had 13 points with three three-point buckets and sophomore guard Beau Brown chipped in with 11.

“We had some open looks that we hit in both halves,” said Mitchell head coach Tom Young, whose team made 10 3-pointers in the game. “I was happy with how we ran our offense for the most part, but we had some mental mistakes on defense.”

The Kernels (2-5) forced 14 steals but were unable to stop Coronado’s senior forward Jordan Willis, who had a game-high 27 points, and 7-foot center Raasheed Westbrook, who came on in late in the game. Coronado outrebounded Mitchell 40-27.

“I think we could’ve defended Willis and Westbrook a little bit better,” Young said. “With (Westbrook’s) height, they were able to get some easy buckets. I think we could’ve contested with him a little bit better, but I’m happy with our effort.”

Coronado (6-3) also had four players with double-digit scoring figures. Along with Willis, senior guards Charlie Teixiera and Justice Augmon scored 14 points apiece and Westbrook finished 10 points in the win.

Coronado shot 56 percent from the field and 54 percent from the free-throw line, while Mitchell shot 39 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free-throw line.

The Kernels were able to stay close and even had the lead out of the gates. With Coronado leading 14-13 in the first half, it went on a run and stretched the lead to 15 points.

“They hurt us in transition in the first half and a little bit in the second,” Young said.

Mitchell fought back with to bring itself with five points at the half, 38-33.

Out of the break, the Kernels knocked down a 3-pointer to come within two points, the smallest deficit of the second half.

The two-point game didn’t last long as Coronado went on a run, scoring 11 straight points. Again, Mitchell climbed its way back into the game on defensive efforts and 3-pointers by Brown and senior guard Evan Mastel. The run brought the Kernels within five points at 59-54.

With Willis and Westbrook dominating the floor, Mitchell was unable to come any closer and Coronado ran out the clock, giving it the 80-63 victory in its first-ever game in the Corn Palace.

Kaufman said his team enjoyed its first experience at the classic.

“It’s been unbelievable playing here,” Kaufman said. “It’s a great experience for our kids, and playing a team like (Mitchell) will help us when we go back and look at film. It’s also a good learning experience for our kids to be around a basketball community like this.”

Mitchell’s Jones and junior forward Jon Jamison made their first varsity appearances as senior guard Zach Moen was out with a medical condition.

“I thought (Jamison) and (Jones) did a great job for us in their first varsity appearance,” Young said after the game. “They were a little nervous at the start but worked hard, and I’m happy with their effort for us tonight.”

The Kernels play their second game of the Mike Miller Classic against Sioux Falls O’Gorman at 4 p.m. Saturday, while Coronado plays a pair of games today. Coronado plays Sioux Falls Lincoln at 4 p.m. and The Rock, of Gainesville, Fla., at 7 tonight.

NOTES: Tom Young’s daughter, Jill Young, witnessed her father coach the Mitchell boys’ basketball team for the first time this year. Jill Young is playing basketball professionally in Germany this year and was home for the holidays. “I’ve been able to watch him at 4 in the morning online, so it’s fun being able to be here and support him in a big game like this,” said Jill Young, adding that she’s enjoying being a new Kernel fan after playing basketball and graduating from Mitchell Christian. “I’m definitely finding myself getting nervous for him.” … Gary Munsen, former Mitchell boys’ basketball coach, made his announcing debut Thursday night for KMIT radio.

CORONADO 80,

MITCHELL 63

Coronado (6-3)

Shawn Hunt 1-4 0-0 2; Jordan Willis 13-21 1-4 27; Charlie Teixiera 6-9 1-2 14; Justice Augmon 6-9 1-2 14; Raasheed Westbrook 5-8 0-0 10; Frank Gould 0-1 0-0 0; Ricardo Roinson 2-5 2-2 7; William White 1-1 0-0 2; Corey Sobcyzk 1-3 0-0 2; Derric Hammock 1-1 0-0 2; Jake Kaufman 0-0 0-0 0; Totals: 34-61 7-13 80.

Mitchell (2-5)

Cole Morgan 5-8 3-4 16; Jared Schmidt 3-7 0-0 6; Seth Cavanaugh 4-17 4-4 14; Beau Brown 5-14 0-0 11; Josh Schmidt 0-0 0-0 0; Ryker Kruezfelt 0-0 0-0 0; Ethan Jones 5-8 0-0 13; Derek Miller 0-0 0-0 0; Neil Schlimgen 0-0 0-0 0; Jon Jamison 0-1 0-0 0; Evan Mastel 1-4 0-0 3; Totals 23-59 7-8 63.

Halftime: COR 38-33; 3-point goals: COR 5-9 (Teixiera 3, Augmon 1, Robinson 1), MIT 10-31 (Morgan 3, Cavanaugh 2, Brown 1, Jones 3, Mastel 1); Rebounds: COR 40 (Robinson 10, Willis 9, Augmon 9), MIT 27 (Cavanaugh 9, Jared Schmidt 6); Assists: COR 1 (Teixiera), MIT 6 (Brown 3); Steals: COR 14 (Willis 5), MIT 14 (Brown 3); Turnovers: COR 17, MIT 14; Personal fouls: COR 10, MIT 11; Technical fouls: None.

Tags: sports, updates, mitchell, basketball