Mitchell boys averaging almost 22 3-point shots per game this season

The Mitchell boys’ basketball team has fired 239 three-point shots this year, which means the Kernels are averaging 21.7 long-range shots per game.

Kernels coach Tom Young said he’s not concerned about the number of 3-pointers his team is shooting this year. He just wants to make sure the players are taking high-quality shots.

“I knew from the very beginning that our offense is very perimeter-based,” said Young, whose team hosts Yankton (2-6) at 7:30 p.m. today in an Eastern South Dakota Conference game at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. “As long as the three is a good three, I’m happy, but it has to be a good, open look. I really think the best threes are the ones that come inside-out or come off penetration.”

On the year, the Kernels (3-8) are hitting 3-pointers at a 33 percent mark, led by senior Cole Morgan’s 41 percent clip.

Morgan, who’s averaging 9.45 points per game, has hit 17 of 41 three-point shots this year. Senior Seth Cavanaugh, averaging a team-high 15.6 points per game, has knocked down the most 3-pointers this year, going 27-of-88 for 31 percent from the field behind the arc and sophomore Beau Brown has hit 10 of 37 three-pointers for 27 percent. Brown is averaging 11.6 points per game, second best on the team.

“Unfortunately this year we don’t really have a go-to post because of our size,” Young said. “You’re not going to post up a Beau Brown, Seth Cavanaugh or Cole Morgan.”

Morgan, Cavanaugh and Brown are he only three players to have started all 11 of the Kernels’ games this year and they’re combining to score about 72 percent of the team’s offense. Mitchell is averaging 51 points per game and Morgan, Cavanaugh and Brown combine to score 36.6 points per game.

The Kernels are also averaging only 11 turnovers a game, but that’s a statistic that Young would like to see his team cut back.

“I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied with how we’re taking care of the basketball,” he said. “When you’re guard oriented, you need to have less turnovers than what we’ve had.”

Tags: boys basketball, sports, updates, mitchell