DALLAS, Texas -- With criticism of a 1-4 start ringing in the ears of the
Kimball (Dallas) Knights, the two-time Texas Class 4A boys basketball state champions responded with a 65-51 throttling of Class 5A power Duncanville Friday at Sprague Field House.
Five Knights scored in double figures, led by the 17 points of 6-6 junior forward
Trent Brinkley.
Keith Frazier, Kimball
File photo by Jim Redman
"People were saying we weren't as good as last year's team and we won't be winning the state championship this time,'' Brinkley said. "We wanted to make a statement. We didn't want it to be close. We played Kimball basketball, especially on the defensive end. We had a size advantage at every position and we used it to put on pressure.''
Kimball (2-4), No. 11 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Class 4A state poll, showed scoring balance behind Brinkley.
Keith Frazier and
Gabe Lilly scored 12 each with
D'Angelo Allen and
Jordan Adams adding 11 each. All but Allen connected on at least one three-pointer.
"Even at 1-4, our kids didn't lose their swagger,'' said Kimball coach Royce Johnson. "Watching us in practice, you would have thought we were 5-0.''
Duncanville (13-2), No. 3 in the TABC Class 5A state poll, managed only four field goals in the second and third quarters combined when the game started to tilt in the home team's direction.
Senior guard Jerami Grace led Duncanville with 20 points.
