WEST POINT — It took barely four minutes for the West Point High School boys basketball team to show everyone in the gym that this is not last year’s Green Wave.
M.J. Smith’s thunderous slam dunk on a fast break electrified the crowd, gave the Green Wave a lead it never relinquished and set an emphatic tone for West Point’s 66-38 season-opening win over Caledonia on Tuesday night.
Smith finished with a game-high 19 points for a West Point team that already has exceeded last season’s win total. The Green Wave went 0-18 in 2020-21, allowing 68 points per game. Holding the Cavaliers to 38 points is a significant accomplishment for a team that did not allow fewer than 49 in a game all last year, coincidentally in a 49-41 loss to Caledonia in last season’s opener.
“We want to play defense, we want to put pressure on people, and we like to play fast,” West Point coach Marquis Burnett said. “We preach defense, defense, defense.”
The Green Wave got the message loud and clear, holding the Cavaliers to single digits in three quarters, including 5 points during the fourth when a comfortable lead turned into a rout.
West Point forced tempo all night, not always effectively but relentlessly, scoring a good chunk of points on fast breaks. The Green Wave also crashed the offensive boards, with Smith especially active in getting points on putbacks.
The crowd was also a factor and seemed to energize the Green Wave.
“It was good to see a packed gym,” Burnett said. “It has been a while. The guys were excited to see so many come out to see them.”
They got their money’s worth, although things started slowly. Smith’s slam ignited a 7-point run that included a pretty scoop shot by Shakobe Hammond, but after a corner 3-pointer from Caledonia’s Jeremiah Dumas it was only 8-7 West Point five minutes into the game.
But the Green Wave scored the next 8 points, starting with Elijah Young’s layup after one of many West Point steals. Young finished with 11 points.
The lead reached double digits during the second quarter and stayed there after another putback, this time from LeBron Lewis on a 3-on-1 break that made it 26-15. The lead was 28-16 at the half and slowly built from there.
Nine players scored for the Green Wave, but Burnett’s defense-first approach means everyone contributes.
“M.J. Smith played with a lot of energy, so did Kobe Bush on the defensive end,” Burnett said. “The seniors stepped up and played well defensively.”
Dae’shaun Powell led the Cavaliers with 13 points, while Dumas chipped in 10. Smith and Young were the only West Point players in double figures, but Hammond, Bush and Lewis each scored 8.
About the only negative for the Green Wave after the early doldrums came with 4:10 left in the game, when Young drove to the basket and came crashing to the floor. A few minutes later he limped off without assistance, and Burnett said it was not serious.
“They said he should be fine, a little strain or sprain or something,” the first-year coach said. “He’s important to our team, so we’re hoping to have him back on the floor Thursday.”
Thursday will be another home game, this time against Choctaw County. Caledonia also will be back in action that night, traveling to Aberdeen.
West Point 66, Caledonia 38
Caledonia (38): Jordan Pratt 1-3-5, Jeremiah Dumas 2-2-0-10, Tylen Simpson 1-0-2, Dae’shaun Powell 2-9-13, Javon Hopkins 1-2-4, Mason Godsey 2-0-4. Totals: 9-2-14-38.
West Point (66); Elijah Young 4-3-11, Kobe Bush 2-1-1-8, Shakobe Hammond 4-0-8, M.J. Smith 9-1-19, Braylon Boyd 2-1-5, Chace Gray 0-1-1, T. Wicks 1-0-2, Tallie Webber 1-2-4, LeBron Lewis 3-2-8. Totals: 26-1-11-66.
Caledonia (0-1) 7 9 17 5 — 38
West Point (1-0) 14 14 21 17 — 66
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