STEENS — Old-school basketball aficionados would appreciate KC Cunningham.
Built low to the ground, the Immanuel Christian School junior point guard doesn’t dazzle with his speed. What he might lack in quickness, the running back on the school’s football team makes up for in strength with the ball and court sense.
That ability to be a quarterback on the basketball court allows Cunningham to pick his spots and find gaps in the defense to let his offense shine. Cunningham found more than a few of those openings Saturday, pouring in a game-high 33 points to lead the Immanuel Christian boys basketball team to an 80-57 victory against East Webster in the Immanuel Christian tournament.
“KC has gotten a whole lot better driving and taking it strong to the hole,” Immanuel Christian coach Greg Watkins said. “The last couple of years, KC played on laying on the court more than he did being strong and trying to draw the foul. He is taking it in a whole lot stronger and he is getting the and-one shot. Plus, they are having to pay attention to KC, and when they do that he is doing a good job finding the open guys.”
On Friday, Cunningham scored 12 points in a 58-52 victory against Tupelo Christian Academy and had 17 points in a 72-69 overtime loss to Presbyterian Christian.
Against East Webster, Cunningham had 21 points in the first half as the Rams built a 44-33 lead. He built that total with a handful of 3-pointers that showcased a near-stationary jump shot that evoked memories of set shots from past era. Cunningham typically receives passes ready to shoot, so he doesn’t have to waste any motion leaving his feet when he is behind the arc. He said the only time he typically will shoot a more traditional jump shot is when he steps well beyond the 3-point arc and needs a little extra push. Otherwise, Cunningham is calm, cool, and collected when he is driving to the basket or shooting from the outside.
“I am basically a floor general and a leader,” Cunningham said. “I try to help people when they are down and to distribute the ball to make sure everybody gets the ball.”
Cunningham said he is comfortable adapting to the style of the game and scoring or handing out assists. If he had his preference, he would choose assists, but he is more than happy to “go with it,” as he said, on days like Saturday when he finds openings or an opponent allows him to shoot.
Cunningham might have found so many seams in the defense because East Webster was daring him to shoot. He laughed when asked if he thought his shooting stroke was “old school”, and said it has been the form he has used ever since he was in fifth grade. Even then, he said coaches tried to change his shooting form, but he said he developed more consistency and was able to stick with his style.
Cunningham said Immanuel Christian will have to stick to the plan of attack it followed Saturday if it wants to build on its success.
“We have to play team ball,” Cunningham said. “Our chemistry is pretty good. If we keep our chemistry up, I think we will be undefeated in district.”
Watkins said defense has been a key to his team’s fast start this season, which includes a 4-0 start in district play. True to form, the Rams pressed from the start and dictated tempo against the Wolverines. They extended a nine-point lead in the first quarter to an 11-point halftime cushion. The lead didn’t slip below eight points in the second half.
In addition to playing sound defense, Watkins said Immanuel Christian has honed its execution on offense. Early in the season, he said the Rams (10-5) had a penchant for shooting 3-pointers from NBA range. It’s not that the team doesn’t have the shooters from hit from distance, but Watkins wanted to see the players to share the basketball so they could create better shots for each other.
That’s where Cunningham comes in.
With a knack for weaving in and out of trouble, Cunningham appeared to be in his element running the show. Even when he shifted into another gear in an effort to make a play, he remained in control and was poised to draw contact in moves to the basket and to find an open teammate when he drew another defender.
“KC and Brendan (Bailey), who is a senior, are really my team leaders,” Watkins said. “Brendan knows this is his senior year and his last chance. Him and KC, I couldn’t ask for two better leaders. As those two go, they are probably our two leading scorers.”
Koby Bailey and R.J. DeLoach added 12 points for Immanuel Christian, while Kimarri Whitfield had nine.
n In other games Saturday, the East Webster girls beat Immanuel Christian 29-19, the Presbyterian Christian boys defeated Tupelo Christian Academy 69-29, and the Tupelo Christian Academy boys beat Carroll Academy 81-78.
n In other games Friday, the Winona Christian girls beat Nanih Waiya 56-43 and the Winona Christian boys defeated Carroll Academy 60-39.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino in Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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