Byron and Bloomington Kennedy both have some things in common. One is a propensity to slip into ragged play.
That tendency hit both teams Monday in the first round of the Rotary US Bank Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament, as they played in the Waddell & Reed Bracket at Mayo Civic Center's Exhibit Hall.
Kennedy overcame its raggedness thanks to the 3-point bombing of Tyson Chase and its overall athleticism in beating the Bears 66-55.
Chase finished with six 3-pointers en route to his 24 points, including hitting five straight in the first half.
"I think he could make a nice (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) player for someone next year," said Eagles coach Willie Braziel. "Chase can shoot."
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Chase lifted Kennedy to a 35-27 halftime lead. The Eagles — who won for just the third time this season — would never trail again.
Byron hinted of a comeback, trimming its deficit to four early in the second half, but then fell into likely its worst performance of the season. Veteran Bears coach Kerry Linbo watched his team take a bunch of forced shots en route to shooting just 38 percent from the field. He also watched his Bears turn the ball over 17 times.
Kennedy wasn't much better in the turnover department, with 16. But the Eagles shot much better than Byron, at 49 percent.
"We had too many (quick) possessions and too many ill-advised shots," said Linbo, whose team is 5-3. "We can't play like that. That's not our style. We played too much one-on-one basketball. But we've had times this season when we've fallen into that."
B. Kennedy 66, Byron 55
Bloomington Kennedy (66)
Abdiari Abdikadir 8 points; Ben Murphy 11 points, 1 3-pointer; Darius Bell 10 points; Tyson Chase 24 points, 6 3-pointers; Josh Bryant 8 points; Markel Aune 3 points; Alec Farrell 2 points.
Byron (55)
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Nathan Lillestol 11 points, 1 3-pointer; Ahymad Lee 6 points; Alex Laning 2 points; Michael Coble 9 points; Kip Knutson 6 points; Spencer Waldemar 1 point; Tommy Jensen 4 points; Andrew Sorensen 14 points; Caden Blazing 2 points.
Halftime:BK 35, Byron 27.
Free throws:BK 6–8, Byron 14–15.
Three-point goals:BK 7, Byron 1.
