BASKETBALL: Kenwood rallies past Perry Hall, 68-61

In a game of runs, Kenwood had one more than Perry Hall as the host Bluebirds walked off the court with a 68-61 win.

Forward Akeem Echols scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while forward Jonathan Richardson finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Kenwood (6-0).

The Bluebirds rallied from down 10 in the first half and five in the fourth quarter before closing out the game on a 20-8 run, which included the final seven points of the game.

"We wouldn't have won this game last year," said Richardson, referring to Kenwood's 4-16 record in the 2009-10 season. "We're buying in to what coach [Chris Kelly] is teaching us. We just have more experience and will only get better the more we play together."

Both teams held – then gave back – double-digit leads at various points of the game. Perry Hall (2-3) struck first as the Gators jumped out to a 25-15 lead after forward Jenkins Obiefule made 1-of-2 free throws with 5:33 left in the first half. That point capped an 8-2 run, but was also the wake-up call the Bluebirds needed.

Kenwood reeled off nine straight points and later scored the final 10 points of the second quarter to take a 35-30 lead into intermission.

"If this was last year, when we trailed by 10, it would have turned into 20 points in no time at all," Kenwood coach Chris Kelly said. "The kids just get it this year and are making smarter decisions out there. Still, we have lots of work to do."

Perry Hall responded to Kenwood's run in the second half.

Gators junior guard Derek Taylor scored 11 of his 16 points in the final two quarters, including a basket with 6:51 remaining to give his team a 53-48 lead.

Echols and guard Mike Barnette took over the game after that for Kenwood. The duo combined to score 13 points in the fourth quarter with Barnette giving the Bluebirds the lead for good with 1:25 remaining.

"This was the toughest game we've had all year," Echols said. "Perry Hall played with the same intensity we did but we just pushed a little harder in the fourth quarter."

Senior guards Jamal Craig and Guy Jones finished with 14 and eight points, respectively for Perry Hall. Gators coach Daryl Wade could not contain his emotions following the loss.

"The officiating was horrible tonight," Wade said. "We could not go up for a rebound without being called for a foul. The officials killed any momentum we tried to gain in the fourth quarter. That's all I have to say."