Winter sports have come to an end and along with that Bluebird basketball but it was a good season of growth with moments of success for both the boys and girls basketball teams.
Kenwood’s boys head coach Dwayne Smith II teaches not only his players but his managers the importance of being a student-athlete and not the other way around. Dwayne was also a student that attended here at KHS and has come back to make an impact on the community through sports. He values his relationship with these young ladies and men by being a great role model. Not only does he advocate for the role of showing black excellence he encourages other students who aren’t part of the program to conduct themselves the same.
“After a tough losses I strive to uplift them to let them know it’s always fixable,” shares Coach Dwayne. He also stresses a very important point that “it all starts in the off season.” The off season offers an opportunity for upcoming 9th graders to come to open gym or for upperclassmen to come develop, train, and see the greatness they can be part of. The off season also helps create the family feel of the sport but many players say it’s a brotherhood also. “Though it may only be my first year on the team as a freshman starting on varsity, I have grown to understand the importance of family and Kenwood basketball is mine,” shared Adrienne Guzman.
If ever close enough to hear a time out speech from Coach Dwayne you would hear how he it ends it with having the boys say “together” to remind them that there is no “I” in team because you start the game together and also finish the same.
Junior Antonio Davis says, “Through basketball I am able to show a different side of myself on the court. Also, off the court I strive to put in the work with my grades and obtain a great relationship with my teammates. A player I look up to is Anthony Edwards because his technique increases my offensive and defensive skills.”
Kenwood’s Varsity boys record for the season ended up being 12-10 with 9 of the 13 players returning next season! Maurice Evans often led the team with double points and double rebounds. Adrienne Guzman was a freshmen starter that was the second leading starter on the team.
Though the Bluebirds beat Dundalk in the first round of the playoffs on Friday February, 27, their season unfortunately came to an end on March 3 after giving up a lead to Delaney.
“Basketball helps me solve my problems; it recharges me; it’s my peace. Though I started playing basketball late, the work I’ve put in over the years has definitely shown on the court. With making the transfer from being a football player to a basketball player it made me fall in love with the sport,” shared sophomore Maurice Evans who’s looking forward to returning next season.
The girls varsity basketball season came to an end with a loss in the second round of playoffs as well in loss against Perry Hall. However, throughout the season they had some key wins against some common rival schools-Chesapeake, Overlea, and Patapsco. Their biggest win of the season was against Chesapeake by 43 points!
“Our strengths are our athleticism, running, playing hard, and transition offense, pressing other teams, resilience and chemistry. Our weakness is passing, basketball IQ, Communication, rebounding.” Coach Troy shared. Coach Troy has played basketball since he was four years old.
After playing in college at Salisbury University, Coach Troy played three years of semiprofessional basketball for Baltimore Shuckers. He hopes to continue playing and being around the game of basketball well up in age.
“Though our teams’ goals are to win as many games as possible. But I also want to not only improve our basketball skills but improve as better student- athletes with communication, discipline, resilience, time management, and focus,” he shares.
This season Charisma Capel led varsity for highest points in a game with 17 points against Parkville while Amiyah Brown for JV had 20 points against Patapsco.
As both the boys and girls team settle in to the off season and look ahead to next year, Coach Troy reminds all players “The advice I would give to players who are looking to improve their skills and want to play basketball is play pickup games as much as you can, train over the summer and watch college games often whether in person or on TV.”
