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Jumping out to a 30-8 lead in the first six minutes of Friday's game, King James 16u faced no adversity in a blowout opening win of the 2014 Bill Hensley Memorial Run-n-Slam.
As Athens sophomore Ibi Watson paced the Shooting Stars with 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals, King James would head into halftime with a 48-12 lead. Led by suffocating full-court pressure, King James capitalized on supreme athleticism, mixed with great team chemistry to roll over Hoopgrind Michigan, 69-19.
Outside of Watson, Lima Central Catholic point guard Xavier Simpson added nine points and three assists, while Anthony Christian (Akron Archbishop Hoban), DJ Hoskins (Dayton Thurgood Marshall), Henry Baddley (Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary), and Derek Funderburk (Lakewood St. Edward) each added eight points.
Funderburk was a force to be reckoned with on the glass, leading all players with nine rebounds. King James would dominate from the jump, out-rebounding its opponents 43-16, while forcing 16 steals on the game. Watson's four assists were a game-high, while Simpson and Christian each pitched in three of their own.
With the win, King James goes into a busy Saturday unblemished, returning to action at 10:30 a.m. vs. Playground Elite (WI) and then again at 2:15 p.m. vs. Windy City Magic (IL).