Evans beats Harlem to stay perfect

When Evans High School guard Troy Belton talks about the Knights' transition game, his pace is as quick as one of the team's fastbreak lay-ups.

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The style is reminiscent of a college team from Chapel Hill, N.C.

"Like North Carolina," Belton said. "We want to push it, and push it, and push it, and push it some more. We want to get it up the court. We got an athletic team."

The Knights pushed their record to 5-0 after beating Harlem, 57-46, on Friday, before Tuesday's match-up with Glenn Hills. Belton is usually the one leading the Knights' charge in transition.

Evans has a variety of players comfortable running the floor, though.

Coach Kevin Kenny rotates more than 10 players during a game, and he said the platoon keeps his team's legs fresh.

"We want to run a lot (of) kids in there and push it as much as we can," Kenny said. "We got some kids that can run."

Belton has a variety of options filling the lanes on the break. Forward Tony Davis and teammates Anthony Williams and Dominique Samuels are favorite targets in transition.

"Our goal for this year was to try to out-run every team and get outlets," Davis said. "Sometimes we don't achieve, because we slow it down and wait on the defense. But our goal is really to gun the ball up the court and look for the open lay-up."

Harlem coach Kim Chambers gave the Knights transition attack credit Friday, but he also thought Evans' success could be partly attributed to his team's failing to get back. The Bulldogs cut the Knights' lead to nine early in the fourth quarter, but the Knights ran off 10 of the next 13 points to keep their healthy cushion.

"I know Evans is going to run the floor," Chambers said. "They always have. But some of those transition baskets were because we didn't have anybody rotate back."

Harlem girls benefit from experience

Harlem girls coach Amy Slagle thought she had a good core last year with point guard Kacee Camp and sisters Ebony and Nicole Wells.

She thinks this year's group might top it.

The Wells sisters are back, and the graduated Camp has been replaced by Chancellor Martin, a quick guard who prompted Slagle to add a press to the team's arsenal this year.

"It's one more advantage," Slagle said. "We have height. We have a little bit of speed now. If we add a press, I think we would be dangerous."

The height comes from 6-foot-3-inch Ebony, who also started last season as a freshman. The senior Nicole complements her sister on the perimeter.

The combination gives the Bulldogs hope for a playoff berth out of Region 3-AAAA for a second year. Harlem remained undefeated through Friday after beating Evans, 47-17.

Martin, Ebony and Nicole combined for 32 points. The wide margin allowed Slagle the opportunity to hold auditions for a supporting cast.

"I've got some girls I want to put in there, but I don't know how they quite fit," Slagle said. "It's nice to see them out there developing and getting their nerves out, too."