By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

ALABASTER — It took all of two points before a huge C’Yontai Lewis dunk set the tone in Kingwood’s domination of the visiting Russell Christian Academy (Miss.). The Lions pulled out all the stops in an 89-62 win over the Warriors.

Kingwood raced out to an 8-0 lead courtesy of two dunks by Lewis. Russell pulled within three at 8-5, but Kingwood put the throttle down, ripping off a 9-0 run to jump out to a 17-7 lead.

Russell tried to claw back into the game, scoring six to Kingwood’s four to make it 21-13, but the Lions again raced away from the Warriors. An 8-5 run by Kingwood closed the quarter, and found the Lions up 29-18 after a period of play.

Kingwood turned up the wick to begin the second quarter by reeling off 15 points to the Warriors’ two, including six by John Fillingim, to take a 44-20 lead. Kingwood proceeded to outscore Russell 11-10 the remainder of the half to take a 55-30 lead headed into the intermission.

The Warriors appeared ready to get back in the game at the start of the second half, outscoring the Lions 10-4. Just as it appeared the contest would get close, Kingwood answered with a 12-6 run. The fourth quarter closed on a 6-1 Warrior run, leaving the score 72-54 with a quarter to play.

In the fourth , it was all Kingwood, as the Lions outscored Russell 17-8 to take the 89-62 win.

Kingwood head coach Danny Davis said he was pleased with the effort his team put out.

“(We) moved the ball pretty well,” he said. “We took advantage of their height. They were an athletic team, but we just had a little bit of height. Out big man (Lewis) did real well.”

Lewis finished with 24 points, while Fillingim had 10, Silas Edwards had 10 and both Christopher Brown and Benjamin Peoples had nine.
The Lions travel to Montgomery Dec. 12 to take on Evangel.