After a disappointing two and out in last year’s district tournament, Blake Solomon spent the offseason fiddling with his schemes. He’d push his half court defense out an extra step or two to bolster his pressure attack and cut down on plays for specific individuals on the offensive end, employing a score-by-committee approach.

Eight games into the season, the Kentwood boys basketball team is forcing about 18 turnovers a game and has six players scoring nine or more points per game, according to Solomon. More importantly, these results have led to an undefeated 8-0 start, as of press deadline Monday, winning every game by a double digit margin.

“Guys have done a good job of sticking to the game plan,” said Solomon, a 2005 Kentwood graduate who is in his third year as head coach. “…We wear teams down and force turnovers by the fourth quarter. That’s kind of how things have been going this year.”

Solomon is no stranger to Conks basketball success. His career record of 77-11 in three years as a player is the stuff of legends. He and current NBA player Rodney Stuckey led those Conks to third, first and second place state finishes in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons, respectively.

Prior to last season’s postseason collapse, the Conks finished the 2013-14 regular season strong, winning seven in a row.

Kentwood’s depth is a strength and Solomon’s rotation runs 10 players deep, with the pressure, up-and-down style reminiscent of his 2004 championship squad. Senior Malik Sanchez leads the team in scoring, averaging about 15 points per game on 60 percent shooting, but Solomon said it’s been the senior-laden team’s willingness to share the ball that has made much of the difference. Buying into the team approach can sometimes be difficult for players with college basketball aspiration who need big stats to make an impression, but Solomon said his group has bought in. He preaches that recruiters will be more impressed with a player scoring 10 points per game on a team playing into March, than someone scoring 20 on a non-playoff team.

“If they continue to not shortcut the process and work hard, the sky is the limit for this team,” he said.

Kentwood

2013-14 Record: 12-4 conference, 15-8 overall

Returning Varsity: Seven

Goals: Solomon said the first goal is to finish with the best record among those in the Kent School District, then to win the league and “see what happens from there in districts and on to state.”

Biggest Obstacles: Getting the players to learn the new schemes and system implemented this season, Solomon said.

Top Performers:

• Malik Sanchez (Senior, forward)

• Preston White (Senior, point guard)

• Marcus LuBom (Senior, forward)

• Josiah Bronson (Senior, forward)

Newcomers to Watch:

• Darius LuBom (Sophomore, guard)

• Rayvaughn Bolton (Sophomore, guard)