Tyner opponents better batten down the hatches if the Rams ever iron out their half-court offensive struggles.
Even without that weapon showing up Tuesday night, the Rams showed they have a run-and-gun assault that can bury an opponent under an avalanche of points.
And their defense is as tenacious as ever.
Tyner outscored Red Bank 15-0 to start the second quarter and went on to dish out a 71-33 District 6-2A basketball shellacking to the visiting Lions.
“A lot of the scoring came from our defense tonight and that’s coach (Keitha) Booker’s style of play. I love to get out on fastbreaks and get dunks and layups. I thought we played exceptional basketball tonight.”
Cameron, a seasoned veteran as a four-year starter, was the Rams’ second-leading scorer with 16 points. Jerrion Christopher led all scorers with 18 points. Michael Little had 11 points, including three of the Rams’ seven 3-pointers, and Ke’Markus Young finished with 10 points.
Calvin Jackson scored 12 points and was the only Red Bank player in double figures.
Tyner’s defense hounded the Lions.
The Rams (3-0, 2-0 in the district) ball-hawked every pass, every dribble, every move any Red Bank player made.
They pressured every player no matter where they were on the court.
The blocked shots, grabbed a ton of rebounds and literally triggered a Gatling-gun attack that left coach Nick Fike’s Lions weary and bewildered.
“I like watching them play, just not against us,” Fike said.
Late in the second quarter and the Rams already on a 19-3 run, Christopher leaped high for a rebound off a Red Bank miss, hit the floor dribbling and led a fastbreak that he finished with a layup at the other end.
“They get a rebound and they’re gone,” Fike said.
As impressive as that phase of the Rams’ game was against the Lions, Booker still wants to see more offensive efficiency in half-court sets. When that happens Tyner is going to be a serious postseason threat.
“A lot of our offense came from defensive pressure and many times we capitalized on that at the other end,” Booker said. “But as far as running our offensive sets in a half-court setting, we’re struggling.
“I love to get out and run and a lot of our points game in transition. We’re going to be an up-tempo team, but I want us to be able to slow it down when we need to. I want us to execute better in that situation or when an opponent tries to slow down.”
Four minutes into the game Tyner had an 8-3 lead. Before the first quarter ended the Rams were up 18-7.
That’s when Tyner dropped the hammer on the Lions, who lost five seniors from last year’s squad and can only be labeled as young this season, although Fike doesn’t want to hear the word, or use it as an excuse.
Christopher scored on back-to-back layups, the first set up by his own steal. Cameron turned a Red Bank turnover into a layup. Jalen Bowens got a steal and drove to the other end for a layup and Little scored on a put-back and followed that with the first of his 3-pointers.
Cameron salvaged a possession with a tip-in and capped the game-changing 15-0 spurt that put the Lions in a 33-7 hole. Red Bank might as well been playing in the Grand Canyon.
When the opening half ended Tyner enjoyed a 31-point lead.
Cameron had 12 first-half points, nine coming in the first eight-minute period and Christopher matched Cameron’s output with eight in the first quarter.
Still firing on all cylinders, the Rams punched the Lions in the gut to start the third quarter as well.
Tyner outscored Red Bank 13-3 and built a 54-13 lead midway through the third. Ke’Markus Young drained a 3 and hit a banked floater high off the backboard to end the lead-stretching streak.
“We had some guys step up tonight,” Booker said. “Michael knocked down some 3s for us and Jerrion is giving us the scoring we need. That’s something we’ve focused on since before the season started. We have to make sure Kevin has some help because everybody we play is going to focus on him.”
The Rams, with starters starting to head for the bench, went into the fourth period leading 61-19.
“They played really good help defense and you can tell they’re a veteran, seasoned team with a goal in mind,” Fike said. “One thing that makes them so dangerous is not only do they defend, but they shoot the ball really well. I haven’t looked, but I would venture to say they shot the hell out of the 3-ball.
“And they have a good bench. They’re going to wear you down, play defense and score a bunch of points.”
Held to 21 points over the first 25 minutes, Red Bank scored 11 points in the final 5 minutes and 27 seconds and Jackson tallied seven points in that closing stretch.
In the girls’ game, the Lady Lions led for three quarters and had a 31-25 going into the final period.
That’s when Keniah Watkins, Leaundra Melton and Keionna McCutcheon combined for 17 of the Lady Rams’ 18 points in the final eight minutes.
Watkins, who finished with 19 points, had seven in the fourth period and Melton and McCutcheon each scored five. McCutcheon scored 10 points in the game and Melton added seven.
Maya Kennebrew paced Red Bank with 13 points, eight in the first half.
Linescores
Boys Game
Red Bank 7 3 9 14 – 33
Tyner 18 23 20 10 – 71
Red Bank (33) – Doss, Holland, Sewell 5, Henderson 5, Calvin Jackson 12, Shelby, Davis, Brown 5, Jones, Young 2.
Tyner (71) – Kevin Cameron 16, McCauley 5, Jerrion Christopher 18, Edwards 2, Ke’Markus Young 10, Elston 2, Bowens 2, Lattimore, Bridgemon 3, Halfacre, Michael Little 11, Gladden 2.
3-Point Goals – Red Bank 2 (Sewell 1, Thomas 1), Tyner 7 (Little 3, Young 2, Cameron 1, Christopher 1).
Girls Game
Red Bank 12 14 5 7 – 38
Tyner 7 9 9 18 – 43
Red Bank (38) – Roberts 1, Babb 8, Romans 6, Claiborne 7, Evers 2, Pratt 1, Mya Kennebrew 13, Ndlaye.
Tyner (43) – Bedford 1, Keniah Watkins 19, Taylor 2, Mehon 7, Keionna McCutcheon 10, McGee 4, Cooley.
3-Point Goals – Red Bank 1 (Claiborne 1), Tyner 2 (Watkins 2).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)