Kent-Meridian High School boys basketball head coach Marcus Graham prepared himself for a season like the one he is currently having. After 11 games, the Royals are just 3-8 after dropping a non-league contest to Highline, 52-46, on Jan. 13.

Highline came in with a 4-7 record, one win better than the Royals. For Graham, this felt like a game that was the Royals’ for the taking. A game that could move the needle in the right direction for a team searching for a direction.

Instead what occurred was frustration and more of the same for the Royals.

“There is a little frustration, but I know I have nine inexperienced varsity players… I trained my mind to prepare for these games. For the most part, when you shoot poorly at the free throw line down the stretch, this is going to be the outcome,” Graham said.

A slow start plagued Kent-Meridian and set the tone for the type of game would unfold. But what was a positive sign was a relatively unknown player for Graham. So unknown, that he wasn’t even listed on the varsity roster and it was a hunch that even the JV coach was unsure of.

Graham started freshman Keelan Dollente in his first ever varsity game. He was named a starter and made an impact finishing with a team high of 10 points.

“I am blessed to have a freshman that came up big for me today,” Graham said. “I just threw him in the fire and he led us in scoring. … I felt like it was his time to shine.”

As a freshman, Dollente felt comfortable in his first varsity action of his career.

“I was a little nervous, then I got in the game and let the game come to me,” Dollente said.

From a coaching perspective, Graham wanted the seniors to take a step up in a game like tonight. But unfortunately for the Royals and Graham, Highline just got it done to take the win.

“I wish my seniors had stepped up. My three headed monster disappeared tonight,” Graham said.

The Pirates shut down the Royals coming out of halftime as just Muhammad Secca recorded multiple field goals (4) as they trailed 35-30 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Royals got within one point on six made free throws as JB Boqulon, Christian Mortimer and Raymond Wong all made both sides of their free throws. But as the half continued, the Royals went 2-6 on the other free throws, which hamstrung the comeback.

In the fourth quarter, Kent-Meridian scored just three shots from the floor. The lack of rhythm on offense came from the Royals just getting a bit overanxious.

“I felt like we were just rushing the ball too much. We were on our own tempo,” Dollente said.

With 1:31 left, the Royals were within one point, 46-47, but couldn’t find a bucket as time expired.

Defensively, the Royals holding the Pirates to under 60 points should have been enough to win the game. But it wasn’t to be, and is just the third time Kent-Meridian has lost when holding a team to under 60 points in the last two seasons (9-2). The other two losses are Enumclaw (36-34) and Highline (50-45).

“We just gotta play better… 46 points is not enough. We need to put the ball in the hole. But I trained myself for this, if I wasn’t bald already I would be bald, “Graham said.

“We just have to take our bumps and go up and build up our freshman for the future,” he added.

Kent-Meridian takes on Federal Way at home on Jan. 17 before making the to short trek to the ShoWare Center on MLK day to take on Seattle Academy.

Freshman Keelan Dollente keeps his eyes up for a teammate. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Sophomore Raymond Wong fights off a Highline defender for the Royals. Ben Ray / The Reporter