Kernels Rout Watertown in Home Opener 69-42

Mitchell Kernels boys basketball used a complete effort to pick up a home opening 69-42 win on Tuesday night at the Corn Palace against the Watertown Arrows.

Colton Smith led three Kernels in double figures with a game-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and his first two three pointers of his varsity career.

Junior point guard Markus Talley was named the KORN Player of the Game after scoring 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and limiting Watertown PG Dylon Rawdon to just three points on 1-of-9 shooting.

Gavin Hinker added a career-high 10 points along with a pair of one handed dunks in the second quarter.

“The best part of it for me was that there was never really a let down,” said Mitchell head coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt. “Just really good intensity the entire time, especially from the bench.”

A big 20-6 second quarter Mitchell advantage took a five point lead at the end of the first quarter and extended it to 37-18 at the half.

The Kernels shot 30-of-53 (56%) from the field for the game, while limiting the Arrows to just 37% shooting, 14-of-37.

Caden Beauchamp led three Watertown (1-1) players in double figures with 12 points.

The Kernels (2-0) host Rapid City Stevens on Friday in the second half of a doubleheader with the girls game at 6 pm, followed by the boys at 7:45 pm.