Reserves keep Foothill boys rolling

Many high school basketball teams would panic with their leading scorer in foul trouble.

Not Foothill.

Instead, Falcons coach Kevin Soares went deep into his bench for reserve guards T.K. Smith and David Witt.

The duo responded by combining for 15 points to help Foothill to a 79-68 home win over Green Valley on Thursday night. It was the eighth consecutive win for Foothill (15-6, 8-0 Southeast League).

“They hadn’t been getting a whole lot of minutes, just spot minutes, but tonight they came off and gave us a huge lift,” Soares said.

Foothill’s Evan Roquemore, the only player on the team averaging double figures in scoring, went to the bench with his fourth foul with four minutes left in the third quarter.

But with a little help from the bench, the Falcons maintained their lead until Roquemore came back on the court to start the fourth quarter. Roquemore scored 12 of his 24 points in the final period.

Kadeem Minor helped pick up the slack while Roquemore was out, scoring all eight of his points in the third quarter.

“Kadeem can play,” Soares said. “He’s got to have that mindset. He’s probably the best player on the court night in and night out, but nobody knows it because he doesn’t play that way. But when he puts his mind to it, the kid can play.”

It could have just as easily been senior forwards Gage Huff and Cody Gomez who picked up for Roquemore in Foothill’s balanced offense.

Gomez had 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots, and Huff had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Falcons.

Soares played 11 players in the first quarter, and 13 had played by the end of the third quarter.

“It’s a nice luxury to have when you know you can feel comfortable bringing kids off the bench that are at least going to play hard for you,” Soares said. “That gives those guys that start the game a little bit more of a rest.”

Glenn Bewley scored 14 to lead five players in double figures for the Gators (9-10, 3-5).