Neuqua Valley star forward Cole Kelly received the pass from teammate Mason Martin, rose up and swished a 3-pointer.
One possession and less than 20 seconds into the game, Kelly knew what was coming next.
“I think hitting my first shot definitely affects all of the rest of the game,” he said. “When that first one goes down, especially on the first shot I take, it just fuels me for the rest of the game and knowing that I can score every single time I’m down the court.”
Kelly didn’t score every single time, but it sure seemed like it. The 6-foot-7 sophomore made his first three shots, including two 3-pointers, and 13 of 17 overall to score a game-high 33 points on Wednesday.
Kelly also led all players with 13 rebounds and added three assists and two steals as the Wildcats knocked off host Yorkville 79-60 in a nonconference game.
Martin, a junior guard, also was on fire, hitting six 3-pointers and finishing with 27 points. He and Kelly combined for 33 points in the first half as the Wildcats (4-1) jumped out to a 45-24 lead.
“When we get in transition, we’re super hard to guard,” Kelly said. “Me and Mason, especially if you’re in a defensive deficit, you’ve got to pick between one of us, and then it’s very tough from then on.
“When we’re both clicking on all cylinders, we’re a super hard team to beat, so it’s very fun playing with him. Those nights are definitely the good ones, for sure.”
Kelly, of course, has had a lot of good games since bursting onto the high school scene as a highly touted freshman.
Much has changed since then. Kelly has offers from DePaul, Drake, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, and he has continued to hone his skills.
“He’s not as tentative as last year,” Neuqua Valley junior forward Lucas Balgro said. “I feel like he’s getting to the basket more and he’s doing his thing.
“He’s very aggressive to the basket, and he knows how to find his teammates. His passing has got tremendously better.”
Indeed, the Wildcats demonstrated great ball movement in the first half, and Kelly played a role in that. He assisted on two of Martin’s baskets in the second quarter and then fed Balgro for a layup.
Kelly also took a charge from Yorkville’s 6-8 sophomore forward, Joey Jakstys. It was the third foul on Jakstys, who was held to three points in the first half and finished with 12.
Balgro, who contributed five points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, followed by setting up baskets by 6-10 senior center Darlin Aghomi and Kelly to put the Foxes (4-2) in a 45-22 hole.
“Our chemistry is very good,” Balgro said. “It’s mostly a guaranteed bucket when we push the ball and get up the floor.”
When Kelly and Martin are in a groove, Balgro knows to continue feeding them.
“After I see them hit their first shots, I know when I get the ball, I’m mostly looking for them,” Balgro said. “I look to get them the ball and let them get their own.”
While Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton said the first half was entertaining to watch, he wasn’t pleased with his team’s play in the second half, when a 28-point lead dwindled to 14 in the fourth quarter.
Kelly didn’t escape the scrutiny.
“He doesn’t see his man off the ball,” Sutton said. “He loses his man way too much.”
Kelly readily accepted the constructive criticism.
“After last year, I think it’s learning what the high school environment was like for me and just getting adapted to my coach and my program and how things are run as a team,” Kelly said. “Definitely, I think I can surely improve on my defense.”
But the plusses outweigh the minuses so far.
“I think my ballhandling and my ability to get to my spots at will has improved,” Kelly said. “I think I handle pressure a lot better than last year. I’m not giving it up as easy, and I’m looking for my shot.”
Despite the college offers and media attention, Kelly isn’t looking for a free pass.
“It’s a great confidence-booster, you could say, for me, just knowing the hard work I’ve put in is leading to the big things that I’ve always wanted,” he said. “But there’s obviously still work to be done and a long way to go from here.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.