Usually the end of the quarter is the worst time for
senioritis.
But ever since the first round of midterms passed, seniors Ray
Young and Jason Kapono have had all the right symptoms: spirited
leadership, a seemingly never-ending array of three-pointers and a
desire to be the one with the ball when the game is on the
line.
Playing in their second-to-last game at Pauley Pavilion, Young
and Kapono scored a combined 52 points ““ 60 percent of the
team’s output ““ and together put away a Washington
State team that hung around down the stretch.
“Ray spread the ball around really well tonight, and Jason
was just himself,” freshman Ryan Hollins said.
Since Young took over at point guard for injured sophomore
Cedric Bozeman, the Bruins are 3-2 and Young has scored in double
figures every game. His 30 points last night set a career high.
It’s all come relatively late for the fifth-year senior,
who, until three weeks ago, had a career defined mostly by
ill-advised passes and inconsistent shooting.
Young would often miss a jumpshot and play tentatively for the
rest of the game. But that was before he got a chance to handle the
ball on every possession.
“It helps me with my rhythm,” Young said. “I
also have the confidence of my teammates, so I know that if I
commit a couple of turnovers, like I did tonight, I can come right
back.”
Young took control of the game early and scored 16 points in the
first half. After carrying his efforts into the early second half
and keeping the Bruins up by a comfortable margin, Young yielded to
his fellow senior.
Kapono made three-pointers on consecutive possessions to put the
Bruins up by 16 points, then converted on a three-point play the
next time he touched the ball.
And when the Cougars tried to storm back with a flurry of
three-pointers, Young hit six straight free throws to clinch the
win.
Kapono has been a box score mainstay, usually even in the worst
of losses. Hearing “Ray Young, 30 points” is something
new.
So when reporters asked Kapono about his own performance, he was
quick to deflect praise to Young.
“It was all Ray,” Kapono said.