Hardworking Dokes leads Haddon Heights past Triton

Kwame Dokes doesn't mind doing the dirty work for the Haddon Heights boys' basketball team.

Dokes, a senior forward, generated 14 points and nine rebounds on Saturday morning to help Haddon Heights to a 71-40 victory over Triton in the first game of a Coaches vs. Cancer showcase at Gateway High School.

Senior swingman Lucian Brownlee led all scorers with 24 points and sophomore point guard Robert Tindley added 11 points with three assists for Haddon Heights (5-3).

Sophomore guard Mike Wright scored 14 for Triton (2-6).

"Their press gave us a lot of trouble," Triton coach Derek Starts said. "We turned the ball over too much."

As usual, Dokes sparked the Garnets' defensive effort.

"He's our defensive leader," Haddon Heights coach Mike Ricci said of Dokes. "He's always talking, making sure we're in the right position. He's a pleasure to coach."

The 6-foot-3 Dokes said he did not play basketball until his eighth-grade year at Alice Costello Elementary School in Brooklawn.

Dokes has made major progress in his four years in the Haddon Heights' program, according to Ricci.

"In my 18 years of coaching, he's one of the hardest-working kids I've ever coached," Ricci said.

Dokes said he spent "every day" in the gym last summer, preparing for his senior season.

"I've improved a lot," Dokes said. "I trained every day to try to get better. I knew my team would need me this year."

Dokes began Saturday's game averaging around 11 points and 12 rebounds per game, Ricci said.

Dokes, who could continue his basketball career next year at Rowan College at Gloucester County, is producing the most points and rebounds of his career.

But he still takes pride in his other contributions - defensive intensity, scrambles for loose balls, hustle plays.

"A lot of guys don't like to do that," Dokes said. "I don't mind. I like helping my team out any way I can."

Haddon Heights 20 13 24 14 - 71

Triton 8 17 8 7 - 40

H: Robert Tindley 11, Lucian Brownlee 24, Nick Smith 2, Kwame Dokes 14, Jared Latane 6, Kyler Pierce 3, Frank Bell 2, Brian Tisby 2, Amir Abdul-Jalil 1, Jake Blake 6.

T: Darren Aupperle 4, Aaron Bailey 6, Mike Wright 14, Frank Ipri 3, Rasheen Merlin 2, Connor Casey 4, Tyrese Dallas 4, Jalen Collins 3.

See and hear from Haddon Heights' Kwame Dokes.

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