They are the players who are not on the court at the start of the game, but when they enter, they are tasked with making an immediate impact.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, South Arkansas College’s bench has done just that.
The Stars’ reserves consist of sophomore Jamarian Cato along with freshmen KeShun Brown, Phillip Tillman, Telviyonta Henyard and former Junction City standout Jakourion Key.
Cato provides scoring punch at 12.2 points per game while ranking second on the team in rebounding at 6.1 boards per game.
Brown and Tillman help shoulder the load in the backcourt to spell Troy’reon Ramos whenever he needs a breather.
The duo averages 13.5 points between them.
Henyard and Key provide solid depth up front.
In their 94-75 win over St. Louis (Mo.) Community College Saturday in the Central Plains District title game, the quintet combined for 33 points and 17 rebounds while going 9-of-18 from the floor.
Cato had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Stars (21-8), who will learn who their first-round opponent for the NJCAA Division II Tournament is today.
Cato also scored five straight points as part of SouthArk’s decisive 17-3 run in the second half that turned a close game into a lopsided victory.
“Cato was a difference-maker in that game once he started making shots,” SouthArk coach Cam Robinson said. “He was a difference-maker in the last two games. When we played National Park in the championship game, he made some 3’s in the first half that allowed us to get back into the game.”
Brown knocked down a crucial 3-pointer from the left corner during the run.
“KeShun does what he does,” Robinson said. “He played tough defense and then he makes winning plays. He made a couple of good passes and a couple of penetration drives that really got us going. It really got the crowd into it because he’s a small guy that plays big.”
Robinson praised Cato and Brown for their consistency.
“Those two dudes have been the most consistent ones coming off the bench, especially those last two games,” Robinson said. “Raheem (Briggs) struggled a little bit some defensively against National Park and this game Saturday, but the beauty of our team is that we’re deep and everybody gets in as a possible starter. Cato could start on every team that’s in our league. He should be starting on our team, but just the way the makeup of our team goes, he fits better right now coming off the bench.”
Tillman, who had one point, one rebound and one steal, gives the Stars another option in the backcourt, and Robinson said that whenever he takes a starter out of the game, he is putting another one into the game.
“Defense and energy, especially with Tillman,” Robinson said. “He’s a bigger version of what KeShun can do as far as pressuring the ball 94 feet. He’s able to get to the goal. He allows Troy to be able to play off the ball and give him a break on trying to facilitate and get things going.
“I’ve told my guys throughout the year that the one thing that makes our team real good is that whenever I’m subbing out a starter, I’m putting in another starter. It’s not really taking a step down, we just need to maintain where we’re at or take another level up.
“That’s been the bright side in a lot of games that we’ve played, especially bigger games. Whenever the other team goes to their bench, our bench usually outplays them and their starters at the same time.”
Key had two points, two rebounds and an assist, while Henyard had three points and four rebounds down the stretch for the Stars on Saturday.
For Henyard, the win over the Archers was his first appearance in the postseason.
“Tay is getting his rhythm back after being out with an injury,” Robinson said. “His defensive presence and rebounding the ball and being to bang whenever we’re going against some bigger-sized guys on the other end helps us. We’ve got a great group of 10. Everybody trusts one another. Nobody is trying out-do anybody as far as doing another person’s role. Everybody is doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”
With 10 minutes to play in the game, SouthArk was nursing a 55-50 lead, but the Stars’ depth wore down the Archers, and five minutes later, the game was no longer in doubt with the Stars leading 72-53.
“That’s pretty much what it is,” Robinson said. “When our starters get tired, we’re able to go in with some fresh guys. With St. Louis, when their starters got tired, they had to stay in the game, so they had to figure out how to maintain their fatigue.
“We made a run, and with the lack of depth they have and the style of play that they play, whenever they’re losing, that’s not a good situation for them to be in. They started playing the game at a slower pace just to get their breath back, but it actually played into our favor because we started getting up a little bit more and were able to put pressure on them.
“That was the deciding factor in the game was us getting the lead and then maintaining it for the rest of the game. We can bring in fresh bodies and they really weren’t able to. They had to burn a lot of timeouts early, which got them at the same time.”