NEWPORT — There was a lot of hype around the Cony boys basketball team entering the 2025-26 season. On Friday, the Rams showed why.

Freshman Carter Brathwaite scored 26 points in his debut, and Cony led wire-to-wire to open the season with an impressive 65-41 road win over KVAC B North foe Nokomis.

Here are five takeaways from the Rams’ victory.

No debut jitters for Brathwaite

The first varsity game can be nerve-wracking for even the most highly touted high school freshmen. Yet if there were nerves Friday for Brathwaite, they never really showed as he paced Cony early with 18 first-half points, propelling the Rams to a 33-21 halftime lead.

Considered one of the top freshmen in a stacked Class of 2029, Brathwaite scored in every way imaginable. He knocked down 3-pointers and mid-range shots and also used his athleticism to blow past Nokomis defenders with ease.

“I’ve been playing with the varsity guys since like middle school in the summer and stuff, and I’ve always been practicing with them since I was little,” said Brathwaite, son of Cony coach Isaiah Brathwaite. “(Tonight was) nothing really different.”

Jackson Kay makes his presence known, too

Brathwaite isn’t the only newcomer to move his way right into Cony’s starting lineup this year. Jackson Kay, a transfer from Oceanside, scored 10 points and brought down 10 rebounds.

Known as a knockdown shooter, Kay made three 3-pointers, including the first points of the game. Isaiah Brathwaite also credited the senior’s defensive tenacity and physicality on the boards.

“He really can (battle on the boards), he’s tough,” Brathwaite said. “He’s a good addition to our team, and he can do a lot of things for us inside and out, both offensively and defensively.”

Parker Morin provides a second-half surge

After a grueling football season in which he enjoyed remarkable success, Parker Morin wasn’t with the basketball team for much of its preseason action. Yet when the Rams needed to slam the door, the senior was right there to step up for his team.

With just under four minutes left in the third quarter, Brathwaite went to the bench after his third foul. Morin had just two points at that juncture, but he rattled off four baskets in a span of just over three minutes as Cony expanded its lead from 12 at halftime to 20 through three quarters.

“Parker is a great player, and these guys all believe in each other and believe that they can get the job done,” Isaiah Brathwaite said. “It’s just all about next man up; that’s the motto that we go by.”

Cony defense flummoxes Warriors

Just as Cony got it done offensively, the Rams were also efficient on the defensive end. Cony used everything from a full-court press to a mixture of man and zone looks, and its combination of length and athleticism made it difficult for Nokomis to generate offense.

“They’re big, they’re long, and they have a lot of quickness and foot speed,” said Nokomis coach Josh Grant. “With those athletes they have and the way they play, they’re able to cover a lot of ground and really speed you up. You notice that difference in footspeed and athleticism at this point in the season.”

Stat leaders

• Cony: Carter Brathwaite (26 points, four rebounds), Parker Morin (13 points), Jackson Kay (10 points, 10 rebounds), Ian Lasselle (nine points, four rebounds), Benjamin Hanke (seven rebounds), 35 team rebounds, 15 turnovers.

• Nokomis: Seth Bowden (15 points, 11 rebounds), Owen Buck (13 points), Owen Sides (five rebounds), 27 team rebounds, 16 turnovers.