They're back, they're sorry and they're ready to help Kennedy win basketball games.

Josiah Coleman and Darius Fuller returned from 10-game suspensions Saturday night and helped the Cougars rally by Des Moines North, 63-50, at Kennedy.

Coleman and Fuller combined to score only nine points, but they helped the Cougars in other areas - especially defense - and created opportunities for their teammates.

"They did a decent job of shaking off some rust," said Coach Bob Fontana. "They still have to work some kinks out, obviously."

Coleman and Fuller entered the game for the first time with 3:42 left in the first quarter. They were glad to be back.

"It was an adrenaline rush," said Coleman, a 6-foot-4 senior. "It was exciting."

Coleman averaged 10.1 points last season and has Division I scholarship offers from Coppin State, Wyoming and Sacramento State, but he had to watch the first half of the campaign from the bench.

"It was very painful. I can only blame myself," he said. "I just had to bounce back and push my team every day in practice."

Coleman said he learned his lesson. "I can't afford to put my team in a situation like that again," he said.

Fuller felt the same way. "I've kept my head out of trouble," he remarked. "I've been sticking to basketball and school."

Fontana said both players kept a positive attitude during their suspensions and were good teammates in practice. "They handled it as well as they possibly could have," he said.

It was a fresh start for Kennedy (8-3) with Coleman and Fuller on the floor, at least symbolically.

"I think for some of the seniors who are close to them, I think it was refreshing for them, knowing that they're going to have their senior group together now," said Fontana. "My hat's off to the other kids as well, because a lot of people didn't think we'd be 7-and-3 after Friday night.

"To be 8-and-3, we're going to take it and see if we can get better."

Fuller and Coleman are optimistic about the future.

"If we play how we can play, I honestly think we should compete with everyone and honestly have good chances of winning every game," said Fuller.

"Honestly, we can accomplish what we want," said Coleman.

Fontana was happy to have both players in uniform, but it took a while for Kennedy to get untracked with a full complement of people for the first time this season.

Des Moines North (6-5) bombed in nine 3-pointers in the first half and enjoyed a 33-20 lead at intermission, but Kennedy looked like a different team in the second half with Coleman and Fuller back in the starting lineup.

The Cougars outscored the Polar Bears, 43-17, in the second half with sharper ball movement, a trapping halfcourt defense and better shooting. The Cougars gave Des Moines North little room to breathe and took away the 3-point shot.

Good defense led to good offense, and Kennedy began the third quarter with a 10-0 rush to pull within 33-30. The Cougars trailed 40-36 early in the fourth quarter, but they got hot again and rattled off 13 straight markers for a 49-40 lead with 5:22 to go.

Trevor Heitland scored seven points during the 13-0 run for the Cougars to fuel the surge and Cody Bell hit a string of key buckets during the second half.

Des Moines North pulled within 51-45 with 3:22 left on a 3-pointer by Darius Clemons, his team's first triple of the second half, but Kennedy went on a 7-0 surge to grab a 58-45 advantage with 2 minutes left in the game.

Bell popped in four 3-pointers and led Kennedy with 17 points. Heitland and Elliott Christians scored 14 points apiece for the Cougars.

The Polar Bears hit eleven 3-pointers, but made only two in the second half. The visitors made 14 field goals in the contest and 11 of them were triples. They had only three 2-point buckets.

Three Des Moines North players fouled out, including 3-point sharpshooters Terrance Busch and Teyontae Jenkins, and foul problems played a role in the visitor's demise.

Jenkins hit three 3-pointers and scored 16 points. Clemons scored 14 points for North and Busch finished with 12 markers on the strength of four 3-pointers in the first half.

DES MOINES NORTH (50): Jenkins 4 5-6 16, Busch 4 0-0 12, Brooks 1 0-0 3, Clemons 3 6-7 14, Williams 2 0-0 5, Mtayari 0 0-0 0, Maricle 0 0-0 0, Greene 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 11-13 50.

KENNEDY (63): Heitland 3 7-8 14, Bell 5 3-4 17, Hayden 2 0-0 5, Jahlas 1 0-0 2, Christians 5 4-6 14, Struss 0 0-0 0, Fuller 2 0-0 4, Coleman 2 1-2 5, Martin 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 15-20 63.

Halftime - Des Moines North 33, Kennedy 20. 3-point goals - Des Moines North 11 (Busch 4, Jenkins 3, Clemons 2, Brooks 1, Williams 1), Kennedy 6 (Bell 4, Heitland 1, Hayden 1). Fouled out - Jenkins, Busch, Williams.