Christian French is known as a football player these days, but he hasn’t forgotten what to do on a basketball court. He proved that Tuesday night (Dec. 14).

French scored 19 points, blocked three shots and handcuffed Dubuque Senior’s top player as No. 9 Kennedy stuffed the Rams, 68-40, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Kennedy.

French struggled in Kennedy’s first two games this season, scoring just two points per contest, but he’s feeling loose and easy now after committing to play football at the University of Oregon last week.

It showed Tuesday.

“It’s a big weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about where I’m going. I already have a home.”

For much of last night, French lived inside Josh Weeber’s skin, taking Senior’s best player completely out of the game. Weeber finished with 10 points — 13 below his average — but six of those markers came on free throws in the fourth quarter after the Cougars opened a 30-point lead.

Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana told French to stick with Weeber, no matter what, and the 6-foot-6, 235-pound senior used his muscular body to wear him down.

“He (Fontana) said to stay in his face,” related French. “I feel he got frustrated, and that’s how I pretty much shut him down.”

Josiah Coleman pointed Kennedy (4-0, 2-0) in the right direction in the first half with all 13 of his points, sparking the Cougars to a 32-18 lead at the break.

French scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half and finished with three dunks, delighting the crowd.

“I’m pretty much out here having fun,” said French. “It probably will be my last time playing basketball, so I’m going to do everything I can to enjoy it.”

That’s exactly what Fontana told him to do.

“Just go out and have fun and play,” are the coach’s instructions this season.

Fontana thinks French is a better player now that his college decision has been made. “He’s much more relaxed,” said Fontana.

“It relieves a lot of stress,” said French. “You can go out there focused, you don’t have to worry about a lot of stuff and outside things. It does allow me to perform a lot better on the court.”

Jake Manning scored 11 points for Kennedy.

Kyle Haber led Dubuque Senior (2-2, 0-2) with 15 points.

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DUBUQUE SENIOR (40): Holdridge 0 0-0 0, Haber 6 3-3 15, Weeber 2 6-6 10, Grant 1 1-2 3, Duve 0 0-0 0, Weitz 0 0-0 0, Bonifas 3 2-2 8, Collins 0 0-2 0, Marshall 1 1-3 3, Kueter 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 14-20 40.

KENNEDY (68): Misener 1 0-0 2, Lamaak 2 1-4 5, Coleman 4 3-3 13, Manning 4 3-4 11, French 9 1-2 19, Fuller 0 1-2 1, Dixon 1 0-0 2, Christians 0 2-2 2, Heitland 2 1-2 5, Bell 1 0-0 3, Jahlas 0 0-0 0, Ellsworth 0 0-0 0, Hayden 1 0-0 3, Goodall 0 2-2 2. Totals 25 14-21 68.

Halftime — Kennedy 32, Dubuque Senior 18. 3-point goals — Dubuque Senior 0, Kennedy 4 (Coleman 2, Bell 1, Hayden 1).