Posted: Sunday, March 7, 2010 12:05 am | Updated: 12:27 am, Sun Mar 7, 2010.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The Kokomo Wildkats stormed out to an early 10-point lead Saturday, but in a game of runs, the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos made the final run in the fourth quarter to get a 67-61 victory to become the Kokomo Sectional champions and advance to the Marion Regional.
The Kats continued its recent hot shooting, led by sophomore D.J. Balentine's 7 points, in the first quarter as they took an early 13-3 lead that forced the Bronchos to call a time-out with 2:31 to go in the period. From that point on, the Brochos went on a 6-2 run to close out the quarter with two 3-pointers from junior Nick Stacy to cut Kokomo's lead to 15-9.
The second quarter was a three-point shootout between the teams. Kats' freshman LaBradford Sebree and Bronchos' senior Jesse Berry each knocked down three 3-point shots, but the lead would change as Jeff would hit five-total three pointers to Kokomo's three in the quarter to take a 30-28 halftime lead. Berry scored 15 points in the quarter after being shutout in the first quarter.
After Jeff took a four-point lead in the third quarter, the Kats stormed back again to retake the lead led by senior T.J. Weir's 9 points and Balentine's 4 points. At the end of the third, the Kats lead 45-42.
Kats' sophomore Armon Bridgeforth started off the fourth quarter with a made lay-up and followed it up with a three-pointer assisted by Weir to take a 50-42 lead with 7:01 remaining. After two free-throws by both teams, Jeff's Berry followed up his own miss with a lay-up and on the next possession hit a three-pointer to cut Kokomo's lead to 52-49 with 5:45 to go. On Kokomo's next possession, senior Brock Barbary extended the lead with a lay-up, but seconds later Jeff junior Colin Bultinick hit a three-pointer to bring Jeff to within two points (54-52) with 5:06 remaining.
Jeff then went on a 6-0 run to take a 58-54 lead with 2:51 remaining. Kokomo could only take tough shots and foul down the stretch to give them a shot at a win, but it was not enough as their season came to an end.
"When there was still plenty of time, we kind of panicked a little bit, I thought," Kokomo coach Brian McCauley said. "The guys laid it on the line, but their effort was just tremendous."
McCauley was proud of his team's efforts throughout the game and that of Jeff's, as well.
"We don't have any regrets," he said. "We did the very best we could. I thought Lafayette Jeff more so won the game than we lost the game. Our guys battled and did not give Jeff the game."
The Kats ended its season as North Central Conference champions for the first time since 2003, sharing it with New Castle.
Kokomo had two players in double-figures scoring. Weir and Balentine each scored 15 points. Barbary had a near double-double with 10 rebounds (3 offensive) and 9 points.
Jeff had two players in double-figures scoring, as well. Berry led the Bronchos with 33 points on 10 of 19 shooting, including five 3 pointers. Stacy joined him with 14 points. Senior Roddy Richardson led the Bronchos in rebounding with 11, including 5 offensive rebounds.
Jeff advances to play Muncie Central at noon Saturday at the Marion Regional.
Scores by quarter:
Kokomo 15 13 17 16 =61
Lafayette Jeff 9 21 12 25 =67
Other sectional championships Saturday:
CLASS 3A, SECTIONAL 20 at Frankfort
West Lafayette 50, Frankfort 40
(West Lafayette advances to play Andrean at the Chesterton Regional.)
CLASS 3A, SECTIONAL 22 at Norwell
Fort Wayne-Elmhurst 64, Norwell 47
(Elmhurst advances to play Yorktown at the Blackford Regional.)
CLASS 3A, SECTIONAL 27 at Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
Mt. Vernon 57, Shelbyville 37
(Mt. Vernon advances to play Greensburg at the Shelbyville Regional.)
CLASS 2A, SECTIONAL 39 at Lewis Cass
Southwood 59, Lewis Cass 51
(Southwood advances to play the winner of Adams Central/Fort Wayne Luers at the Tipton Regional.)
CLASS 2A, SECTIONAL 40 at Taylor
Guerin Catholic 66, Tipton 53
(Guerin Catholic advances to play Carroll at the Tipton Regional.)
CLASS A, SECTIONAL 53 at Tri-Central
Lafayette Central Catholic 79, Tri-Central 55
(Lafayette Central Catholic advances to play Monroe Central at the Frankfort Regional.)
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