Kats defeat Berries with hot shooting, take lead in NCC

Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010 11:53 pm | Updated: 12:36 am, Fri Feb 12, 2010.

By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments

The Kokomo Wildkats caught fire from behind the arc late in the second quarter and never looked back as they took first place in the North Central Conference with their victory over the 17th-ranked Logansport Berries 74-60 Thursday at Memorial Gym.

"It was a huge game," Kokomo coach Brian McCauley said. "Anytime you can have a conference opponent come in to your home floor, you really want to take care of business. The guys are really coming together and they are really understanding the significance of each game now and I'm really proud of their effort and they way they finished."

The turning point in the game was at 2:45 to go in the second quarter when Kokomo took a two-point lead at 28-26 with sophomore D.J. Balentine's made basket. Prior to this point in the game there were seven ties and 10 lead changes. Balentine's shot began an 11-0 run by the Wildkats to give them an 11-point lead at the half. The run was keyed by two made three-pointers by Balentine and a three pointer made by senior Brock Barbary.

The Kats shot 65 percent from the field in the first half on 15/23 shooting including 7/10 from three-point range.

The Kats continued their scoring and picked up on the defensive end to increase their lead in the third quarter. The quarter began with the Kats scoring ten points before Logansport scored their second field goal of the frame. Kokomo finished the quarter up on Logansport 50-36.

The Berries gradually made it a closer game in the fourth quarter as they got as close as seven points (57-50) with 3:46 remaining, but the Kats increased their lead from the foul line and by taking good shots to increase their lead. Logansport senior Garrett Baldini scored the final field goal of the game from three-point range with nine seconds to go to cut Kokomo lead to 14 points as Kokomo went on to win 74-60.

With a win next week over Huntington North, Kokomo has a shot to win the conference title as Muncie Central (9-8, 2-3 NCC) defeated Anderson (9-7, 3-2 NCC) Thursday. Kokomo is now in a conference tie with New Castle (13-2, 4-1 NCC) as they defeated Richmond (12-5, 1-4 NCC) Friday.

"It makes the Huntington North game the championship game for us and that's what we wanted to do. Our balance offensively is just tremendous," he said.

Kokomo targeted its defense on Logansport senior Nathan Champion, an Indiana All-Star candidate. Champion finished with 18 points on 6 of 21 shooting, including 2/8 from three-point range.

"Our guys did a good job on understanding that Nate Champion is an outstanding player and they knew where he was at all times," McCauley said.

Kokomo (12-5, 4-1 NCC) finished with four players in double-figures scoring. They were led by Barbary's season-high 24 points and he was joined by Balentine's 15, junior Parker Salinas' 13 and senior T.J. Weir scored 12.

Logansport (13-3, 3-2 NCC) had two players in double figures. Champion led the Berries with 18 and freshman Antonio Penny scored 11.

For the game, Kokomo shot 55 percent from the floor as Logansport shot at 37 percent.

Kokomo out-rebounded Logansport 40 to 26 and each team had 11 offensive rebounds.

Kokomo could play Logansport again at the Kokomo sectional in a couple weeks.

The Wildkats next take the court at Huntington North on Feb. 16 at 7:45 p.m. in a make-up game. The Berries host Muncie Central on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Scores by quarter:

Logansport 18 8 10 24

Kokomo 18 19 13 24

Other games Thursday:

Eastern 52 (9-7, 2-4 MIC)

Lewis Cass 58 (6-11, 1-5 MIC)



#15-2A Taylor 51 (11-5, 4-2 MIC)

Maconaquah 46 (6-9, 1-5 MIC)



Northwestern (10-5, 2-2 MIC) at #2-3A Peru (15-1, 5-0 MIC), ppd to Feb. 13

Saturday games:

Lewis Cass (6-11, 1-5 MIC) at Wabash (2-15), 2:30

Maconaquah (6-8, 1-4 MIC) at Pioneer (7-9), 7:30

Northwestern (10-5, 2-2 MIC) at #2-3A Peru (15-1, 5-0 MIC), 2:30

Upcoming games- Tuesday:

Western at Taylor, 7:30

Northwestern at Hamilton Heights, 7:30

Northfield at Maconaquah, 7:30