Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:25 pm | Updated: 6:49 pm, Thu Dec 17, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Off to their best start since the 2002-2003 season, the 12th ranked Kokomo Wildkats in class 4A face their historic rival Marion Giants on Friday at Memorial Gymnasium and then they travel to play former conference foe Lafayette Jefferson on Saturday.
Kokomo comes in to this weekend with wins over Western, Fishers and conference foe Muncie Central. The Wildkats have had to play tough all the way to end in their last two games by winning by only two and six points, respectively. The Kokomo win over Muncie Central was their first win over the Bearcats since the 2002-2003 season.
Kokomo has not defeated the Marion Giants since the 2004-2005 season. Marion began their season with a loss to South Bend Adams (43-45), then defeated class 4A’s eighth-ranked Lawrence North 66-65 and followed it up with a win over 1A’s fourth-ranked Monroe Central on Tuesday.
“Marion has a very good schedule, this is the first year for their head coach (Todd Grace) and they’ve gotten better and better every game,” Kokomo Wildkats coach Brian McCauley said.
With close, hard-fought wins in their last two games, Kokomo is as well prepared as they could be going into the game against Marion. The team made a fourth quarter come-back to defeat Fishers and never trailed Muncie Central, as Kokomo had to fend off a come-back.
“The guys are showing a lot of poise and toughness,” McCauley said. “We did a good job maintaining our poise until the end of those games.”
Against Muncie Central, sophomore D.J. Balentine had career highs in points and rebounds, scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Kokomo travels to face former conference foe Lafayette Jeff Bronchos on Saturday. Jeff, with a 5-1 record, is coming off wins against Rossville, Frankfort, McCutcheon, Harrison and Logansport. Their one loss was in overtime at Westfield.
Check out Kokomo Perspective's "Game of the Week" coverage of the Marion-Kokomo game Friday night at KokomoPerspective.com along with other local scores.
Other games this weekend:
Friday at 7:30 p.m.:
Eastern at Greentown
Hamilton Heights at Western
Lewis Cass at Taylor
Maconaquah at Northwestern
Saturday at 7:30 p.m.:
Eastern at Clinton Central
Frankfort at Western
Mississinewa at Maconaquah
Noblesville at Hamilton Heights
Northwestern at Pioneer
Rochester at Lewis Cass
Taylor at Westfield
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