Posted: Thursday, January 14, 2010 5:30 pm | Updated: 4:14 pm, Thu Jan 14, 2010.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
This may be one of the most balanced Howard County Tournaments in a long time.
The four Howard County schools are separated by only one game from top to bottom in the standings as they prepare to meet at Taylor High School on Friday and Saturday.
“This is about as balanced as it’s been in a long time,” Northwestern coach Jim Gish said. “Who ever wins will have to put their best two nights together and it could come down to which team is hot at that time.”
The defending champion Northwestern High School Tigers (5-3) have found its stride with four consecutive wins after a 1-3 start.
“We went into Christmas break knowing that there was a long season ahead of us,” Gish said. “We had times when we lost our focus to where we wanted to be, but I felt we were really coming together offensively and defensively.”
The Tigers are 0-2 in county play with losses against Western (72-55) and Taylor (55-53). The game against Taylor came down to the final shot as Taylor’s Reomey Northington hit a game-wining basket with a second remaining.
The Western High School Panthers (6-4) are coming off a tough weekend against the Logansport High School Berries and the West Lafayette Red Devils. The Panthers lost to the now 9-1 Berries 80-61 and defeated the now 4-5 Red Devils 54-44.
So far on the season, the Panthers have been unbeaten against its county foes with wins against Northwestern High School (72-55) and Eastern High School (61-55). It has yet to play Taylor.
“What I like about our team is that we are pretty balanced,” Western coach Andy Weaver said. “An opponent cannot key on one or two of our players.”
The Panthers are averaging three players in double-figures scoring. They are Jamal Johnson, Drew Larrick and Matt Reida.
The Eastern High School Comets (5-3) are on a three-game winning streak with wins over Clinton Central High School, conference rival Maconaquah High School and Carroll High School. For the past two games, the Comets pull out the wins in overtime.
The Comets have only played Western in county play losing to them 61-55 early in the season.
The hosts Taylor High School Titans (5-4) are coming into the tournament on a two-game losing streak against with tough losses to conference rival Hamilton Heights High School and Mississinewa High School.
The Titans are 1-0 in county play with a win over Northwestern (55-53) on December 11.
With how evenly matched the teams are it will be a tough tournament.
“Four teams with a winning record and nobody is undefeated,” Weaver said. “It makes it wide open.”
In game one of the tournament, Western plays Taylor at 6 p.m. Friday. Following that game at approximately 7:30 p.m., Eastern plays Northwestern.
On Saturday, the losers of Friday’s games meet at 6 p.m. for the consolation game. Following that game will be the championship between the two winners from Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Other games Friday (7:30 p.m. starts, unless otherwise noted):
New Castle at Kokomo, 6:30 p.m.
Peru at Maconaquah
Lapel at Hamilton Heights
Pioneer at Lewis Cass
Other games Saturday (7:30 p.m. starts, unless otherwise noted):
Carmel at Kokomo, 4:30 p.m.
Hamilton Heights at Western Boone
Logansport at Lewis Cass
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Comets outlast Braves in overtime thriller
Posted: Saturday, January 9, 2010 1:45 am | Updated: 1:51 am, Sat Jan 9, 2010.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
GREENTOWN -- With 58.8 seconds remaining in regulation, the Eastern High School Comets had its largest lead of 7 points against Mid-Indiana Conference rival Maconaquah High School. Then the Braves found a way to tie the game for the 11th time with a basket from senior guard Curtis Hyde at the buzzer.
"I saw a few heads hanging down there for a moment after they hit the two to tie it," Eastern coach Duane Keisling said. "We kept our heads up when we needed to (in overtime)."
In the recent games with each other they had been close and this game was no different. Throughout the game there were 11 ties and 17 lead changes. It was not until the fourth quarter until a team could get more than a six-point lead.
The Comets and Braves ran contrasting styles of offense. The Comets focused on using its centers, senior Joby Renbarger and sophomore Joey Price, and the Braves ran their offense through their guards, seniors Nick George and Curtis Hyde.
The first quarter featured four ties and two lead changes as Eastern struck first to go up 2-0 on a Renbarger field goal. In the quarter, six Braves scored led by Hyde's four points. Eastern had five players score in the quarter and were led by senior Brandon Hainlen and Price with four points each. After the first quarter the game was tied at 15-15.
The Braves took the lead first in the second quarter, but it was short-lived as the Comets went on an 8-0 run, all scored by Price. It was not until 5:19 to go in the quarter until the Braves stopped the run with two free throws from junior guard Devin Shaffer. Even with the run, the Braves began chipping at the lead to again tie the game at halftime, 26-26.
The third quarter featured six lead changes and two ties as neither team could get a lead by more than three points. The Braves got that lead with 3:01 remaining in the quarter after junior forward David Carter scored on a free throw to go up 36-33. But like the previous quarters, this ended in a tie as well after Eastern junior Dylan Buck made a three-pointer after the Braves added another field goal from George.
The fourth quarter was marred with missed free throws from both teams. The Braves shot 6/6 through three quarters, but they only hit 8/16 from the line in the quarter. Eastern was no better shooting 5/13 from the line in the quarter after shooting 7/12 through three quarters. Each team had their opportunity to win the game in the quarter.
"Each of us probably had opportunities to probably put somebody away if either one of us had hit any percentage of free throws," Keisling said. "We had opportunities just like they did to go up and put some icing on the cake there maybe in regulation."
With 3:29 to go in regulation, the Comets had a one-point lead, 44-43 and they found their way to a seven-point lead with just under a minute to go. The Braves then went on a 9-2 run, including five points in the final 10 seconds, to tie the game at 54-54.
In overtime, the free throw line continued to plague the Braves, but it was not the same for the Comets. While the Braves shot 1/6 from the line, the Comets shot 8/9 to get the victory, 66-62.
Maconaquah coach Lucas Zartman said his team has been up and down when it comes to free throws.
"We're right there," Zartman said. "Again, I think it's mental. Understanding how to win ball games and what it takes to win ball games."
Zartman also said that the team cannot dwell on the overtime loss as they have ranked and conference foe Peru High School next week.
The Comets had two players in double-figures scoring and were led by Price's 25 points off the bench and Renbarger's 12 points. Seven players scored for the Comets.
The Braves also had two players in double-figures scoring. George's 25 points and Hyde's 20 points led the team. Six players scored for the Braves.
Eastern (4-3) next travels to Carroll High School Saturday to take on the (4-4) Cougars. Maconaquah (4-5) plays Peru (9-1) at home on Jan. 15.
Scores by quarter:
Maconaquah 15 11 12 16 8 =62
Eastern 15 11 12 16 12 =66
Other scores from Friday:
(No. 4-3A) Peru 67, (No. 14-4A) Kokomo 53
Logansport 80, Western 61
Hamilton Heights 51, Taylor 46
Lewis Cass 67, Tri-Central 61
Saturday games (7:30 starts):
Kokomo at McCutcheon
West Lafayette at Western
Eastern at Carroll
Northwestern at Clinton Central
Taylor at Mississinewa
Oak Hill at Peru
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
GREENTOWN -- With 58.8 seconds remaining in regulation, the Eastern High School Comets had its largest lead of 7 points against Mid-Indiana Conference rival Maconaquah High School. Then the Braves found a way to tie the game for the 11th time with a basket from senior guard Curtis Hyde at the buzzer.
"I saw a few heads hanging down there for a moment after they hit the two to tie it," Eastern coach Duane Keisling said. "We kept our heads up when we needed to (in overtime)."
In the recent games with each other they had been close and this game was no different. Throughout the game there were 11 ties and 17 lead changes. It was not until the fourth quarter until a team could get more than a six-point lead.
The Comets and Braves ran contrasting styles of offense. The Comets focused on using its centers, senior Joby Renbarger and sophomore Joey Price, and the Braves ran their offense through their guards, seniors Nick George and Curtis Hyde.
The first quarter featured four ties and two lead changes as Eastern struck first to go up 2-0 on a Renbarger field goal. In the quarter, six Braves scored led by Hyde's four points. Eastern had five players score in the quarter and were led by senior Brandon Hainlen and Price with four points each. After the first quarter the game was tied at 15-15.
The Braves took the lead first in the second quarter, but it was short-lived as the Comets went on an 8-0 run, all scored by Price. It was not until 5:19 to go in the quarter until the Braves stopped the run with two free throws from junior guard Devin Shaffer. Even with the run, the Braves began chipping at the lead to again tie the game at halftime, 26-26.
The third quarter featured six lead changes and two ties as neither team could get a lead by more than three points. The Braves got that lead with 3:01 remaining in the quarter after junior forward David Carter scored on a free throw to go up 36-33. But like the previous quarters, this ended in a tie as well after Eastern junior Dylan Buck made a three-pointer after the Braves added another field goal from George.
The fourth quarter was marred with missed free throws from both teams. The Braves shot 6/6 through three quarters, but they only hit 8/16 from the line in the quarter. Eastern was no better shooting 5/13 from the line in the quarter after shooting 7/12 through three quarters. Each team had their opportunity to win the game in the quarter.
"Each of us probably had opportunities to probably put somebody away if either one of us had hit any percentage of free throws," Keisling said. "We had opportunities just like they did to go up and put some icing on the cake there maybe in regulation."
With 3:29 to go in regulation, the Comets had a one-point lead, 44-43 and they found their way to a seven-point lead with just under a minute to go. The Braves then went on a 9-2 run, including five points in the final 10 seconds, to tie the game at 54-54.
In overtime, the free throw line continued to plague the Braves, but it was not the same for the Comets. While the Braves shot 1/6 from the line, the Comets shot 8/9 to get the victory, 66-62.
Maconaquah coach Lucas Zartman said his team has been up and down when it comes to free throws.
"We're right there," Zartman said. "Again, I think it's mental. Understanding how to win ball games and what it takes to win ball games."
Zartman also said that the team cannot dwell on the overtime loss as they have ranked and conference foe Peru High School next week.
The Comets had two players in double-figures scoring and were led by Price's 25 points off the bench and Renbarger's 12 points. Seven players scored for the Comets.
The Braves also had two players in double-figures scoring. George's 25 points and Hyde's 20 points led the team. Six players scored for the Braves.
Eastern (4-3) next travels to Carroll High School Saturday to take on the (4-4) Cougars. Maconaquah (4-5) plays Peru (9-1) at home on Jan. 15.
Scores by quarter:
Maconaquah 15 11 12 16 8 =62
Eastern 15 11 12 16 12 =66
Other scores from Friday:
(No. 4-3A) Peru 67, (No. 14-4A) Kokomo 53
Logansport 80, Western 61
Hamilton Heights 51, Taylor 46
Lewis Cass 67, Tri-Central 61
Saturday games (7:30 starts):
Kokomo at McCutcheon
West Lafayette at Western
Eastern at Carroll
Northwestern at Clinton Central
Taylor at Mississinewa
Oak Hill at Peru
Comets, Braves prepare for conference battle
Posted: Thursday, January 7, 2010 4:00 pm
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
GREENTOWN -- For the last three seasons it has been a tight battle between two Mid-Indiana Conference teams meeting on Friday. The Maconaquah High School Braves travel to play the Eastern High School Comets Friday in a match-up that has been decided by 12 total points in the previous three meetings.
Eastern (3-3), who has not played a game in three weeks, is coming off a solid win against Clinton Central, 82-53. The Comets had four players in double-figures scoring. They were led by Joey Price with 21 points, followed by Dylan Buck who scored 14 points. Also scoring in double-figures was Joby Renbarger with 11 points and Brandon Hainlen with 11 points.
Maconaquah (4-4) is coming off a defeat in the championship game of the Miami County Tournament on Dec. 30 to Peru High School, 59-29. Leading the Braves in scoring was Nick George with 10 points. In the day previous, the Braves defeated North Miami High School, 68-64, to reach the championship game. Against North Miami, George led the Braves with 28 points. The Braves’ Curtis Hyde added 25 points as the team’s second-leading scorer.
In the last three years of this series, defending home court has been an issue for both teams. Last year, Eastern defeated Maconaquah 66-58 in a game that was decided in the final minute at Maconaquah. In 2007, Eastern lost at home to Maconaquah 55-54. In 2006, Maconaquah defended its home court by defeating Eastern 73-70.
Maconaquah coach Lucas Zartman is calling Friday’s game a must win for both teams to compete in the conference race.
“Obviously being a conference game, there is an instant rivalry there,” Zartman said. “We went over to their place two years ago and won by one in a very exciting game. Last year they came here and it was a game that went down to the wire and they were able to pull away with the win last year. The last two years, it has been very competitive, very good ballgames and I expect this year to be no different. For a conference game, it is almost a must-win for each of us in terms of being able to stay toward the top of the conference.”
Both Eastern and Maconaquah have played tough schedules thus far.
For Maconaquah, they handed North Miami its second loss of the season in the Miami County Tournament and, like Eastern, have played 3A’s fourth ranked Peru.
For Eastern, they suffered a tough defeat to county and conference rival Western High School at home, 61-55, on Dec. 11.
The Braves are already within one win of last year’s total of 5.
“Compared to last year, we feel that we are playing much more competitive basketball this year,” Zartman said. “We returned a lot from last year, so we have a lot of experience and we finally have a core group of guys who are beginning to understand varsity basketball and what it takes to be successful.”
Other games Friday (7:30 p.m. starts):
Logansport at Western
Peru at Kokomo
Taylor at Hamilton Heights
Lewis Cass at Tri-Central
Other games Saturday (7:30 p.m. starts):
Kokomo at McCutcheon
West Lafayette at Western
Eastern at Carroll
Northwestern at Clinton Central
Taylor at Mississinewa
Oak Hill at Peru
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
GREENTOWN -- For the last three seasons it has been a tight battle between two Mid-Indiana Conference teams meeting on Friday. The Maconaquah High School Braves travel to play the Eastern High School Comets Friday in a match-up that has been decided by 12 total points in the previous three meetings.
Eastern (3-3), who has not played a game in three weeks, is coming off a solid win against Clinton Central, 82-53. The Comets had four players in double-figures scoring. They were led by Joey Price with 21 points, followed by Dylan Buck who scored 14 points. Also scoring in double-figures was Joby Renbarger with 11 points and Brandon Hainlen with 11 points.
Maconaquah (4-4) is coming off a defeat in the championship game of the Miami County Tournament on Dec. 30 to Peru High School, 59-29. Leading the Braves in scoring was Nick George with 10 points. In the day previous, the Braves defeated North Miami High School, 68-64, to reach the championship game. Against North Miami, George led the Braves with 28 points. The Braves’ Curtis Hyde added 25 points as the team’s second-leading scorer.
In the last three years of this series, defending home court has been an issue for both teams. Last year, Eastern defeated Maconaquah 66-58 in a game that was decided in the final minute at Maconaquah. In 2007, Eastern lost at home to Maconaquah 55-54. In 2006, Maconaquah defended its home court by defeating Eastern 73-70.
Maconaquah coach Lucas Zartman is calling Friday’s game a must win for both teams to compete in the conference race.
“Obviously being a conference game, there is an instant rivalry there,” Zartman said. “We went over to their place two years ago and won by one in a very exciting game. Last year they came here and it was a game that went down to the wire and they were able to pull away with the win last year. The last two years, it has been very competitive, very good ballgames and I expect this year to be no different. For a conference game, it is almost a must-win for each of us in terms of being able to stay toward the top of the conference.”
Both Eastern and Maconaquah have played tough schedules thus far.
For Maconaquah, they handed North Miami its second loss of the season in the Miami County Tournament and, like Eastern, have played 3A’s fourth ranked Peru.
For Eastern, they suffered a tough defeat to county and conference rival Western High School at home, 61-55, on Dec. 11.
The Braves are already within one win of last year’s total of 5.
“Compared to last year, we feel that we are playing much more competitive basketball this year,” Zartman said. “We returned a lot from last year, so we have a lot of experience and we finally have a core group of guys who are beginning to understand varsity basketball and what it takes to be successful.”
Other games Friday (7:30 p.m. starts):
Logansport at Western
Peru at Kokomo
Taylor at Hamilton Heights
Lewis Cass at Tri-Central
Other games Saturday (7:30 p.m. starts):
Kokomo at McCutcheon
West Lafayette at Western
Eastern at Carroll
Northwestern at Clinton Central
Taylor at Mississinewa
Oak Hill at Peru
Kats maintain poise with victory as Shamrocks make second-half comeback
Posted: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 11:45 pm | Updated: 12:13 am, Wed Dec 30, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
From what looked like a blowout, turned into a nail biter for the Kokomo High School Wildkats defeating the Westfield High School Shamrocks 73-65 at Memorial Gym Tuesday.
The first quarter featured six lead changes as Westfield tried to use its size to its advantage with 6’8” senior forward Jeff Howard scored six points and fellow 6’6” senior forward Michael Stockton scored four points in the frame. Kokomo responded with junior forward Parker Salinas scoring six points and sophomore guard Armon Bridgeforth scoring 5 points. The Kats led after the first quarter, 16-14.
The Kats began the second quarter on a 7-0 run to get a seven-point lead at 23-16. Westfield ended the run at 5:40 to go in the quarter when junior guard Maurice Fuller hit a three pointer, but that didn’t phase the Kats as they played team basketball to increase their lead to 13 points in the quarter. If the opening run wasn’t enough, the Kats ended the quarter on another 7-0 run to end the quarter with a 40-29 lead.
The third quarter was not as kind to the Wildkats as Westfield began to close the gap starting the period on a 7-3 run. Little by little the Shamrocks chipped away at the lead as Westfield got Kokomo out of rhythm. The Kats ended the quarter with the lead, 53-47.
The Shamrocks continued its come-back in the fourth quarter, but they could never get the lead. They got as close as one point down 62-62 with 2:02 remaining.
“We can’t let good teams hang around, or better yet, you can’t let good teams get a lead on you like we did,” Westfield coach Eric Rauch said. “We had our opportunities afterwards to close the gap, get it to one. And we just didn’t take advantage of it.”
Just a matter of second later at 1:50 to go Westfield’s Howard fouled out with 11 points. On the inbounds pass after the foul, Kats’ junior forward Cheyse Swain scored a quick layup to increase the lead to three at 64-61 and take all the momentum. Swain saved the momentum as he blocked a Westfield corner three-point shot with a half-minute to go to essentially seal the win for the Kats. From that point on it became a free-throw contest as the Kats defeated the Shamrocks, 73-65.
“We knew it was going to battle and we were going to play for 32 minutes,” Kokomo coach Brian McCauley said. “I am real proud about how our guys maintained their poise and composure. “
The Wildkats had five players scoring in double figures. Salinas led the Kats with 16 points. He was joined by Swain’s 13 points, senior guard T.J. Weir’s 12 points, sophomore guard D.J. Balentine’s 11 points and senior guard Brock Barbary’s 10 points.
The Wildkats dominated the rebounding category by outrebounding the Shamrocks 32-22. Swain led the Kats in rebounds with 11 total, including four offensive rebounds.
“We had the two biggest guys on the floor and we didn’t put a body on people,” Rauch said.
The Shamrocks had three players in double-figures scoring and were led by Fuller’s 21 points. Stockton scored 18 points and Howard scored 11 points.
Howard led Westfield with six rebounds.
The tenth-ranked Wildkats (6-1) next take on the Peru High School Tigers on January 8 at Memorial Gym. Westfield (4-3) next faces Fishers High School on January 8.
Scores by quarter:
Westfield 14 15 18 18 =65
Kokomo 16 24 13 20 =73
Other scores from Tuesday:
McCutcheon 61, Western 58
Maconaquah 68, North Miami 64 (Miami County Tournament)
Peru 52, Whitko 35 (Miami County Tournament)
Wednesday games:
Taylor at Sheridan
Miami County Tournament with Maconaquah and Peru
Hamilton Heights Classic with Hamilton Heights
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
From what looked like a blowout, turned into a nail biter for the Kokomo High School Wildkats defeating the Westfield High School Shamrocks 73-65 at Memorial Gym Tuesday.
The first quarter featured six lead changes as Westfield tried to use its size to its advantage with 6’8” senior forward Jeff Howard scored six points and fellow 6’6” senior forward Michael Stockton scored four points in the frame. Kokomo responded with junior forward Parker Salinas scoring six points and sophomore guard Armon Bridgeforth scoring 5 points. The Kats led after the first quarter, 16-14.
The Kats began the second quarter on a 7-0 run to get a seven-point lead at 23-16. Westfield ended the run at 5:40 to go in the quarter when junior guard Maurice Fuller hit a three pointer, but that didn’t phase the Kats as they played team basketball to increase their lead to 13 points in the quarter. If the opening run wasn’t enough, the Kats ended the quarter on another 7-0 run to end the quarter with a 40-29 lead.
The third quarter was not as kind to the Wildkats as Westfield began to close the gap starting the period on a 7-3 run. Little by little the Shamrocks chipped away at the lead as Westfield got Kokomo out of rhythm. The Kats ended the quarter with the lead, 53-47.
The Shamrocks continued its come-back in the fourth quarter, but they could never get the lead. They got as close as one point down 62-62 with 2:02 remaining.
“We can’t let good teams hang around, or better yet, you can’t let good teams get a lead on you like we did,” Westfield coach Eric Rauch said. “We had our opportunities afterwards to close the gap, get it to one. And we just didn’t take advantage of it.”
Just a matter of second later at 1:50 to go Westfield’s Howard fouled out with 11 points. On the inbounds pass after the foul, Kats’ junior forward Cheyse Swain scored a quick layup to increase the lead to three at 64-61 and take all the momentum. Swain saved the momentum as he blocked a Westfield corner three-point shot with a half-minute to go to essentially seal the win for the Kats. From that point on it became a free-throw contest as the Kats defeated the Shamrocks, 73-65.
“We knew it was going to battle and we were going to play for 32 minutes,” Kokomo coach Brian McCauley said. “I am real proud about how our guys maintained their poise and composure. “
The Wildkats had five players scoring in double figures. Salinas led the Kats with 16 points. He was joined by Swain’s 13 points, senior guard T.J. Weir’s 12 points, sophomore guard D.J. Balentine’s 11 points and senior guard Brock Barbary’s 10 points.
The Wildkats dominated the rebounding category by outrebounding the Shamrocks 32-22. Swain led the Kats in rebounds with 11 total, including four offensive rebounds.
“We had the two biggest guys on the floor and we didn’t put a body on people,” Rauch said.
The Shamrocks had three players in double-figures scoring and were led by Fuller’s 21 points. Stockton scored 18 points and Howard scored 11 points.
Howard led Westfield with six rebounds.
The tenth-ranked Wildkats (6-1) next take on the Peru High School Tigers on January 8 at Memorial Gym. Westfield (4-3) next faces Fishers High School on January 8.
Scores by quarter:
Westfield 14 15 18 18 =65
Kokomo 16 24 13 20 =73
Other scores from Tuesday:
McCutcheon 61, Western 58
Maconaquah 68, North Miami 64 (Miami County Tournament)
Peru 52, Whitko 35 (Miami County Tournament)
Wednesday games:
Taylor at Sheridan
Miami County Tournament with Maconaquah and Peru
Hamilton Heights Classic with Hamilton Heights
Kats look to learn from loss in preparation for Westfield
Posted: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 7:00 am | Updated: 5:08 pm, Mon Dec 28, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Coming off the first loss of the season, the tenth-ranked Kokomo High School Wildkats look to turn that negative into a positive Tuesday when they face the Westfield High School Shamrocks at Memorial Gym.
“We need to make sure that we’re becoming better defensively, but it was a tough loss, but in the sense that we can learn from it,” Kokomo Wildkats coach Brian McCauley said. “It will make us better come tournament time. If we can learn from it, it would be a positive thing.”
Kokomo (5-1) lost to the Noblesville High School Millers 46-52. After being down 40-24 early in the fourth quarter, the Kats went on a 12-0 run to get as close as 40-36. Sophomore guard D.J. Balentine led the Kats with 21 points, 17 of them in the second half.
The Westfield Shamrocks (4-2) are on a three-game winning streak with wins over Lafayette Jeff High School in overtime, Tipton High School and Taylor High School.
“We had a tough game against them last year and they are just a very, very tough inside team,” McCauley said.
The Shamrocks’ Jeff Howard grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 11 points in his last game beating Taylor 55-42. Junior guard Maurice Fuller scored 18 points in the game.
“They just really had their way with Taylor, so they are playing well right now,” he said. “They were able to see us against Noblesville and they have had quite a bit of time off in preparation for us.”
This will be the Kats’ third game during the winter break and the Shamrocks have not played since December 19. McCauley says it has been a transition for the Kats during the late December games.
“We haven’t been in school, so they have had some time off, so that throws off their normal routine,” he said. “And so we are going to really focus in practice to make sure we are prepared for Westfield, who is a dangerous team.”
The Kats are 1-1 all-time against the Shamrocks. Last season, Westfield defeated the Kats 73-68 in overtime. In the 2007-2008 season, the Kats beat Westfield 64-58.
Other games Tuesday:
Western at McCutcheon
Miami County Tournament with Maconaquah and Peru
Other games Wednesday:
Taylor at Sheridan
Miami County Tournament with Maconaquah and Peru
Hamilton Heights Classic with Hamilton Heights
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Coming off the first loss of the season, the tenth-ranked Kokomo High School Wildkats look to turn that negative into a positive Tuesday when they face the Westfield High School Shamrocks at Memorial Gym.
“We need to make sure that we’re becoming better defensively, but it was a tough loss, but in the sense that we can learn from it,” Kokomo Wildkats coach Brian McCauley said. “It will make us better come tournament time. If we can learn from it, it would be a positive thing.”
Kokomo (5-1) lost to the Noblesville High School Millers 46-52. After being down 40-24 early in the fourth quarter, the Kats went on a 12-0 run to get as close as 40-36. Sophomore guard D.J. Balentine led the Kats with 21 points, 17 of them in the second half.
The Westfield Shamrocks (4-2) are on a three-game winning streak with wins over Lafayette Jeff High School in overtime, Tipton High School and Taylor High School.
“We had a tough game against them last year and they are just a very, very tough inside team,” McCauley said.
The Shamrocks’ Jeff Howard grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 11 points in his last game beating Taylor 55-42. Junior guard Maurice Fuller scored 18 points in the game.
“They just really had their way with Taylor, so they are playing well right now,” he said. “They were able to see us against Noblesville and they have had quite a bit of time off in preparation for us.”
This will be the Kats’ third game during the winter break and the Shamrocks have not played since December 19. McCauley says it has been a transition for the Kats during the late December games.
“We haven’t been in school, so they have had some time off, so that throws off their normal routine,” he said. “And so we are going to really focus in practice to make sure we are prepared for Westfield, who is a dangerous team.”
The Kats are 1-1 all-time against the Shamrocks. Last season, Westfield defeated the Kats 73-68 in overtime. In the 2007-2008 season, the Kats beat Westfield 64-58.
Other games Tuesday:
Western at McCutcheon
Miami County Tournament with Maconaquah and Peru
Other games Wednesday:
Taylor at Sheridan
Miami County Tournament with Maconaquah and Peru
Hamilton Heights Classic with Hamilton Heights
Wildkats pounce on Giants in second half, breeze to victory
Posted: Friday, December 18, 2009 11:25 pm | Updated: 11:37 pm, Fri Dec 18, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
After a tight first half, the Kokomo High School Wildkats found their stride in the second half Friday to open a 21-point lead on their way to beating their archrival Marion High School Giants at Memorial Gym, 66-50.
The first quarter featured nine lead changes as the Giants pounded the ball down low to senior forward Davron Williams who scored 11 points in the frame. The Wildkats responded with balanced scoring led by sophomore guard D.J. Balentine and senior guard T.J. Weir with 5 points each. The Giants led after the first quarter, 18-14.
The second quarter began with the Giants turning the ball over to the Kats, which led to the Kats cutting the lead to two points. From the final basket in the first quarter to halfway through the second quarter, the Wildkats went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 18-18. However, the Giants responded to lead at halftime, 28-22, on the backs of Williams adding four more points and junior forward William Barnes with 6 points.
The tide began to turn for Marion in the second half.
The Kats began the third quarter on a 10-0 run to take a lead that they would never relinquish. During the run Balentine scored 6 points off of two 3-point baskets, senior guard Brock Barbary added four points and Weir added two free throws. The Giants did not score until Barnes made a basket three minutes into the period. The Kats dominated the quarter by outscoring the Giants 20-9. Williams, the leading scorer for the Giants in the first half, scored his only point off of a free throw with 1:19 remaining in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Kats continued to apply pressure on the Giants as they grew a 21-point lead through tough defense that led to turnovers. The Kats also penetrated toward the basket to lead to open shots. The Kats were led in scoring in the quarter by Barbury, Weir and junior forward Cheyse Swain with 8 points each.
As an exclamation point to the victory, Balentine tossed an alley-oop to Swain for a slam dunk with just under a minute to the game off of a fast break.
As if the crowd was not already loud, the audience erupted in cheers for the final minute after the dunk.
The Kats went on to defeat the Giants 66-50 for the first time since the 2004-2005 season.
“We really did a good job of taking away Marion’s inside presence and then increasing our ball pressure in the second half and that’s really what turned the game,” Kokomo head coach Brian McCauley said.
The Kats had four players in double-figures scoring. They were led by Barbary and Balentine with 16 points each. They were joined by Weir with 15 points and Swain with 12 points.
Kokomo also set a season high in assists with 15 as a team and were led by Balentine with 7 assists.
“If we can continue to have this kind of balance, we’re an awfully tough team,” McCauley said. “I am really pleased with our ball movement and the way we shared the basketball.”
The Giants were led in scoring by Williams with 24 points and he was the only player in double-figures.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Giants’ Barnes and senior guard Michael Marble shot 54 percent and 40 percent, respectively, beyond the three-point arc. For the game, Marble shot one of seven from three-point range and Barnes was scoreless beyond the arc. Coach McCauley was proud of that fact.
“I was pleased at the way we slowed them down in the post in the second half and I was really proud of our ball pressure and the way we got out on shooters,” he said.
Twelfth-ranked Kokomo in 4A (4-0) travels to Lafayette Jefferson High School to play their former conference foe Bronchos Saturday. Marion next plays the Golden Eagles at Oak Hill High School on December 22.
Kokomo leads the North Central Conference at 2-0. Marion drops to 0-1 in NCC play.
Scores by quarter:
Marion 18 10 9 13 =50
Kokomo 14 8 20 24 =66
Other area scores from Friday:
Hamilton Heights 81, Western 68
Peru 62, Eastern 28
Taylor 50, Lewis Cass 41
Northwestern 68, Maconaquah 54
Saturday’s games:
Kokomo at Lafayette Jeff
Eastern at Clinton Central
Frankfort at Western
Mississinewa at Maconaquah
Noblesville at Hamilton Heights
Northwestern at Pioneer
Rochester at Lewis Cass
Taylor at Westfield
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
After a tight first half, the Kokomo High School Wildkats found their stride in the second half Friday to open a 21-point lead on their way to beating their archrival Marion High School Giants at Memorial Gym, 66-50.
The first quarter featured nine lead changes as the Giants pounded the ball down low to senior forward Davron Williams who scored 11 points in the frame. The Wildkats responded with balanced scoring led by sophomore guard D.J. Balentine and senior guard T.J. Weir with 5 points each. The Giants led after the first quarter, 18-14.
The second quarter began with the Giants turning the ball over to the Kats, which led to the Kats cutting the lead to two points. From the final basket in the first quarter to halfway through the second quarter, the Wildkats went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 18-18. However, the Giants responded to lead at halftime, 28-22, on the backs of Williams adding four more points and junior forward William Barnes with 6 points.
The tide began to turn for Marion in the second half.
The Kats began the third quarter on a 10-0 run to take a lead that they would never relinquish. During the run Balentine scored 6 points off of two 3-point baskets, senior guard Brock Barbary added four points and Weir added two free throws. The Giants did not score until Barnes made a basket three minutes into the period. The Kats dominated the quarter by outscoring the Giants 20-9. Williams, the leading scorer for the Giants in the first half, scored his only point off of a free throw with 1:19 remaining in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Kats continued to apply pressure on the Giants as they grew a 21-point lead through tough defense that led to turnovers. The Kats also penetrated toward the basket to lead to open shots. The Kats were led in scoring in the quarter by Barbury, Weir and junior forward Cheyse Swain with 8 points each.
As an exclamation point to the victory, Balentine tossed an alley-oop to Swain for a slam dunk with just under a minute to the game off of a fast break.
As if the crowd was not already loud, the audience erupted in cheers for the final minute after the dunk.
The Kats went on to defeat the Giants 66-50 for the first time since the 2004-2005 season.
“We really did a good job of taking away Marion’s inside presence and then increasing our ball pressure in the second half and that’s really what turned the game,” Kokomo head coach Brian McCauley said.
The Kats had four players in double-figures scoring. They were led by Barbary and Balentine with 16 points each. They were joined by Weir with 15 points and Swain with 12 points.
Kokomo also set a season high in assists with 15 as a team and were led by Balentine with 7 assists.
“If we can continue to have this kind of balance, we’re an awfully tough team,” McCauley said. “I am really pleased with our ball movement and the way we shared the basketball.”
The Giants were led in scoring by Williams with 24 points and he was the only player in double-figures.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Giants’ Barnes and senior guard Michael Marble shot 54 percent and 40 percent, respectively, beyond the three-point arc. For the game, Marble shot one of seven from three-point range and Barnes was scoreless beyond the arc. Coach McCauley was proud of that fact.
“I was pleased at the way we slowed them down in the post in the second half and I was really proud of our ball pressure and the way we got out on shooters,” he said.
Twelfth-ranked Kokomo in 4A (4-0) travels to Lafayette Jefferson High School to play their former conference foe Bronchos Saturday. Marion next plays the Golden Eagles at Oak Hill High School on December 22.
Kokomo leads the North Central Conference at 2-0. Marion drops to 0-1 in NCC play.
Scores by quarter:
Marion 18 10 9 13 =50
Kokomo 14 8 20 24 =66
Other area scores from Friday:
Hamilton Heights 81, Western 68
Peru 62, Eastern 28
Taylor 50, Lewis Cass 41
Northwestern 68, Maconaquah 54
Saturday’s games:
Kokomo at Lafayette Jeff
Eastern at Clinton Central
Frankfort at Western
Mississinewa at Maconaquah
Noblesville at Hamilton Heights
Northwestern at Pioneer
Rochester at Lewis Cass
Taylor at Westfield
Wildkats show toughness coming into game against rival Marion
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
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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