| IN MEMORY OF COACH JESSE DUNN |
| KHS ATHLETICS SPONSORS |
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| 'KATS GRIND OUT TOUGH ROAD WIN |
| It was a night when the temperature inside, nearly matched the temperature outside, and the shooting percentages for both sides would show that. Kokomo found a way to scrap and claw its way to a win, earning it's 7th victory of the season in Fort Wayne over the Lady Chargers of Carroll in a low scoring defensive slugfest, 33-27. The teams combined to go 1-24 from 3pt range on the night where both teams would finish below 30% in field goal shooting percentage, but the 'Kats would find a way to attack the basket which led to an advantage at the free-throw line. Kokomo ended up making more free-throws than Carroll attempted (9 made vs. 5 shot) and the result is a tough 7 point road win. Jordan Johnson led the 'Kats with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals on the night. Anastacia Kirby added 8 points and 8 boards. Lisa Hopkins had a big game inside slowing down the interior of the Carroll attack, she finished with 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Kendra Ryker found herself in severe foul trouble all night long but netted 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Bri Poe returned to action for the first time in months and scored her first field goal during a clutch stretch that saw Kokomo seize control of the game and take a 27-15 lead. The 'Kats get back into North Central Conference action on Saturday against Richmond (6-5, 1-2 NCC) in a 12:00 JV start with Varsity to follow at approximately 1:30pm. |
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| 'KATS CANNOT OVERCOME MISCUES |
| Anytime you have 30 turnovers and shoot 4-11 from the free-throw line in the second half, you will usually have an ugly loss on your hands. Yesterday was not much different, except this year, the Lady Kats have been much more aggressive and have become a team of "fighters" that is developing that toughness that makes them tough to beat. Despite all the negatives, Kokomo battled all the way to the buzzer against a very talented Richmond squad in a very tough 59-57 loss at home. The game was one that had a lot of "runs"...the 'Kats got off to a great start leading 16-8 after one quarter and really dominate action in the first half. The only thing killing Kokomo was turnovers were beginning to mount, and once again foul trouble saw the opponents shooting free throws early in the half. The free-throw line kept Richmond in the game until they hit a running 28 foot bomb just before the halftime buzzer...that shot would fuel a big run. Coming out of the half, Richmond would continue the momentum and outscore the 'Kats 15-3 in that run taking a comfortable lead. Kokomo then battled back to reclaim a 5 point lead, and the back and forth battle continued all they way through the game. In the final analysis, Richmond hit 76% of their free throws in the 2nd half and Kokomo hit 36% and that is all that mattered. Jordan Johnson had a monster game for the 'Kats with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists. Anastcia Kirby also showed up, especially in 2nd half, and finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 asists. It was just too hard to overcome the 30 turnovers and the free-throw misses when it was all said and done, but this 'Kats team refuses to lay down....they fight to the buzzer and that is a positive. Kokomo gets a chance to get that bad taste out of their mouth when Lafayette Jeff comes in on Tuesday night. |
| MID-GAME DROUGHT DOES 'KATS IN |
| If the Richmond game was frustrating to the fans this past Saturday, the 'Kats found a way to double that frustration in the middle two quarters of last nights game with Lafayette Jeff. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters, Kokomo combined for just 9 points while Lafayette Jeff surged to an 18 point lead. A visibly frustrated Coach Snyder had called another time-out to try and instill some electricity into what had been a lifeless performance by Kokomo. It must've worked. This team full of hard-nosed fighters took the challenge and got after Lafayette Jeff for the last 10 minutes of the game. One possession at a time, the 'Kats got stops and chipped away at the lead. After the lead shrunk to 10, Kokomo got a couple 3 pointers to drop, and just like that it was back to a 6 point game with just over 2:00 to play. The Kokomo surge caused Jeff to panic and just when Kokomo got the missed free-throws that they needed to cut the lead even more...we failed to get the offensive rebound on 2 straight (front end) misses. The lead went from 6 points back to 8 after the offensive rebound on the first one, and went from 8 points to 11 after a 3-pointer was hit following the second miss. That proved to be the difference in the game. A game that Kokomo just disappeared for the entire middle of the game, and showed up with a furious vengeance in the 4th quarter, but you cannot spot good teams a lead of that magnitude and expect to win. Very little time to lick your wounds...the LadyKats open the boys/girls doubleheader against New Castle at 6:30 on Friday night. |
| SOLID EFFORT ALL AROUND IN 'KATS WIN! |
| The past two home games for Kokomo have been forgettable to say the least. Second half and in particular the fourth quarter turnovers doomed the 'Kats against Richmond. Then last Tuesday night a horrendous 2nd/3rd quarter spelled the demise of a lethargic LadyKat team. Coming into tonights girl/boy double-header with New Castle, the LadyKats truly needed to have a game to erase the past. Against a Lady Trojan team that was loaded with good shooting guards, Kokomo would have to turn to its advantages...size and rebounding to combat the perimeter attack. It worked like a charm. Kokomo hounded New Castle's offense all night long and held the Trojans to 3 second quarter points in building a 12 point half-time lead. Brayana Fowler came off the bench to spark the 'Kats in the first half with 7 huge points. Anastacia Kirby had a big half as well on her way to another double-double. In the 3rd quarter, New Castle trapped Kokomo into a few quick turnovers and cut the lead to 7 before Jasmine Love had a quick 5 points, and Arienne Beard struck for a couple of critical 3pointers to push the lead out. The Ladykats had a balanced attack all the way up and down the stat sheet. Each and every LadyKat that dressed got into the game and made significant contributions in the win. Some were offensive, the others made their mark by locking down the New Castle guards. When it was all said and done, it was just a great all-around effort by the Kokomo LadyKats and pushed their record to 8-7. The road gets a little tougher now...next Thursday the 'Kats head to McCutcheon for a showdown with the #5 Lady Mavericks. TO READ THE KOKOMO TRIBUNE GAME RECAP, CLICK ON PICTURE ON LEFT |
