Two years ago, in Jason Snyder’s first season as coach of the Kokomo girls basketball team, the first loss he experienced in Memorial Gymnasium was to McCutcheon, 46-44.
About three weeks later, Snyder’s Kats got even. In the semifinal of the Class 4A Logansport Sectional, Kokomo beat McCutcheon in yet another close game that over the years has become typical in this rivalry.
Three weeks ago, the Mavericks staged a come-from-behind victory over the Kats and yes — the score was again 46-44. Friday night at the McCutcheon Sectional, the Kats will again have the opportunity to avenge that loss.
It will be Kokomo (10-8) taking on McCutcheon (11-10) in the 6 o’clock opener, followed by the Lafayette (17-4) vs. Logansport (17-4) nightcap. The championship is set for 7:30 Saturday.
Snyder sees the state’s No. 2 highest scoring team Lafayette Jeff (80.3) as the tourney favorite, but expects three competitive games this weekend.
“Jeff is the highest ranking team — that is they’ve been in and out of the rankings all season,” said Snyder. “But there are opportunities for all four teams. It’s a matter of who best can hide their weaknesses and accentuate their positives.”
Lafayette boasts of the Richardson sisters — Charae and Brandi — who combined average 40 points a game. Toss in Channie Williams, who averages 13.2 points, and it’s easily to see the kind of firepower Jeff offers.
As a team, Kokomo hit 60 3-point shots this season. Just the top trio of Jeff’s top scorers accounted for 119 3-point baskets. Jeff did not play Logansport during the season, but beat McCutcheon twice and Kokomo once (76-57).
Logansport shares the lofty 17-4 record with Jeff, but didn’t play near the quality schedule that the Broncos did. The Berries will count on forward Jasmine Penny (21.2 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) to lead the way. Logansport’s post-season hopes took a hit at mid-season when senior at No. 2 scorer Lindsay Rich suffered a torn ACL.
Of course for Kokomo, it’s a matter of getting past McCutcheon before having the opportunity to play either Jeff or Logansport. Snyder knows he needs his team’s best performances to win the school’s 21st sectional over the past 28 years.
“We’re continuing to get better, but we definitely haven’t hit our peak yet,” Snyder said. “We hope to play our best basketball of the season this weekend.”
Inexperience and injuries have played a part in what Snyder called an up and down season. Sophomore Kelly Hopkins was the only returning starter from last year’s sectional championship team, while Clarissa Woodard and Abby Hemmeger were among the top backup players. This team is still young too — its first seven players in minutes-played are underclassmen.
“We didn’t have a lot of varsity experience back and then we had the injury bug hit,” Snyder said. “We had at least one of our top seven players out of the lineup until the last two games, so it’s just now that we have everyone available.”
One team strength is a balanced scoring attack. Skylarr Shurn, the squad’s top 3-point shooter at 39 percent, leads with a 12.7 scoring average. Hopkins (12.2) and Woodard (11.1) account for much of Kokomo’s inside scoring and the pair have nearly identical rebound averages of just over seven per outing. The 6-foot-3 sophomore Hopkins also averages 2.3 blocks. Shurn leads in assists (2.7) and at 5-7, lands an impressive 5.3 rebounds per outing. Hemmeger averages 6.3 points, 5.1 boards and leads the team in steals (2.3).
Like Kokomo, McCutcheon offers balanced scoring. Sophomore Jessica Valley averages 11 points per game, followed by Kelsey Rummel (8.5) and Lakan Smith (7.6).
In the regular season game with McCutcheon, Kokomo lost a 14-point second half lead en route to that 46-44 loss. He hopes lessons were learned.
“We have to make sure we are playing together and playing great defense,” he said. “We especially have to limit their guard penetration that could get them baskets or to the free throw line.”
Class 4A sectional:
At McCutcheon
Tuesday
Lafayette Jeff 58, Harrison 25
Friday
6 p.m. — Kokomo at McCutcheon
7:45 p.m. — Lafayette Jeff vs. Kokomo
Saturday
7:30 p.m. — Championship
Sports
Lady Kats gear up for rematch with Mavericks
Kokomo begins sectional play Friday night
- Sports
-
-
Western girls put defensive clamps on West Lafayette
Western opened its postseason by putting on a defensive clinic against host West Lafayette Wednesday night in a Class 3A Sectional opening round game.
-
Rival Berries visit Kokomo
Muncie Central has the North Central Conference boys basketball championship in sight. The Class 3A No. 2-ranked Bearcats are 5-0 in league play with games remaining against second-division squads Anderson and Marion.
-
Black takes spot among Taylor’s elite
Growing up, Mone’y Black always saw herself as a softball player first.
She was Taylor’s go-to player for the large portions of her career on the basketball and volleyball courts, but her first love was the diamond.
-
Kats lose heartbreaker
Kokomo’s girls basketball team executed its game plan to near perfection against host Logansport in the first game of the Class 4A Logansport Sectional Tuesday.
-
Tipton races by Taylor
Over the last two seasons, Tipton’s girls basketball team has been held under 40 points in just three games.
Tuesday’s sectional opponent — Taylor — held the Blue Devils down in two of those games. Tuesday was a different story.
-
It’s tourney time
In the girls basketball regular season, Tipton and Logansport compiled gaudy records and conference championships while Taylor and Kokomo finished with sub-.500 records.
-
What a kick for Hoosier native Weatherford
Indianapolis — While Steve Weatherford celebrated with his teammates in the New York Giants’ locker room after the 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, thoughts inevitably turned to Terre Haute — his hometown.
-
Ice baths can improve your health
Several years ago, I applied to be a participant in the weekly television show “Survivor.” Disappointingly, I was rejected.
-
Wiechmann comes up big in regional
Western senior wrestler Jake Wiechmann had lost twice this season to Kokomo standout Fletcher Miller, and was trailing 3-1 to Miller in the third period of the championship of the 182-pound match at the Peru Regional Saturday when the opportunity for vengeance struck.
-
Wildkat wrestlers move nine onto Ft. Wayne semistate
The Kokomo Wildkats’ bus will need just a little bit more gas than usual next weekend to haul its cargo up to Fort Wayne for Saturday’s individual wrestling semistate at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
- More Sports Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
