BY DAVE KITCHELL
For the past 31 years, the taste of Thanksgiving turkey for boys basketball players and coaches at Western and Kokomo has depended greatly on what happened the previous night.
Since the fall of 1978, these two programs have met in the unofficial tip-off of Howard County basketball. They’ll do it again tonight at Memorial Gymnasium with the first shot likely to go up around 7:30.
Both coaches enjoy the competition and friendship. Wildkat coach Brian McCauley served on Western coach Andy Weaver’s staff for three seasons and they remain close.
“I think both teams are ready for a game,” said McCauley. “I know Western will be excited, as will our kids. Especially now with texting and Facebook, the kids know each other and there are a lot of friendships there. Western has become very competitive in recent years and the rivalry has grown.”
This marks the 58th meeting of the squads and while Kokomo leads the series 51-6, that hardly tells the story of recent history. Over a stretch from 2003-2007, Western won three of five games and Kokomo’s two wins were by margins of one and two points. It wasn’t until last year the Kats distanced themselves from their county foes, winning 84-55.
Weaver looks at the game as a measuring stick.
“Kokomo is a great first game for us because there’s no fool’s gold — you get to see exactly where you stand,” he said. “We’ve had some success at times against Kokomo, we’ve lost a couple close games, and let’s face it, last year we got blown out. But no matter, you come out of a game against Kokomo battle tested and knowing exactly what you need to work on for that second game.
“Last year, after getting blown out, it really opened our eyes to some things and we were able to string four wins in a row.
“It’s a lot of hype being the opener, Kokomo-Western [rivalry] and all that,” he continued, “but it gets us ready for the rest of the season. We’ll come out of the game with a laundry list of things to do to get ourselves ready for three conference games in December [Northwestern, Eastern and Hamilton Heights].”
Kokomo likewise heads into a meat grinder. After playing at Fishers, the Kats jump right into North Central Conference play at Muncie Central Dec. 11 before hosting defending NCC champ and Class 4A No. 8-ranked Marion on Dec. 18.
Both teams were hit hard by graduation. Kokomo lost three players who were their top scorers and rebounders. Western is without its top two scorers and No. 1 rebounder from last season’s Mid-Indiana Conference championship squad.
Western will relay on returning starters Matt Reida and Jamal Johnson, at least in the early going. The 6-foot senior guard Reida averaged 11.1 points and an area best 4.3 assists per game. Johnson (6-3) turned in a good second half of the season last year and will be counted upon to provide scoring and board work.
Veteran guard T.J. Weir is the only Kokomo player returning who started against Western a year ago, but several, including 6-3 Brock Barbary, logged valuable minutes for last season’s sectional champions.
Weaver expects Kokomo’s perimeter game and athleticism to be challenging.
“We have to take good care of the basketball,” Weaver stressed. “Kokomo will pressure the basketball and we have to be able to handle that. The board will also be important. We can’t outjump them, so we’re going to have to root them out and get to the basketball.”
McCauley mentioned Reida in his pre-game remarks, noting his consistency and toughness and McCauley voiced concern about Western’s size that includes three players taller than any Wildkat.
“We have to make sure we’re contesting shots because Western has some very good outside shooters,” McCauley said. “It’s important we limit their dribble penetration and obviously we have to have a collective effort on the boards. Everyone has to rebound.”
Also tonight
Eastern opens at home against Frankton. The Comets beat the Eagles 43-38 last season. The Comets went on to finish with an 11-11 record, snapping a streak of 17 straight losing seasons. The Eagles finished 8-14.
In the annual Pilgrim Cup, Class 2A No. 2-ranked Tipton visits Tri-Central. Tipton ripped TC 83-44 last season for its second straight win in the rivalry series.
In perhaps the best matchup of the night, Class 3A No. 6 Peru visits Class 2A No. 7 Southwood. The Bengal Tigers had a 19-5 record last season while the Knights went 14-8 — and both teams return almost all of their players.
Also tonight, Cass visits North Miami, and Carroll visits Delphi.
Today’s boys games:
JV games at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted
• Western at Kokomo
• Frankton at Eastern
• Cass at North Miami
• Tri-Central at Tipton
• Peru at Southwood
• 6:30 — Carroll at Delphi
