Published: December 21, 2007 11:54 pm            

BOYS BB: Wildkats don’t take advantage of charity

Kokomo goes cold at the line in loss at North Central.

INDIANAPOLIS — North Central’s boys basketball team was in a giving mood Friday night. Unfortunately, the Kokomo Wildkats were unable to capitalize on the host Panthers’ generosity.

North Central sent Kokomo to the foul line 29 times on the night and two of its main players fouled out, but the Wildkats only connected on 12 of those attempts. When combined with a cold third quarter that produced just six points it all added up to a 68-58 loss to a team Kokomo outplayed for most of the night.

“I really appreciated our effort, but in the end it was obvious: missed free throws and turnovers did us in,” said Kokomo coach Brian McCauley. “We turned the ball over too many times in the third quarter and didn’t get offensive rebounds. That led to North Central getting the ball in transition and scoring. As for free throws we have to get more comfortable at the line. We’ve got to work on our concentration, form, and technique and just continue to focus on them in practice.”

While the Panthers (3-2) lost quite a bit off of last season’s Class 4A state runner-up squad in the person of Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon, there is still plenty of talent in the cupboard for Doug Mitchell’s squad. For most of Friday night, however, it was Kokomo in control.

Thanks to a pair of baskets from C.J. Reeves off the bench and three 3-pointers from Colton Summers and T.J. Weir, the Kats built a 17-11 lead with a little more than a minute left in the period.

That is when Eric Gordon’s brother Evan Gordon caused some disruption with a pair of steals that lead to a 6-0 run to close the quarter. Damon Ellison’s steal and score with three seconds left made it 17-17 after one.

Kokomo’s free throw struggles began in earnest in the second period as the Kats got to the line nine times, but connected on just four attempts. Fortunately for Kokomo, North Central turned the ball over 10 times in the half and Kokomo was able to hold a 30-27 lead at the half.

“We did a good job of executing our gameplan in the first quarter and we played outstanding defense by holding them to just 10 points in the second,” said McCauley. “Jacob Blackamore played on the offensive glass with a lot of effort and C.J. Reeves did a nice job off the bench.”

The Wildkats (2-3) scored the first three points of the second half to hold a 33-27 lead with 7:05 left in the third. That is when North Central took control and Kokomo’s free-throw struggles truly came to light. The Panthers went on an 18-2 run over the next five minutes to get back on top and take firm control. Kokomo hit on just two of nine free throws in the quarter, and when Patrick Hopkins picked up his fourth foul with 5:10 left, North Central took full advantage of his absence in the post.

Six-foot-nine Chris Toler scored all five of his points in the third quarter, but it was his defense that made the difference. The big man protected the rim like a volleyball net, re-directing six Wildkat shots harmlessly away while his mere presence made several Kokomo players think twice on drives in the paint.

Meanwhile guards Troy Corley and Terone Johnson steadily paced the Nroth Central offense, and used their athleticism to create havoc on defense. Johnson led all scorers with 18 points, but it was a quiet 18 as his scoring was spread evenly throughout the game. When he wasn’t contributing key points it was Corley, who finished with 17, making the difference, often from long range as he connected on three triples. They also combined for four steals , and their trapping style forced Kokomo into numerous turnovers.

Kokomo fared much better in the final period, but was unable to close within six as Johnson and Corley scored 15 of North Central’s 23 points in the quarter. The duo was also 10 of 13 from the line on the night.

“We’ve really made some strides and shown some growth first by learning in a game at Muncie Central, then battling the number one team in the state in Marion last week,” said McCauley. “[Friday] night was our best effort yet against a top-15 team in 4A on the road. Our poor stretches in games are decreasing and playing with these tough teams will only increase our confidence.”

T.J. Weir led Kokomo with 13 points and Hopkins scored 11. Colton Summers was also in double figures with 10, and both Tyrone Brown and Reeves had eight points off the bench.

The Wildkats have a quick turnaround, hosting winless Westfield tonight in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

        

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