Kokomo downed Jefferson, fell to Harrison on strong starter performances
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On paper, it looked like the Kokomo Wildkats didn’t stand a chance in the IHSAA Sectional. The boys’ varsity basketball team, hampered by injury and playing all season as if it had a short bench, seemed outmatched by a 16-win Lafayette Jefferson team riding an eight-game winning streak.
It had taken overtime for the Wildkats to down the Bronchos in the regular season on Jan. 30, when Lafayette Jeff played only its five starters for the entire game. Whether that influenced Coach Drew Schauss’ decision limit his own roster on March 6 is irrelevant, as the strategy worked, at least for one game.
The Wildkats came out hard, played their best defense of the season, and prevailed 46-33 over their North Central Conference rivals. And only the five starters ever stepped onto the court. Kokomo’s first man off the bench, Daniel Gak came down with an injury before the game.
Scoring was at a premium for both teams, as Kokomo took just 30 shots at the hoop while limiting Jeff to 40 attempts. The key was accuracy. The Kats hit more than 50 percent from the field while holding their opponents to just a 35-percent success rate.
That tenacity showed in the box score. Only one Broncho reached double digits, their leading scorer Cristian Olson, who was limited to 11 points. Olson spent most of the night beyond the arc, firing fruitlessly with Kokomo players challenging nearly every shot.
Instead, it was Kokomo that outhustled the competition, extending its lead in every frame and commanding the game almost from the outset. Korbyn Hammel and his distinctive red hair skittered across the court to lead the offense, dropping 14 points on the Bronchos and cementing his place in Wildkats basketball history. He passed Kokomo great and coaching legend Charlie Hall on the school’s all-time scoring list, claiming seventh place on that list.
Sophomore Austin Moos added 13 points and three key steals to help power the team to victory, while senior Caleb Taflinger contributed 10 points to go with seven rebounds. Senior Jamael Cosley had eight boards for the Wildkats and three blocks. Junior Erivon Burks managed four points and a pair of assists.
The way the Kats won, grinding out a win without a substitution, may have played a role in the team’s effort to win the IHSAA sectional title the following night. Facing a Harrison team that had prevailed against them on Jan. 16, Kokomo couldn’t keep pace with hot shooting from the Raiders’ Brody Baker and Quinn Clary, who scored all but six off their team’s points in a 59-56 win.
Still, Kokomo had a chance to force overtime against Harrison, as a last-ditch bomb from Hammel fell just short as time expired. He again led the Kats with 14 points on the night, joined by 12 from Moos and 11 from Taflinger.
Kokomo finished its season with an 18-7 record and a North Central Conference title.
See additional photos from the Kokomo/Lafayette Jefferson game, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, including a gallery featuring the cheerleaders, the bench, and the crowd, on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.