OTTUMWA —
The fourth-ranked Indian Hills basketball team used a successful combination of inside dominance and high-intensity defense to rout Kennedy King College 92-56 Thursday.
The Warriors, for most part, maintained a high-level of defensive pressure throughout the contest and they were handsomely rewarded for their efforts with several easy buckets off of Statesmen turnovers.
“That’s who we are,” coach Barret Peery said. “We have always pressured the ball and trapped the ball and been aggressive that way. That’s who we are, no doubt.”
IHCC successfully got the ball inside to their post players for high-percentage shots early on. Dustin Hogue was especially effective inside in the first half; establishing excellent position down low, which allowed him to score at will. Hogue’s play coupled with press-induced turnovers by Kennedy King helped the Warriors jump out to an early 10-0 lead. Later in half, Hogue, after he got his opponent to bite on a pump fake, buried a mid-range jumper while drawing contact from a defender. He made his free throw to complete the old-fashioned three-point play. When the half approached its halfway mark, IHCC led 25-6.
Justin Moss, who led the Warriors with 19 points, supplied his team with instant offense in the first half and throughout the game. Moments after he banked in a baby hook shot, he picked off pass and took it downcourt for a uncontested one-hand jam. Moss and Hogue remained extremely active inside throughout. Over and over again, they were able to get open and make high-percentage shots around the rim.
“We had a size advantage and we had to take advantage of that,” Peery said. “I think they got the ball a couple of different ways: I thought our guys did a nice job screening and getting them open and then I thought we really drove the ball and shared it. I thought those guys had some really good finishes around the rim, though.”
IHCC’s full-court press — as well as their halfcourt traps — continued to cause the Statesmen to turn the ball over.
“It tires teams out and gets us going,” Gary Ross said about the press. “It screws teams up and makes them do stuff they don’t normally do.”
But Kennedy King (2-4) did manage to make a run more than halfway through the half. Devonn Gavin, who scored 10 of the Statesmen’s first 13 points, spearheaded the rally; burying two 3-pointers and banking in a mid-range jumper. Kennedy’s Frank Williams (there were two people named Frank Williams on the court during some of the contest) got in on the act with a couple of buckets inside. The Statesmen trimmed IHCC’s lead down to 11 at one point, but that’s the closest they would get. The Warriors led 41-27 at the half.
IHCC came out with renewed intensity to start the second half. Jelan Kendrick beat his opponent off the dribble for an easy layup. Then Jameel McKay, who finished with a quiet 10 points, got an easy dunk off a Kennedy turnover that was caused by the Warriors full-court press. After another Statesmen turnover, Kendrick drove into the lane for a bucket.
The Warriors continued to pour it on as the game progressed. McKay forced a turnover and fed Frank Williams, who finished the break with a forceful one-hand jam that upped IHCC’s lead to 59-34 with 12:25 left. Moments later, Hogue finished strong inside with a rim-rattling dunk.
The Warriors’ dominance inside opened the things up for IHCC’s guards to get in on the act. Trinson White, who finished with 12 points, finished off a couple of breaks with transition buckets and Ronald Ross buried a couple of three-pointers.
“That’s the in and out game that we work on,” Ross said.
Hogue posted a double-double, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
With the win, the Warriors improved to 5-0. They play at Salt Lake Community College next Tuesday.
IHCC 92, Kennedy King 56
Kennedy King (56) — Devonn Gavin 15, Corday Sims 14, Williams 9, Anthony Pierce 6, Ramone Ajose 6, Leavon Head 4, Torin Washington 2, Total — 16-54 FG, 18-26 FT 56.
3-point goals — 6-18 (Gavin 2-3). Fouled out — Gavin, Demarkus Smith. Rebounds — 35 (Williams 8). Assists — 14 (Smith 4). Steals — 11 (Gavin 5 [1 tech]). Blocks — 2. Total fouls — 24. Turnovers — 24.
IHCC (92) — Justin Moss 19, Dustin Hogue 18, Jelan Kendrick 12, Trinson White 12, Jameel McKay 10, Frank Williams 7, Gary Ross 6, Ronnie Stevens 5, Martin Dixon-Green 2, Majok Deng 0. Total — 35-65 FG, 18-32 FT, 92.
3-point goals — 4-15 (Ross 2-3). Fouled out — Stevens. Rebounds — 46 Hogue (10). Assists — 27 (Hogue 6, Ross 5, McKay 5). Steals — 15 (Kendrick 4). Blocks — 3 (Deng 2). Total fouls — 21. Turnovers — 18.
Halftime Score — IHCC 41, Kennedy King 27
Sports
November 15, 2012
Blowout Win! Warrior big men spearhead rout
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