Kimball boys get 2 wins for the week

The Kimball High boys won two out of three of their basketball encounters this past week to run their season record to 5 and 7 prior to Monday's SPVA Tournament loss to Bridgeport.

Last week, the Longhorns picked up a 56-42 win over Potter-Dix on Tuesday, lost at Bridgeport 57-48, and won at Gordon-Rushville 54-43. Coach Luke Dea and his staff have seen their crew battle hard each time out but find the going tough when they face the taller clubs on the schedule.

Kimball led at all quarter breaks in their game with visiting Potter-Dix and matched up better size wise with the Coyotes. Tyler Magninie, facing his former team mates after transferring to Kimball, got the Horns started with a pair of treys early and Ethan Land converted a 4 point play after being fouled on a converted 3 point field goal to put Kimball on top 12-9 at the quarter break. Both teams battled even in the second period to leave Kimball on top 22-19 at half time. Both clubs scored 12 points in the third period to keep it at a 3 point margin going into the final quarter of play where Kimball surged ahead outscoring the visitors 22 to 11 for the final tally of 56-42.

Colton Stull led Kimball with 12 points going 3/5 on 3 point attempts. He also charted 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists. Magninie had 11 hitting 3 of his 4 shots from beyond the arc. Land finished with 10 points and was 3/6 on trey attempts as this trio accounted for all 9 of Kimball's 3 point field goals. Angel Flores had 8 points and was 8/10 at the foul line. He led the team in steals with 7 and dished out 3 assists. Michael Ferguson had 7 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block. Enrique Cajero had 6 points and Jon Withrow 2 to round out Kimball scoring.

In team stats, the Horns pulled half as many rebounds as the Coyotes with 23 while Potter-Dix had 46 total. Kimball had 14 fouls, 13 turnovers, was 13/24 at the line, 17/53 from the field going 9/21 on 3 pointers, had 15 steals, 13 assists, and 1 blocked shot. Potter-Dix had 19 fouls, was 8/16 at the line, 17/60 from the field with no 3 pointers going 0 for 10. Cameron Purcell and Trace Sharman shared scoring honors for the Coyotes with 11 each, Trevor Harms had 7, Jake Johnson 5, Kelsey Rozelle 4, and Cole Christensen 4.

Score by quarter

Kimball 12 10 12 22 - 56

Potter-Dix 9 10 12 11 - 42

The Horns made a run at the much taller Bridgeport club but came up short, (no pun intended). A good shooting night for Magninie as he led Kimball with 21 points hitting 3 treys and going 4/4 at the foul line. Coach Dea used 10 players with 8 getting in on the scoring including Ferguson with 7, Trent Rutledge 5, Jon Withrow and Jaden Withrow both with 4 each, Angel Flores 3, Jordan Greenwood 2, and Ethan Land 2.

In team stats Kimball had 21 fouls, 19 turnovers, 11 steals, 7 assists, were 10/13 at the foul line, 16/60 from the field including 6/19 on 3 point attempts, had 12 offensive and 14 defensive rebounds for 26 total.

Bridgeport had 36 rebounds, 15 fouls, was 13/21 at the line, 21/50 from the field going 1/14 on 3 pointers. Wyatt Pankowski, 6'3" junior, had 16 points, Quentin Baxter, 6'5" junior, had 14, Andrew Nelson, 6'5" junior, had 10, Jason Amateis 8, and John Pappas, 6'5" junior, had 8.

Score by quarter

Bridgeport 12 12 17 16 - 57

Kimball 7 8 16 17 - 48

Kimball matched up good again at Rushville on Saturday night and size does make a difference as both teams tallest player was 6'3" in the starting lineups. The Horns led at all quarter breaks and had 9 players score in the win led by Ferguson with 15 as he went 6/11 from the field and.3/5 at the line. Fergie also had 9 rebounds, and 3 steals in a solid performance. Magninie had 9, Flores 7 plus 5 assists, 5 steals, and 4 rebounds. stull had 7, Jaden Withrow 5, Jon Withrow 4 along with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists. Greenwood 3, Rutledge 2 with 5 rebounds, and Cajero 2.

In team stats Kimball had 15 fouls, 14 turnovers, was 7/13 at the line, 21/54 from the field going 5/14 on 3 pointers, had 32 rebounds with 11 offensive and 21 defensive, 12 steals, and 11 assists.

Gordon-Rushville had 17 fouls, 27 rebounds, was 5/14 at the line, 17/44 from the field including 4/18 from 3 point range. Top scorers for the Mustangs were Ryan Schwarting with 19 as he hit on 4 treys, and Morgan Hurlbut with 7.

Score by quarter

Kimball 14 12 16 12 - 54

G-R 10 12 10 11 - 42

Coach Luke Dea said, "It helps a lot when we can match up in height with our opponents as then we can play more man to man defense and do things we find hard to do against the taller teams we have faced."