The Kimball boys suffered basketball losses to Sutherland and St. Pats this past weekend leaving them at 5 wins and 11 losses. The Horns give good effort each time out but have been going up against some very strong competition with more to come.
On Friday night at Sutherland, the host school won out 55-39 and at home Saturday, Kimball fell to the Irish of North Platte 71-46.
The Sutherland Sailors shot an unbelievable percentage as they were 80% on 3 point attempts making 8 of 10, and were a solid 50% on 2 point field goals making 9 of 18 plus going 13/18 at the line. They were 5/9 in the first quarter from the field going 4/5 on treys, 7/8 in the second period and 3/3 on treys, 5/6 in the third quarter, and 1/1 on treys and at one stretch made 9 straight without a miss. In the 4th quarter they went 0/5 from the field but made 13/18 free throws. They also had 25 rebounds and only 6 fouls. They were led in scoring by Kadin Copeland, a 5'11" junior, who hit 5 treys and was 9/11 at the line and tallied 28 points.
Kimball had 19 fouls, shot 3/6 at the line, 9/29 on 2 point field goals, 6/27 on 3 pointers, had only 16 rebounds, 11 steals, 8 assists, and only 9 turnovers. Michael Ferguson led Kimball scoring with 13 points along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Colton Stull had 11 points with 3 treys, 3 assists and 2 steals. Angel Flores hit a trey and had 5 points, Jaden Withrow a trey and 5 points, Jon Withrow a trey for 3 points plus a team high 5 steals, and Trent Rutledge 2 points.
Score by quarter
Sutherland 14 17 11 13 - 55
Kimball 7 7 13 12 - 39
Like the girls in the game prior to their contest with North Platte St. Pats, the Kimball boys were up against the SPVA Tournament champions, a polished club for certain that played much taller than they actually were. The Irish made few mistakes in their uptempo attack and were strong on the boards with 38 rebounds to Kimball's 16. The winners shot 24/48 on 2 point field goals, 3/9 on 3 pointers, 14/22 at the line, and had 17 fouls.
Kimball had 20 fouls, was 4/10 at the foul line, 12/28 on 2 point field goals, and 6/24 on 3 pointers. They also had 10 steals and 4 assists, and 13 turnovers. No one in double figure scoring for Kimball with Jordan Greenwood going 4/5 from the field for 8 points and Angel Flores 3/6 with 2 treys for his 8 points. Stull had 7 with 2 treys, Ferguson 7, Jaden Withrow 7 with a trey, Jon Withrow 4 with 5 steals, Ethan Land 3 with a trey, and Rutledge 2.
The Irish were led by Andrew O'Neill with 22, Cory Clinch 19, and Bryce Byrn with 14.
The Kimball boys move into Western Trails Conference Tournament play this week with a number 5 seed which sends them to Mitchell tonight (Thursday) to face the number 4 seed Tigers in first round play. The winner of tonight's 6 p.m. contest advances into semi final play at Cougar Palace in Scottsbluff Friday to face number 1 seed Hemingford in a 5:30 p.m. game.
Score by quarter
St. Pats 19 19 16 17 - 71
Kimball 10 9 12 15 - 46