Kimball girls perfect 6-0 at break

Two more wins for the Kimball High girls over the weekend leaving them at 6-0 going into the Christmas break. With wins at Hershey on Friday night, and at Bayard on Saturday, the Lady Longhorns and coach Chauncey Pedersen have attained their first short term goal of being 6-0 at the break.

On a night when the shots were not falling at Hershey, the Kimball ladies still found a way to win, coming out on top 44-38 against a solid Hershey Panther club, but the Horns had to come from behind to secure the victory after trailing 12-9 at the quarter break and 22-18 at half time. Kimball shot a pitiful 2/18 from the field in the opening period and were 3/17 in the second period leaving them at 5/35 in first half play.

Third quarter play started with Alex Reader hitting a free throw, Danika Daum converted an old fashioned 3 point play, Arica McCloud swished a trey, and Daum took an assist from Alex Reader, was fouled on the made basket, and made another 3 point play. The 10 unanswered points gave Kimball a 28-22 lead and they were on top 36-33 at the end of the third period.

Kimball could have put the game away at the foul line in the final stanza more easily, but struggled at the foul line, as well as from the field , making only 6 of 17 gift shots in the final 8 minutes, but held on for the 6 point margin of victory.

Danika Daum led Kimball scoring with 15 points and had a double-double with 14 rebounds. Madison Biesecker had 11 points hitting 1 trey, pulled 9 rebounds, had 4 assists, and 2 steals. Alex Reader chipped in with 8 points and had 6 rebounds. Arica McCloud had 5 points with a trey, was 2-2 at the line and had 5 rebounds. Myriah Tyan had 3 points and 8 rebounds. Kate Reader hit a pair of free throws for her 2 points.

Kimball held their fouls to 12, had 20 turnovers, were 18/34 from the foul line, 12/59 from the field going 10/37 on 2 point field goals and 2/22 on 3 pointers, had 9 steals, and 7 assists. A positive was rebounding with 20 offensive and 24 defensive boards.

Hershey ended up with 34 rebounds, 20 fouls, were 8/13 at the foul line, 13/55 from the field going 9/37 on 2 point field goals and 4/18 on 3 point attempts. Hannah Johnson was Hershey's only player in double figures with 10.

Coach Pedersen said "We never shoot the ball well here or at Hemingford, but we will take the win. Too many turnovers too."

None the less, the sign of a good team is to win despite those nights when shots are not falling.

Kimball 9 9 18 8 --44

Hershey 12 10 11 5 -- 38

An easier night for Kimball at Bayard as they ran out to an 67-28 win. Daum scored Kimball's first 7 points, had 10 at the quarter break and ended up with 25 to equal her season game average. Kimball jumped out to a first quarter lead of 18-3, were on top 37-10 at half time, and ended in a flourish out scoring the hosts 25-5 in the fourth period.

Kimball was pounding the boards again registering 32 by half time with 16 in each of the first 2 periods, and although the shooting wasn't what coach Pedersen was wanting, it was better. The Horns were 18/27 at the foul line, 23/83 from the field including 20/64 on 2 point field goals, and 3/19 on 3 point tries, had 14 fouls, 15 turnovers, 14 steals, 10 assists, and 3 blocks. High light again was 24 offensive rebounds and 30 defensive boards.

Daum led with her 25 points going 7/9 at the line, had a season best 22 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.

Kate Reader had 13 points and was 5/6 at the line, got her double-double with 11 rebounds. McCloud had 8 points and was 2/3 on trey attempts, along with 4 rebounds,2 steals and 2 assists. Tyan had a solid weekend with 7 points at Bayard along with 10 rebounds. Biesecker finished with 6 points with 1 trey and

led in assists with 5. Kailey Dickerson had 2. Alex Reader 6.

Bayard had 33 rebounds, 19 fouls, were 7/20 at the line, 9/54 on 2 point fielders, and 1/8 on 3 point attempts. No one in double figures for Bayard with Kaylie Fiscus high with 8, and Jessi Smith with 6.

Coach Pedersen still not happy with the turnovers but was happy with the 6 wins and no losses as he put things away for the trip back home. "We will have a practice on Tuesday," he said, "and then we will take the mandatory days off that the state says we must, and then get ready for a lot of tough basketball we have awaiting us."

Kimball returns to play on January 7 at Sidney, travels to Mitchell January 8, and entertains Chase County on January 9, than plays at Potter-Dix on January 12.

Kimball 18 19 15 25 -- 67

Bayard 3 7 13 5 -- 28