No. 3 KCC men earn holiday
Saturday, 15 December 2018 23:21 Jim Ecker
Happy holidays, Eagles.
The third-ranked Eagles spanked John Wood, 86-70, in a non-conference game at Johnson Hall Saturday to head into the holiday break with an 11-2 overall record.
Kirkwood will not play again until Jan. 5 and will not practice again for two weeks. Coach Bryan Petersen thinks his guys have earned a respite from the physical and mental grind of a long season.
"I think we've learned a lot about our team this first semester," he said. "There are some good things, but we also know our weaknesses.
"The 11-and-2 record is great, (but) a 2-and-0 record in league play is the most important thing right now."
Kirkwood got off to a slow start Saturday and trailed by 10 points at 17-7 with 14:24 left in the first half, but they gradually got cooking from there.
The Eagles finished the first half with a 15-4 spurt for a 39-34 lead at the break, then began the second half with an 18-2 surge to take control at 57-36. All told, it amounted to an impressive 33-6 run during a 10-minute span.
"Taking a lead going into halftime was huge," said Petersen. "We put ourselves in position to come out in the second half and make a run and spread it out a little bit."
Kirkwood scored in bunches to start the second half. Allante Pickens got it started with a 3-pointer, then Connor Kasperbauer joined the fun by hitting three triples during a five-minute span. Doug Wilson provided an old-fashioned three-pointer with a bucket and free throw and the Eagles were free and clear.
The bulge reached 30 points at 78-48 with 8:12 left in the ballgame.
"It was a good win right before the break," said Petersen. "Obviously that's what you want to do. These games are tough, when you don't have class and the guys are getting ready to go home."
Wilson led Kirkwood with 20 points. Pickens finished with three 3-pointers and 11 points. Kasperbauer scored 10 points. Kyle Arrington finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Luke Appel provided nine rebounds, eight points and three assists. Seybian Sims had seven rebounds and four assists.
Cory Miller Jr. scored 11 points for John Wood (5-7). Kirkwood defeated the Blazers, 82-63, Nov. 17 on the road and swept the season series.
JOHN WOOD (70): Easter 2 0-5 4, Rumbo 2 2-2 7, Cramsey 1 0-1 2, Miller 4 1-1 11, Bottorff 2 2-2 6, Whiteman 1 0-0 3, Talton 0 4-4 4, Jackson 1 1-3 3, Morrison 3 0-0 6, Billings 1 7-10 9, Bevans 2 2-2 6, Gadeke 3 0-0 7, Jefferson 1 0-1 2. Totals 23 19-31 70.
KIRKWOOD (86): Sims 1 0-0 2, Pickens 4 0-2 11, Kasperbauer 3 1-2 10, Wilson 7 6-8 20, Appel 4 0-1 8, Thedford 1 0-0 2, Dee 2 1-4 6, Clark 0 0-0 0, Stephenson 3 0-1 7, Biernacki 1 0-0 2, Gosnell 3 1-2 8, Arrington 2 6-7 10. Totals 31 15-27 86.
Halftime - Kirkwood 39, John Wood 34. 3-point goals - John Wood 5 (Miller 2, Rumbo 1, Whiteman 1, Gadeke 1), Kirkwood 9 (Pickens 3, Kasperbauer 3, Dee 1, Stephenson 1, Gosnell 1).
