Yellowjackets move to 2-0
Kingfisher smothers Chisholm shooting in 62-49 victory
JHETT BIRDWELL had 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the Jackets’ win at Chisholm last Friday. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
The next evolution for the Kingfisher boys basketball team is not to just build a lead, but keep it late.
Maybe even extend it. Or, as coach Colby Connel said: “We’ve got to learn to put our foot down when we’ve got them down.”
Despite some late faults, KHS still did plenty of good last Friday night in downing Chisholm 62-49 on the road.
The good? There was defense as KHS held Chisholm to sub-30 percent shooting.
There was also the rebounding. The Jackets dominated the glass 37-25.
And there was the offense, too. Kingfisher shot 50 percent for the game and outscored Chisholm 21-12 from 3-point range.
All of those factors helped Kingfisher stake a 47-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter, one that hit a 20-point advantage when Hayes White knocked down a jumper with 7:02 to play.
Following is when some of the “not so good” took place.
Chisholm quickly answered with an 8-0 run to cut its deficit to a dozen.
The Jackets didn’t help themselves by committing half of their 18 turnovers in the fourth quarter.
However, they wouldn’t fully let Chisholm back into it.
Kingfisher went 8 of 10 from the foul line in the fourth to keep its distance.
White was responsible for both misses, but also made four and scored six in the quarter overall.
He scored consistently throughout and led all players with 26 points and led the team with six assists as well.
Jhett Birdwell poured in 13 points and made both of his foul shots.
The junior also had a team-high nine rebounds while handing out four assists.
Cash Laird added 14 points and also made both of his free throws in the fourth.
Laird grabbed seven boards as well, but it was also his defense on Chisholm sharpshooter Cooper Westfahl that aided the Jackets.
Westfahl nailed five treys and scored 27 points a year ago when the Longhorns knocked off KHS in early December.
On this night, he was just 1 of 9 from 3-point range and 3 of 16 overall. His lone trey came with 1:26 left in the game.
“He just didn’t give him anything easy,” Connel said of Laird’s defense. “All of his looks were tough shots, then we didn’t give them many second chances.”
Westfahl finished with 11 points. Langley Aman led the team with 13.
Kingfisher improved to 2-0 with the win. The Jackets didn’t get their second win last season until Jan. 5.