KHS defense locks down Longhorns
ARYAN HARO (4) drives down the lane against Chisholm last Tuesday at the APB. Haro didn’t score, but came up big on the defensive end with three steals and three charges drawn during a 61-14 victory. [Photo by Russell
Going into the contest, Chisholm didn’t figure to be much of an obstacle for the Kingfisher boys basketball team.
And that’s exactly how it played out.
The Yellowjackets forced more turnovers than they allowed fi eld-goal attempts in last Tuesday night’s 61-14 victory over Chisholm at the APB.
The game was originally to be played at Chisholm, but a plumbing issue forced its move to Kingfi sher’s home court.
Much of Chisholm’s offense stayed north of Enid as the Longhorns never scored more than six points in a quarter while attempting just 22 shots all night.
“I thought our defensive patience was really good,” said KHS coach Jared Reese, noting the Longhorns’ game plan was to slow down the pace.
It worked early on as Kingfi sher had only a Bijan Cortes dunk and a Matthew Stone free throw through the first half of the quarter.
Up 10-2 after the first quarter, the Jackets forced the pace more in the second.
Harrison Themer and Maverick Ridenour both made 3-pointers and Cortes added six more points as part of a 19-6 run.
Kingfisher plodded through the third quarter, but Chisholm managed only two free throws of its own in the frame.
The Jackets’ 22-point fourth quarter was their best of the night.
“We must continue to create good habits regardless of the score,” Reese said, noting the third-quarter lull. “That’s something we were great at last year that we have to continue this year.”
Reese also said shooting has to improve.
While the team shot 55.3 percent overall, it was just 5 of 17 from 3-point range and is just 12 of 40 through two games.
“We’ve shot it poorly from there and the free throw line so far,” Reese said. “We will do better at that, I’m confi dent.”
Stone led the team with 19 points and eight rebounds. He added three assists.
Ten of the junior’s points came in the fourth quarter.
Cortes scored 15 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.
Jarret Birdwell scored eight, half of which came in the first quarter. He also grabbed four rebounds.
Themer scored six while Aryan Haro posted three steals and drew three charges.
He was a part of a defense that allowed just 17 percent shooting from the Longhorns and forced 23 turnovers.
The Jackets scored 25 points off those miscues.
Meanwhile, Kingfi sher turned it over just eight times and didn’t allow a point as a result of them. In fact, the Jackets haven’t given up a point off a turnover yet and have just four live ball turnovers in two games.
“To me, that’s the most impressive stat for us,” Reese said.