Kokomo used a  dominant fourth quarter to come from behind and defeat Snider in the first regional semifinal at Logansport on Saturday. The Wildkats finished the game on a 13-2 run as Flory Bidunga scored nine of his team-high tying 11 points in the fourth.

The undersized Snider Panthers decided to use a box and one defense on 6'10 Flory Bidunga of Kokomo, sitting a defender in front and behind the sophomore in the post and daring other Wildkats to beat them from the perimeter. Zavion Bellamy responded with a pair of early three pointers and Shayne Spear deposited one of his own as the Wildkats took a 13-11 lead into the second period.

In was much of the same in the second, as both teams struggled to maintain any type of consistency on offense. Bidunga picked up his second fould early in the period and Snider responded by attacking the basket. That took Snider into the lead, but a late three from Kokomo would knot our score at 24 going into the break.

Both teams came out sluggish in the third, as neither side was able to score through the first three minutes. The Panthers again looked to get into the lane after Bidunga picked up his third foul, and the result was a Snider lead. Jenkins and Lambert combined for six of Snider's nine third quarter points.

The Snider lead would reach 38-32 early in the fourth quarter before Kokomo would chip away. The main catalyst for the Wildkats was the sophomore Bidunga as he scored nine on his team's 15 points in the final eight minutes. He was able to simply corral balls at a height that Snider could not get to. A 9-0 run would provide a three point advantage for Kokomo, as all the momentum had swung in their favor.

Kokomo would manage to convert just enough at the line to keep it a two possession game in the final seconds, taking any hope away from Snider. The final margin would end up at five, 45-40, and would cap a 13-2 run to end the game to Kokomo.

Zavion Bellamy tied Bidunga with team high scoring honors with 11 points, while Shayne Spear added seven and Zion Bellamy hit two three pointers for his six.

Snider was led by Karson Jenkins, who had a game-high 15 points. Aidan Lambert was the only other Panther in double figures with 10, and he recorded a double double by adding 12 rebounds as well.


Kokomo   13  11   6  15  -  45
Snider   11  13   9   7  -  40

Kokomo: Flory Bidunga 11 points (5/5 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 7 rebs, 2 blks; Zavion Bellamy 11 points (3/13 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 1/4 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 stls; Shayne Spear 7points (3/11 FGs, 1/6 3Ps), 7 rebs, 3 asts; Zion Bellamy 6 points (2/3 3Ps); Patrick Hardimon 5 points (2/6 FGs, 1/4 3Ps), 5 rebs; Reis Beard 2 points (1/4 FGs), 2 asts, 2 stls; Brandon Bennett 2 points (2/4 FTs), 4 rebs

Snider: Karson Jenkins 15 points (5/14 FGs, 1/7 3Ps, 4/6 FTs), 2 asts; Aidan Lambert 10 points (3/11 FGs, 4/4 FTs), 12 rebs, 2 stls; Elijah Davis 7 points (3/9 FGs, 1/4 3Ps), 5 rebs; Grant Brown 3 points (1/5 3Ps), 2 rebs, 2 asts; Jordan Lee 3 points (1/3 3Ps); Keron Billingsley 2 points (1/1 FGs), 6 rebs



A nearly perfect fourth quarter helped Westfield storm back to knock off Homestead 64-53 in the second semifinal at Logansport. The Shamrocks outscored the Spartans 30-11 in the final eight minutes, including a 27-6 run to end the game after trailing by ten with five and a half minutes left.

Kyron Kaopuiki got the SAC champions off to a good start with a triple and bucket to score five early for Homestead. Both teams kept the tempo clicking but shots would not fall for either team, leading to a 10-9 Homestead advantage after the first.

Kaopuiki would keep his touch going, scoring five of the first eight Homestead points in the second period as they jumped out to a 18-12 advantage. But Homestead struggled to gain much separation, as Westfield, who went 0-11 from behind the three point line in the first half, was able to stay within arm's reach. But Fletcher Loyer would hit a three pointer just before the buzzer, giving his Homestead side an eight point lead heading into the locker room.

Eastern Illinois commit Cam Haffner would get Westfield on the board from deep as he stepped into a 25 footer. The 6'2 Haffner would score the first five of the second half for the Rocks, but that momentum was short-lived as Fletcher Loyer would respond to Haffner's three with a three of his own. Westfield would get another three from Braden Smith, but Homestead would lead by eight at the end of the third after Loyer dribbled around the arc and rose up with Smith all over him. The shot was pure, and Homestead appeared to be clicking on all cylinders.

Homestead would pushed their lead out to ten with 5:25 to go, but Cam Haffner buried a midrange jumper to counter and begin Westfield's charge. Braden Smith began to take over as a passer, hitting Nic DePasquale in stride for an and one in transition. Smith would then place a lovely wrap around pass into the hands of Alex Romack, who would finish to cut their deficit to a single point.

After a pair of Loyer free throws, Haffner would isolate on Grady Swing and pull up for a three to tie the game. Max Schlitz was fouled and split a pair at the line, then Haffner would isolate again and hit from the right elbow to give Westfield their first lead of the game. Alex Romack would steal an inbound pass and race to the other end for a layin to put the Rocks up three. A jump ball on the inbound saw the possession arrow favor Westfield, and the ensuing possession resulted in Braden Smith finding Trey Buchanan in the corner for three to double their advantage.

Westfield would also use Homestead's press against them, getting Braden Smith open on lengthy passes for three dunks in the final two minutes. Fletcher Loyer would miss a pair of front ends on bonus opportunities, leaving Homestead without a chance to come back.

A 30-11 fourth quarter and 27-6 finishing run in the final 5:25 game Westfield their first regional victory in school history. Haffner scored 17 of his team-high 19 points after halftime, including ten in the fourth quarter. Alex Romack added 16 and Braden Smith stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Nic DePasquale made it four Shamrocks in double figures by adding 11.

Fletcher Loyer ended his high school career with 27 points. Kyron Kaopuiki was the only other double figure scorer for Homestead with ten, but he failed to notch a point in the final two and a half quarters.

Westfield moves on to tonight's championship game against Kokomo at 8pm at Logansport.


Homestead  10  18  14  11  -  53
Westfield   9  11  14  30  -  64

Homestead: Fletcher Loyer 27 points (9/22 FGs, 4/9 3Ps, 5/8 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 stls; Kyron Kaopuiki 10 points (3/12 FGs, 2/8 3Ps, 2/3 FTs), 4 rebs; Andrew Leeper 6 points (2/3 3Ps), 5 rebs, 2 blks; Grady Swing 5 points (2/5 FGs, 1/3 3Ps), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Grant Leeper 4 points (2/7 FGs), 6 rebs; Max Schlitz 1 point (1/2 FTs), 2 rebs

Westfield: Cam Haffner 19 points (8/14 FGs, 2/8 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 5 rebs; Alex Romack 16 points (6/8 FGs, 4/5 FTs), 5 rebs, 2 asts; Braden Smith 13 points (5/10 FGs, 1/6 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 8 rebs, 6 asts, 3 stls, 2 blks; Nic DePasquale 11 points (4/8 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 asts; Trey Buchanan 3 points (1/2 3Ps); Trey Dorton 2 points (1/3 FGs), 4 rebs