A battling Kennedy team dropped a hard fought Mississippi Valley Conference matchup with Cedar Falls at home Tuesday night by a score of 59-49.

When the smoke had cleared, the difference in the game was very clear. Cedar Falls made 29 of 37 free throws and Kennedy made just 3 of 6.

While the Cougars outscored Cedar Falls from the field with 22 field goals and 43 points to 13 field goals and 30 points, it was not enough to overcome the free throw disparity.

“X and O-wise, we followed our game plan,” said Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana.  “In a five minute span in the third quarter their physicality got the best of us.  They got 10 points on offensive rebounds and we put them on the line the whole game.”

Johnathon Koelling scored 10 of his game high 16 points in the first half and then got himself in early foul trouble in the second half.

"When I took my first couple of shots I noticed the guy guarding me (Zach Harvey) was giving me the jump shot and not letting me go to the basket and he played off of me like that all night,” said Koelling.  “They just got too many offensive rebounds and that really hurt us tonight.”

Blake Murdock added 11 for the Cougars with three 3-pointers, two that shaved the Tigers' lead to six points midway through the fourth quarter.

But the hill was just too steep to recover from that devastating five-minute gap in the third quarter.

“The 3-point looks that I got were the same plays that have worked for us all season,” said Murdock.  “We were able to get close, but we just couldn’t seem to get caught up.”

Kalehl Brown led the Tigers in scoring with 12 and Isaac Boettger added 10.  Brown, Harvey, and Jared Deines combined to go 21 of 23 on the free throw line.

The win clinched the MVC Valley Division title for Cedar Falls (17-3, 13-2).

Kennedy (10-9, 7-8) travels to Dubuque Wahlert on Thursday to wrap up the regular season. The Cougars host Washington Monday night to open tournament play.

“The seniors have one more chance at home,” said Fontana.  “We will have our hands full against the Warriors.  They are playing really well right now.”

CEDAR FALLS (59):  Kalehl Brown 3 5-6 12, Kalund Brown 0 4-8 4, Boettger 4 2-4 10, Harvey 1 7-8 9, Johnson 4 2-2 12, Bardal 1 0-0 3, Deines 0 9-9 9, Mickey 0 0-0 0, Nichols 0 0-0 0, Gardner 0 0-0 0.  Totals 13 29-37 59.

KENNEDY (49): Murdock 4 0-0 11, Carter 2 0-2 4, Martin 2 0-0 5, Holzer 0 0-0 0, Struss 1 0-0 2, Koelling 7 2-2 16, Oltmann 1 0-0 3, Bardsley 1 1-2 3, Buck 2 0-0 5 Heitland 0 0-0 0, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Fuller 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 3-6 49.

Halftime – Cedar Falls 24, Kennedy 22. 3-point goals – Cedar Falls 4 (Kalehl Brown 1, Johnson 2, Bardal 1), Kennedy 6 (Murdock 3, Martin 1, Oltmann 1, Buck 1)  Fouled out - Murdock.