Kennedy Boys Basketball

Cougars' defense sparks another Sioux City win

SIOUX CITY – Kennedy unleashed a winning defensive combination for a second straight day.

After squashing Sioux City North 64-37 Friday in the sprawling CNOS Classic event in the Tyson Events Center, Kennedy mashed Sioux City West Saturday in the West gym, 86-48.

No. 4 Kennedy (8-1) limited West (1-8) to 21 field goals and forged a 35-18 rebounding advantage.  The Cougars' defense, led by junior workhorse Joe Coleman, operated so efficiently that West never got to the free throw line.

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Cougars devour Sioux City North

By Steve Allspach
For Metro Sports Report

SIOUX CITY – The Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys basketball team got a historical first look inside Sioux City’s snazzy Tyson Events Center and Gateway Arena on Friday night.

The fourth-ranked Cougars flourished in the glare of the bright lights so much that they commenced to shoot lights out in a 64-37 stroll past Sioux City North on the second day of the three-day CNOS Foundation Basketball Classic.

“This is the first time I can ever remember coming to Sioux City,’’ said Kennedy senior Kyle Lamaak, who contributed a dozen points to the triumph.

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Golden Eagles hand Cougars first blemish

DUBUQUE – Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s undefeated season came to a screeching halt Tuesday.

Dubuque Wahlert, riding a sizable advantage at the free-throw line, pulled away in the second half for a 62-47 victory over the Cougars at Wahlert High School. It was the first loss of the season for the Class 4A No. 4 Cougars (6-1), who struggled to find their shooting touch and a rhythm on the offensive end.

Kennedy coach Bob Fontana saw a different squad during the team’s final practice one night earlier.

“Our coaching staff was very disappointed with our effort,” Fontana said. “We had a really good practice (Monday), and we thought we were prepared to go.”

The Eagles (5-2) routinely beat Kennedy in the rebounding battle, and hustled their way to the free-throw line.

Wahlert opened up a large lead in the fourth quarter thanks to its free-throw shooting. The Eagles went 20-of-23 from the line in the final period, helping them pull away from Kennedy.

For the game, Wahlert went 27-of-36 from the charity stripe. Kennedy managed to reach the line only 11 times, making eight.

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No. 4 Cougars too strong for No. 7 Warriors

There were skeptics when Kennedy jumped from No. 9 to No. 4 in the Class 4A rankings Dec. 21, but maybe the folks who vote in the AP poll knew what they were doing.

Jake Manning scored 17 points and snared 13 rebounds on Dec. 21  as the Cougars topped No. 7 Washington, 56-51, in a Mississippi Valley Conference battle despite a brilliant display of 3-point shooting by Josh Oglesby.

“In all the years I’ve been a head coach, I’ve never had a guy make eight 3s on me,” Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana said. “Not even Jason Bohannon.”Oglesby hit eight triples for the Warriors, some from tough angles, and scored 28 points in the noisy Kennedy gym. He wasn’t Josh Oglesby much of the game, he was Josh Ohhh!-glesby with his uncanny ability to make shots.

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