With a crowd estimated at 4,500 taking seats in all corners of the gym on Friday night, Kokomo boys basketball fans wanted to applaud, roar and be entertained by the senior class one last time at home, and the Class 4A No. 4-ranked Wildkats obliged.
Before the game against Huntington North, Kokomo star senior center Flory Bidunga was given a lengthy ovation as he was honored with the presentation of his McDonald’s All-Star Game jersey. Then it was time for a parade of Senior Night introductions. And then it was game time.
Bidunga won the opening tip, set a screen up top, and fought his way through his defender into the paint as senior frontcourt partner Karson Rogers popped out to the top of the key to take a pass. Rogers looked inside, passed to Bidunga, who pivoted left and threw down a two-handed jam.
With that, the party was on.
The Wildkats withstood early challenges from Huntington North, established the lead, and thrilled the crowd in an 82-45 victory to end the regular season.
After Huntington took a 3-2 lead, Kokomo’s all-senior lineup of Bidunga, Rogers, Reis Beard, Shyy McDonald and Tavien Bennett forged a 7-3 lead early on and the Vikings never drew level again.
When the party was over, Rogers had a monster line of 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Bidunga had 22 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and five blocks and the senior duo led Kokomo (22-3) to its 13th straight win. Bidunga recorded his 69th career double-double and surpassed 1,500 career points.
Karson Rogers with his first dunk KHS defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Flory Bidunga with his first dunk as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Tavien Bannett with a shot as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Flory Bidunga dunks as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Karson Rogers gets fouled by Blaine Freiburger as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Flory Bidunga dunks as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo center Flory Bidunga shoots a 3-pointer late in the third quarter of the Kats’ 82-45 victory over Huntington North on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at Memorial Gym. Bidunga made the 3-pointer for his first career triple and he finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds for his 69th career double-double.
Baris Moore with a shot as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Karson Rogers with his first dunk Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo guard Reis Beard (2) contests a shot by Huntington North’s Ethan Zahn.
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Karson Rogers with his first dunk KHS defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Flory Bidunga with his first dunk as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Tavien Bannett with a shot as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Flory Bidunga dunks as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Karson Rogers gets fouled by Blaine Freiburger as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Flory Bidunga dunks as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo center Flory Bidunga shoots a 3-pointer late in the third quarter of the Kats’ 82-45 victory over Huntington North on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at Memorial Gym. Bidunga made the 3-pointer for his first career triple and he finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds for his 69th career double-double.
Baris Moore with a shot as Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Karson Rogers with his first dunk Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo guard Reis Beard (2) contests a shot by Huntington North’s Ethan Zahn.
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
Kokomo defeats Huntington North 82-45 on February 23, 2024. – Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune
In the fourth quarter, Kokomo subbed seniors out to lusty ovations.
“It’s a special group of kids that have won a lot, not only on the basketball court but on the football field,” Kokomo coach John Peckinpaugh said. “They’ve done a lot of really good things for our school and our community so I’m glad to see the community come out and support them like that.”
Kokomo led 21-12 after a quarter but Huntington kept coming, led by sharpshooting guard Ethan Zahn. The junior had 19 points by halftime on 7 of 9 shooting including 4 of 4 from 3-point land. Huntington cut the Kat lead to 21-17 early in the second quarter, but Kokomo asserted itself again with an 11-0 run to take command.
Rogers started the run with a fast break bucket, another fast break hoop and harm, and Baris Moore and Korbyn Hammel punctuated the run with back-to-back 3s for a 32-17 Kat lead. Kokomo upped its advantage to 46-26 at halftime.
Bidunga and Rogers were too much to handle in the opening half. Rogers had 21 points and all seven assists by halftime. Bidunga had 14 points and six boards.
“I thought our guys did a good job of coming out and playing the right way for a majority of the game,” Peckinpaugh said. “A night like this, you can get caught up [in Senior Night] and look to get your own, but I think we had 24-plus assists. I thought we did a great job of sharing it and playing as a team.”
The Kats finished with 26 assists. Hammel had 11 points and four assists. Zion Bellamy scored six and dished four assists, and Moore scored five.
“I thought we shared it really well and made our teammates better,” Peckinpaugh said. “I thought we could have done a little bit better job defensively guarding the 3-point line, but they run really good stuff and make it hard.”
Zahn finished with 25 points for Huntington (7-16), but didn’t connect on another 3 in the second half.
First-year Huntington North coach Eric Thompson, the former Peru coach, said the loss still carried positives for the Vikings. It was the last regular season game for both teams.
“Silver lining — what a game to play to get you ready for sectional,” Thompson said. “No opponent we’re going to meet in our sectional — although really good, our sectional opponents are really good, but they’re not going to be the Kokomo Wildkats. I thought our guys did a really good job of coming out ready to play and we did the best we could. They’re a really good team.”
The Dunkometer in front of the KHS student section read eight by halftime and finished at 11 with Bidunga accounting for eight jams and Rogers three. Though the loudest roar of the night came on Bidunga’s last basket, a 3-pointer late in the third quarter. That was his first career triple.
Over Kokomo’s previous game against Tippecanoe Valley and Friday against Huntington, Bidunga had a stretch of 20 straight made field-goal attempts, connecting on his last 11 shots against TV and first nine against Huntington.
Thompson was Peru’s coach when Bidunga arrived at Kokomo’s international school as a sophomore and immediately made waves on the court. Thompson was on the sidelines when Peru beat Kokomo in Bidunga’s second game as a Wildkat.
“He was a whole lot more fun to play against back then than he is now,” Thompson said. “He’s really improved. Heck of an athlete as you know, [before coming to Kokomo] hadn’t really done much with basketball, done a little bit, not a lot. He’s picked it up fast. He keeps getting bigger, faster, stronger and his basketball IQ is about as big as how nice of a kid he is. He’s such a great kid.
“Coach Peckinpaugh’s done a great job with this team in guiding Flory and help him make the bet decisions he can. It was special to be able to play against him and the Kats [Friday].”
