Indy Chronicler

Kokomo’s boys basketball crew capped its first week of follow with a Meet the Kats scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Fitness center.

“I believed we had our greatest follow on Friday, which is all the time a very good factor to finish the week on a robust be aware,” Kokomo coach John Peckinpaugh mentioned. “It’s going to take a while. We’ve got quite a lot of new guys coming in that haven’t had quite a lot of varsity enjoying time. However you noticed guys like A’Dayvion Younger have a extremely good scrimmage [Saturday].”

The Kats went 24-5 and completed as Class 4A state runners-up final season. They graduated three starters — guards Shayne Spear, Zavion Bellamy and Patrick Hardimon.

Saturday’s scrimmage gave followers an opportunity to take a look at the new-look Kats, who’ve an fascinating mixture of returning gamers, transfers and a global pupil.

The Blue crew had Indiana Mr. Basketball candidate and Kansas recruit Flory Bidunga and returning guard Reis Beard, transfers Korbyn Hammel, A.P. Mitchell and Shyy McDonald, and 2022-23 JV gamers Younger and Caleb Taflinger.

The Pink crew had returning guard Zion Bellamy, returning ahead Karson Rogers, switch Baris Moore, worldwide pupil Max Feuerle, and 2022-23 JV gamers Andrew Barker, Tavien Bennett and Buddy Love.

The Blue crew received 56-38. Not surprisingly, the returning gamers on each side regarded good.

“Zion Bellamy regarded like his regular self [after an injury last season], Karson Rogers confirmed flashes of being actually, actually good, Andrew Barker has continued to enhance. After which Reis Beard is Reis Beard and Flory is Flory,” Peckinpaugh mentioned.

The newcomers confirmed potential as effectively. Hammel (previously of New Haven) is a degree guard, Moore (Taylor) is a guard, Mitchell (Owensboro, Kentucky) is an influence ahead, McDonald (Bloomington North) is a wing and Feuerle (Germany) is one other guard.

“I’m pleased with the place we’re,” Peckinpaugh mentioned. “We’ve got to proceed to work defensively and enhance every week and we’ll do these issues. Getting all these guys to learn to play collectively goes to take a while simply because they haven’t been on the market like our group we had final yr. However will probably be good in a number of months.”

The Kats determine to have good competitors in follow as Peckinpaugh appears to be like to hone in on a rotation.

“I feel we’ll play our regular seven-, eight-man rotation and actually attempt to get after individuals and trigger some issues and learn to compete at a excessive degree,” he mentioned.

Kokomo opens with three straight house video games — vs. Western (Nov. 21), Westfield (Nov. 25) and Peru (Dec. 1).

The Kats will host the Phil Cox Memorial Match on Dec. 22-23. They’ll play within the Corridor of Fame Traditional on Dec. 30 at New Citadel.

The schedule exhibits some new opponents together with New Albany, Fishers, New Haven (within the Cox tourney), Crispus Attucks (within the Corridor of Fame Traditional), Cathedral and Tippecanoe Valley.