Monday, December 18, 2023

BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY WENT UP AGAINST HOLY ANGELS IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Dec. 12, Bloomington Kennedy and Holy Angels went against each other in a boys’
basketball game. Kennedy had a record of 0-4 going into the game. Holy Angels had a record of 0-3. This was the first game that I have been able to get to in a while due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Holy Angels is coached by new head coach Troy Bell, who is an alumnus of Holy Angels who graduated in 1999.

New this year is the addition of the 35-second shot clock in high school basketball.

Holy Angels started the game out in a zone defense. Kennedy passed the ball around the 3-point line. Everyone on Kennedy touched the ball on the offensive end.

Holy Angels called a timeout with 16:46 left in the first half. The score was Kennedy 2, Holy Angels 0.

Kennedy started the game in a man-to-man defense. They talked to each other a lot on the defensive end.

Holy Angels looked to push the ball down the floor in transition. Holy Angels Nate Ritz stepped up and knocked down 3-point shots early. Teammate Devine Damian also stepped up and knocked down mid-range jump shots and lay-ups.

Holy Angles went to a 3-quarter court press as they wanted to pressure the Kennedy guards while they were bringing the ball down the court.

Kennedy guard Marlon Sheehan Jr got his teammates the ball in spots where he thought they could make shots. Teammate Mailk Johnson also took the ball strong to the basket and came up with layups.

Kennedy switched up between full-court press and half-court defense. Kennedy looked to take a lot of time off the shot clock as they looked for their shots. They looked for their shot around 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

Kennedy’s LAmarrius Starr picked up his second personal foul with 9:06 left in the first half. He was subbed out of the game at that point.

Both teams looked for jump shots in transition.

Holy Angels Blake Nixon came up with deep 3-point shots. His teammates were able to get him the ball in spots where they knew he could shoot it.

Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls. There were multiple jump balls in the first half.

Kennedy called a timeout with 4:46 left in the first half. The score was Holy Angels 19, Kennedy 12.

Devine called for the ball in the low post and was able to come up with lay-ups late in the first half.

Kennedy’s Sonte Lajeunesse-Wood came up with mid-range jump shots and layups throughout the first half. He did well calling for the ball and knowing where he was on the floor.

At halftime, the score was Holy Angels 28, Kennedy 18.

As the second half got underway both teams continued to attack the basket. Stark came up with steals and converted them into layups on the offensive end.

Kennedy struggled shooting the ball early in the second half. Even though they struggled, they kept on shooting.

Johnson and Lajeunesse-Wood kept Kennedy in the game. They were very vocal on both ends of the floor.

Ritz stepped up in the second half and kept on coming up with shots.

Starr wasn’t afraid of contact. He could draw the foul as he drove to the basket and came up with free throws.

Holy Angels looked to trap the ball in the full court as they looked to turn Kennedy over.

Kennedy called a timeout with 10:56 left in regulation. The score was Holy Angels 38, Kennedy 33.

Kennedy’s offense got hot mid-way through the second half. Johnson got hot and stepped up with some key shots.

Holy Angels called a timeout with 8:53 left in regulation. The score was Holy Angels 38, Kennedy 36.

Kennedy passed the ball around the 3-point line as they looked to time off the shot clock.

The score went back and forth with under 7 minutes left in regulation. Neither team went on a substantial run.

Johnson got hot from behind the 3-point line late in the game. He wasn’t afraid to step up and knock down shots.

Holy Angels called a timeout with 5:22 left in regulation. The score was Kennedy 50, Holy Angels 42.

Kennedy came up with steals late in the game and they were able to convert on the offensive end.

Kennedy called a timeout with 3:34 left in regulation. The score was Kennedy 56, Holy Angels 44.

Both teams played well. Kennedy pulled away with just under six minutes left in regulation.

The Kennedy offense went quiet with three minutes left in regulation.

Holy Angels played hard throughout the game they were able to cut the deficit to 3 with just under 40 seconds left in regulation.

Holy Angles Andrew Muller came up with a layup with 17 seconds left in the game when Holy Angels called a timeout. The score was Kennedy 57, Holy Angels 55.

Kennedy came away with the 59-55 victory over Holy Angels.