Sectional Championship Report: Kokomo vs Marian

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kokomo won the tip and we were off! Kokomo gets on the board first with a three from [player_tooltip player_id='1042500' first='Shayne' last='Spear']. 3-0 Wildcats early. [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] would then score through contact and convert at the line. 6-0 Wildcats early. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion senior Marquez Bledsoe would score scores Marion's first points, however Kokomo would extend the lead 13-3 at the 3:20 mark. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1578434' first='Lautusi' last='Jackson'] would banks in a 15fter and coach Blackmon would call a quick timeout. Trying to settle down his guys. Kokomo up 14-5 at this point. [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] would pick up his first foul. Tough one there. Looked to be straight up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1557080' first='Patrick' last='Hardimon'] at the buzzer for the Wildcats. Fast break was started by [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>End 1Q: Kokomo 20 Marion 9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion would score the first point of the 2Q. Cut the lead to 20-10. What's really killing Marion right now is that they are boxing out Bidunga but are allowing other Kokomo players to rebound. Spear would knock down his 2nd three of the game. Kokomo would go up 23-10 before Marion senior guard Jamerion Fouce would go 2-2 at the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things got really physical in the 2Q. Both teams were fouling hard. Kokomo junior forward Karson Rodgers took a nice shot to face accidentally. He was favoring his right cheek for awhile. Kokomo would continuing to pour it on Marion even with [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] getting extended rest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion sophomore forward Jayden Townsend would score through contact and convert at the line to cut the lead to 35-24. With Bidunga sitting the entire 2Q, Marion got the run they needed. Townsend would slam it one-handed near the buzzer for the Giants. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>End 2Q: Kokomo 35 Marion 29. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half started with a Bidunga score through contact. He would convert at the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion guard Da'Vion Speikes scored through contact but gets T'd up for his celebration. He missed his attempt. [player_tooltip player_id='1042500' first='Shayne' last='Spear'] knocks down the technical free throws. Bidunga got called for goaltending. Idk about that one. He was pretty stunned himself. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bidunga would get a double-double with about 4:30 left in the 3Q. Marion would apply pressure on Kokomo and cut the lead down to 46-40. After a few huge buckets from Hardimon, Kokomo would extend it to 51-40. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bidunga would get called for offensive goaltending a few plays later. Got one on each end this game. Townsend would pick up his 4th foul a few plays later. Also got T'd up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>End 3Q: Kokomo 57 Marion 44.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bidunga would score the first points of the 4Q. [player_tooltip player_id='1042500' first='Shayne' last='Spear'] would knockdown his 4th three of the game and Bidunga would get another block. Timeout Marion with 6:37 left. Wildcats up 64-46. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] got called for the charge and picked up his 4th foul. He checked out. Townsend would get his 20th point shortly after. [player_tooltip player_id='1202993' first='Zavion' last='Bellamy'] would knock down a three and Kokomo would call a timeout. 69-48 at the 4:51 mark. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Score would be 71-51 at the 4:06 mark. Karson Rodgers would score back-to-back buckets to extend the lead. Bidunga would slam it a few plays later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Game would called due to a medical emergency. Few fans on the Marion side passed out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final: Kokomo 85 Marion 51.</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shane Spear 24 points [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] 20 pts, 16 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id='1297057' first='Jaymen' last='Townsend'] 20 pts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->