Published: January 19, 2009 11:25 pm      

HOOPS: Lady Kats fall in OT in Shootout

Kokomo controls three quarters, but Illinois power storms back

VILLA PARK, Ill. — The Kokomo girls basketball team suffered a heart-breaking loss Monday in the 19th annual McDonald’s Shootout.

Kokomo held a 44-30 lead going into the fourth quarter, but Driscoll of Addison, Ill., outscored the Lady Kats 22-8 in the quarter to force overtime. Driscoll went on for a 64-61 win.

Driscoll, which is ranked in the top five in the Chicago area, improved to 20-0. Kokomo dropped to 8-7.

“We played the best basketball we’ve played all season for three quarters,” Kokomo coach Jason Snyder said. “In the fourth quarter, we made a couple mistakes and unfortunately we gave up five offensive rebounds and they scored on all five of them. That was where they were able to get back and tie the game up.

“We had great effort from our girls. They played great defense for the majority of the game and shot the ball a lot better. So, there were a lot of positives, but we have to finish games,” Snyder added.

Kokomo led 15-5 at the end of the opening quarter and 30-22 at halftime thanks to its hot shooting. The Lady Kats made 11 of 19 shots from the field in the half and held their opponents to 9 of 26 shooting.

Driscoll shot only slightly better in the second half (9 of 23), but it took advantage of second-chance opportunities in the fourth quarter to cut into Kokomo’s lead and eventually forge a 52-all tie.

“We had a very good shot at the end of regulation to win it and it went in and out,” Snyder said. “[Starting center] Kelly Hopkins fouled out in overtime and that’s where their 6-4 girl [Courtney Lindfors] was able to cause us some problems.”

In the extra session, the teams went back and forth for a stretch until Driscoll built a six-point lead in the final minute. Kokomo guard Skylarr Shurn made a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to account for the 64-61 final.

Driscoll had four double-figure scorers led by Lindfors, who recorded a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Abby Hemmeger scored 17 points to lead the Red and Blue. She also had four steals, four rebounds and three assists.

“Abby Hemmeger played very well. She led us with 17 points and led us defensively also,” Snyder said. “Skylarr Shurn and Clarissa Woodard had very good games as well shooting the ball and finishing around the basket.”

Shurn, who played all 36 minutes, finished with 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Woodard offered 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Snyder is hoping to use Monday’s good effort as a springboard into the final weeks of the season.

“We’ve had a stretch here in the last five games where we lost four, but the four teams we lost to have a combined record of 60-5,” he said. “We knew this was a tough stretch and we’re definitely getting better. We go up to Chicago to get ready for the [state] tournament. It was a sectional-type atmosphere.”

Kokomo, which last played at home on Dec. 20, returns to Memorial Gym on Thursday to host sectional rival McCutcheon.