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The Kokomo Wildkats punched their tickets to the IHSAA boys basketball semi-state over the weekend with a convincing 68-55 win over the Legends of Fort Wayne North. It was the second straight regional title for the Kats, who will face Fort Wayne Wayne this Saturday.
Kokomo led from wire to wire, though North managed to close to within five points late in the game. The Legends’ strategy to hack their way to a win backfired, however, as the Kats hit 13 of 18 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
Fort Wayne’s companion strategy to focus on Kokomo’s 6-10 powerhouse Flory Bidunga also was a losing gambit. The talented Wildkats team stepped up, as Zavion Bellamy led the way with 22 points. Shane Spear added 18 points to match Bidunga’s tally.
Defensively, the Kats dominated. Karson Rogers blocked an impressive five shots, slightly outpacing Bidunga’s four, and both Kokomo players had 10 rebounds. As a team, the Wildkats held North to less than 29 percent shooting from the field.
Kokomo (22-4) got a favorable draw for their semi-state round on Sunday afternoon. They were paired with Fort Wayne Wayne (21-4) and received the opening game slot on March 18. The Kats take on the Generals at 10 a.m. at Michigan City High School this Saturday. The second game features Penn (27-1) taking on Hammond Central (26-1). The winners will face off at 8 p.m. to determine who advances to the state title game.
Tickets are now on sale for semi-state games. Presale tickets can be obtained online only. They are good for all three games and are $20 each. Any unsold tickets will be made available at the gate on the day of the game. To purchase tickets, visit https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=30175&p=43505
For additional photos of Saturday’s regional championship game, visit the Kokomo Lantern’s Facebook page and group.