SIOUX CITY – Kennedy unleashed a winning defensive combination for a second straight day.

After squashing Sioux City North 64-37 Friday in the sprawling CNOS Classic event in the Tyson Events Center, Kennedy mashed Sioux City West Saturday in the West gym, 86-48.

No. 4 Kennedy (8-1) limited West (1-8) to 21 field goals and forged a 35-18 rebounding advantage.  The Cougars' defense, led by junior workhorse Joe Coleman, operated so efficiently that West never got to the free throw line.

Still, Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana wasn’t exactly extolling his team’s virtues.

“I don’t disrespect any team, but I wasn’t real pleased with our defense,’’ said Fontana. “It might look like it on paper, but we didn’t play defensively like we should and are capable of.

“We’ve got to be more consistent.  At times we’re doing the right things, but we shouldn’t have given up that many points.”

Still, West played with some energy in the first half.

“We caused some turnovers, but didn’t turn enough of those into points,” Fontana said. “I don’t think they were intimidated.’’

Senior Jake Manning, dominating inside against a far smaller West squad, scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half, 13 in the first quarter. Coleman added 14 points and Kyle Lamaak 13. Manning connected on 9 of 10 shots.

“We were taller and tried to take advantage of that,’’ said the 6-foot-5 Manning. “After our loss to Dubuque Wahlert last week we had a bad taste in our mouth. Coming out here to Sioux City we felt we had to win both games.’’

Kennedy suffered its only loss at Wahlert when the Eagles meshed 20 of 23 free throw attempts – in the fourth quarter.

In West’s defense, the Wolverines played their finest quarter of the season in the opening eight minutes.

“We were down 27-16, but we were making shots and hustling,’’ said Hill, the coach.

T.J. Bolden, a 6-2 senior, paced West with 12 points. No other Wolverine reached double-digit scoring.

Coleman’s fiery play kept Kennedy’s intensity level at a high pitch until Fontana sat him down, along with the other four starters, with about two minutes left in the third quarter and the win safely in tow with a 66-37 advantage.

“Defense gets us going,’’ said Coleman, known as well athletically for his football acumen. “I like both, but as far as college goes basketball’s probably what I’ll be doing.’’

Fontana is impressed with the junior’s potential.

“What Joe lacks right now is consistency, but he’ll get there,” he said. “Pure athletic skills and ability he’s probably our most talented kid, but he fits in well with our team concept.’’

After playing the school’s first two games ever in Sioux City, Kennedy has a pair of games this week. The Cougars host Waterloo East on Tuesday and Jefferson in a girl/boy doubleheader Friday.
 
KENNEDY (86): Jake Manning 9-10 5-6 23, Kyle Lamaak 6-9 0-0 13, Joe Coleman 6-8 2-2 14, Jake Misener 3-4 0-0 6, Darius Fuller 1-2 2-2 4, Elliott Christians 0-3 2-2 4, Herschel Dixon 1-3 2-4 4, Cody Bell 2-4 0-0 4, Shane Goodall 2-2 0-2 4, Ross Ellsworth 0-0 1-2 1, Antoneio Bolden 2-6 0-0 4, Trevor Heitland 0-1 0-0 0, Alex Hayden 0-2 0-0 0, Josh Jahlas 2-3 0-0 4, Austin Rhoads 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 34-57 15-22 86.

S.C. WEST (48): T.J. Bolden 6-7 0-0 12, Caleb Kennedy 2-2 0-0 4, Malachi Zeitner 1-2 0-0 2, Daquane Burnside 0-0 0-0 0, Avery Thedford 3-7 0-0 7, Datrick Hollis 0-4 0-0 0, Dylan Smoody 3-4 0-0 6, Jimmy Reising 3-6 0-0 8, Blake Staten 2-4 0-0 5, Marcellous Gardner 0-5 0-0 0, Nick Abelson 1-2 0-0 3, Jestin Van Maanen 0-1 0-0 0, Lindy Pederson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-44 0-0 48.

Halftime – Kennedy 51, SC West 33. 3-point goals – Kennedy 1-8 (Lamaak 1-4, Dixon 0-2, Bell 0-2), West 6-17 (Reising 2-3, Staten 1-2, Burnside 1-3, Hollis 1-3, Zeitner 0-1, Gardner 0-2, Abelson 1-2, Van Maanen 0-1). Rebounds – Kennedy  35 (Bell 5, Manning, Coleman, Dixon 4 each), West 18 (Thedford, Smoody 3 each). Fouled out – None. Total fouls – Kennedy 15, West 16. Turnovers – Kennedy 9, West 19.