Hot shooting, defense propel Kilbourne boys past Linden in ‘The Challenge’
Saturday, January 6, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Worthington Kilbourne’s Te’Mar Lewis lays in a shot against Linden-McKinley on Jan. 6 at Africentric’s The Challenge. Photo: John Hulkenberg
With five sophomores among those who have seen regular action around him, senior Aidan Gallogly has attempted to be a steadying influence for the Worthington Kilbourne boys basketball team this winter.
Things have come together for the Wolves most when shots have fallen, such as when they met Linden-McKinley on Saturday in The Challenge at Africentric.
Gallogly and Te’Mar Lewis, the team’s only other key senior, both hit two 3-pointers apiece in the first quarter to set the path for a 50-37 victory that was Kilbourne’s third in a row.
The Wolves improved to 6-5 overall.
“We catch momentum really well,” Gallogly said. “When the ball’s dry, we struggle, but when the ball starts falling, we really become a team, and it’s easy to see out there. These young guys really hold on to the momentum, and that’s how we really get going. When me and (Lewis) as seniors can get those open shots and to see shots fall, that’s where I feel like the sophomores can (settle) in.”
Kilbourne hit six of its first seven shots while building a 16-4 lead over the Panthers, who responded by going on a 12-0 run to tie it early in the second quarter.
Linden took a 21-18 lead on a 3-pointer by Kevin Darthard III, who is the son of coach Kevin Darthard Jr. and is part of an all-senior starting lineup.
Kilbourne’s Tate Rich and Linden-McKinley’s M.J. Curry battle for the ball Jan. 6 at Africentric. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Kilbourne sophomore backup guard Tate Rich hit two 3-pointers and junior forward Zach Wolford — who recently returned to the lineup after battling an injury — also made a 3-pointer during the final three minutes of the first half to help their team take a 27-23 lead into halftime.
“We really just wanted to stop their guards from penetrating,” said coach Ron Lewis, who is Te’Mar Lewis’ father. “In the first half, they had 19 of their 23 points in the paint, so we knew if we stopped them from getting to the basket and putting pressure on our defense, we would have a good chance, so that was our game plan coming in.
“We work every day in practice on trying to do our drills and being consistent with them. I get these guys for a short period of time, so I work with them daily on the fundamental things that we want to do well.”
Gallogly, Lewis and sophomore guard Brylan Brown all scored four points in the third quarter as the Wolves extended their lead to 39-33.
Then with 4 minutes, 3 seconds remaining, Gallogly hit a 3-pointer to give Kilbourne a 44-35 lead.
The Wolves limited the Panthers to four fourth-quarter points.
“Our game plan was to stay in the gaps, collapse on them, get rebounds, and push,” Gallogly said. “When we hit shots, we did a good job in transition, but the key to that game was really our defense. We were able to get rebounds, get stops, and convert on the offensive end. That was how we were able to get going.
Linden-McKinley’s M.J. Curry goes up for a shot against Worthington Kilbourne’s Aidan Gallogly Jan. 6 at Africentric. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“Coach Lewis does a great job of getting us through in our practices, and the team trusts him. If we just run the offense, we’ll be good and we’ll win games. Obviously there’s a lot to improve on, but I like where we are. The big thing for me personally is staying positive. I’ve played varsity for four years and I have to stay level-headed. When we start blaming each other, heads go down and that’s where we start to struggle.”
Gallogly finished with 15 points and Lewis and sophomore forward Luke Page both scored 10 points for the Wolves, who went 1-2 during a trip to South Carolina over the holiday break that coach Lewis believes proved beneficial to his team in the long run. They then returned to beat Franklin Heights 55-44 on Jan. 5 to improve to 2-3 in the OCC-Capital Division.
Linden defeated Centennial 70-40 on Jan. 5 to improve to 4-0 in the City League-North Division and is preparing to play co-leader Northland on Jan. 9.
Senior Philip Towns finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists, and seniors John Curry, M.J. Curry and Darthard III each finished with six points as well.
“Everybody (at The Challenge) is playing on back-to-back days, and it’s a non-conference team so you have to be locked in in a different way,” coach Darthard said. “It’s almost like preparing for the tournament. We thought they got way too many 3-pointers. We fought back, but in the fourth quarter, when you (get outscored) 11-4 in the fourth quarter, it’s not good. You’ve got to be ready for the next game, which is a huge game.
“We really do like what we’ve seen. In all my years here, we usually are fighting that uphill battle and now I find myself coaching a different way, making sure we’re staying hungry and hunting and not being the hunted. We know what’s most important is winning your conference.”
Kilbourne’s Te’Mar Lewis lays in a shot while Linden’s Derrick Jones defends Jan. 6 at Africentric. Photo: John Hulkenberg