Tigers turn the tables on Kubs, win 2A WPL Boys Basketball District Ti …

Kendrick Tigers are not strangers to the victories of championship sports.

Indeed, they have not been able to claim a district title in football or basketball for boys, since one of their current players to get to high school.

However, Victoria Kendrick of 52-46 Wednesday over the regular season of season 2A Whitepine Kamiah Kubs in the final of Lewiston High School came as a surprise for many observers. It was the second consecutive upset drawn by the tigers with the third seed, which raised the seed logos no.

Kendrick now advances to the 2A state tour in his first season since the transition from Division II of the 1A Idaho class (now known as 1A).

“I am very happy for children,” said Kendrick’s coach Steve Kirkland. “They played well the second half of the season, work hard every day and won it.”

Kendrick comes in clutch

Kamiah won both meetings of the regular team season, surpassing Kendrick 60-53 on 13 and 65-58 December on January 25th. The last game was the latest loss of tigers for any opponent-after a 7-7 start at their season, now they have won 10 right.

“We have a team mostly nine this year and I think it took some time to reunite and play well,” said Kirkland, himself a coach of the first year. “I had a very harsh incontension program, so …

Hudson Kirkland, the son of the coach, sparked the tigers (17-7) at an advance of 13-11 by the opening quarter that established the potential of an upset.

“I said to the children:” Win the first quarter and that will be one of the keys of the game, “said Steve Kirkland. “I won the first quarter and had a bit of impulse and energy, and the children just fed this.”

Kamiah (19-2) would tie things back to 21-21 at the break, just for the tigers to shoot before 37-30 to three quarters, after Ralli Rotcisoeder found the magical touch from a long distance and delivered a number of SWHED goals in 3 points.

“You just climb the area,” he said later. “Once you enter the area, it is difficult to go out.”

The Kubs went back to an advantage of 46-45 at the middle of the fourth quarter, but Kendrick responded in style. Showing the confidence of a program used to deliver in high pressure postseason scenarios, the tigers froze the game with five consecutive and-1 free throws from Maddox Kirkland, two from Cade Silflow and, finally, two from Hudson Kirkland, bringing it to his 18-point total.

Rising to challenge their rivals

“They made it easy because they were such a great group to train this year,” said Steve Kirkland about his first season at the cloth. “It will be something they are familiar with, but we will start preparing and getting after it.”

Hudson Kirkland drove the team with 10 recovery to go with his 18 points, while Rotcisoeder hit five 3 points and totaled 17 points.