Kaneland defense too much for Morris boys

MORRIS – Behind a swarming defense and 24 points from senior Jamari Meeks, the Kaneland boys basketball team scored a 52-28 win Saturday afternoon against Interstate 8 Conference rival Morris.

Meeks, who led all scorers, put the exclamation point on the win early in the fourth quarter with back-to-back dunks on fast breaks created by the Knights’ defense. The second of the dunks gave Kaneland (7-5, 7-4) a 43-24 lead and the Redskins scored just four points the rest of the way.

“It was a good effort defensively by all our guys,” Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said. “We kind of hang our hats on our defense keeping us in the game, and it did that today.

“Jamari has played well all season. He’s a senior that we can count on, and it was good to see him have a good game at the end of the year.”

Both teams were playing their fourth game this week, and the effects of being worn out were evident in the early going. Each team turned the ball over four times in the first quarter, and it was tied at 11 after the first eight minutes. Kaneland and Meeks turned it up a bit in the second quarter. With the game tied at 13, Meeks scored on a short jumper and the after a free throw by Morris’ Cam Hatcher, Meeks drained a 3-pointer and scored on a fast-break layup to give the Knights a 20-14 lead. Morris’ Zack Romak hit a free throw with 1:30 to play in the first half, but Kaneland’s Brody Popovich scored just before the halftime buzzer and the Knights took a 22-15 lead into intermission.

Meeks scored the first five points of the second half, recording a layup on a fast break and then converting a steal into an old-fashioned three-point play. Morris’ Myles Johnston then hit a 3-pointer, which was followed by a putback by Romak to pull the Redskins to within 27-20. After a free throw by Meeks, Morris got a bucket by Colin Cummings coming out of the third-quarter mask break to make it 28-22, but David Kolev hit a pair of free throws and then converted a three-point play for the Knights for a 33-22 advantage. Kolev finished with nine points and added four rebounds.

Kaneland led, 37-24, entering the fourth, and Meeks’ pair of dunks early in the fourth sealed the win.

Cummings led Morris with nine points, while Romak had eight points and a team-high five rebounds.

“We aren’t making any excuses,” Morris coach Joe Blumberg said. “It was the fourth game of the week for Kaneland, too. Yes, we’ve had the pandemic and two different quarantines, but no one is feeling sorry for us.

“Kaneland had their hands on the ball on seemingly every pass or shot we attempted. Defensively, they played very well. And give credit to No. 24 [Meeks]. His first step in transition is quite impressive. In the first half, I thought Patrick McPherson, Parker Skubic and Sam Williams did a good job when they defended 33 [Kolev]. This was the second straight game where a team physically steered us on the perimeter and we struggled to complete passes.

“Now, we have the opportunity to go out and compete four more times. We want to give our seniors four more memorable games and get out juniors some valuable court time for next year.”