Two KCII area teams take the floor Monday in Keota to get the boys 1A district tournament underway when the Eagles host the Lone Tree Lions. Keota enters with an 18-3 overall record, they were 12-2 champs of the South Iowa Cedar League East Division. The Eagles were a 69-23 winner last time out over Cardinal with Billie Kindred’s 27 point, 14 rebound double double leading the way. On the year, the Eagles score 70 per night and give up 49 on 45% shooting, 33% from three and 58% at the line with 40 rebounds, 19 assists, 11 steals and 11 turnovers per game. Individually, Kindred is best with 25 points and 14 boards per game, Chase Haifley averages eight assists and three steals per night. Eagle head coach Dan Stout joined Saturday’s KCII Radio Coaches Corner to preview the game with the Lions.
Stout said, “We know they played us one heck of a ballgame earlier in the season. They had us down 10 points in the first quarter. I like the way our kids were able to adjust in that game. We’ll be able to mix up defenses. The Burke kid is a heck of a player, the Holbrook kid, is another that can score so, we looked at some film, talked about what we want to do. We’ll be prepared to play them, taking some things away from the first time.”
Lone Tree is 7-13 this year, 5-11, sixth in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division. They scored a 53-51 victory over their rivals from Highland to close the regular season last week, including a 33 point night and game winning bucket from Emmett Burke. This season, the Lions score 56 per game and give up 61 on 41% shooting, 30% from deep and 59% at the line with 26 boards, 13 assists, 10 steals and 15 turnovers per game. Individually, Burke is best at 16 points, five assists and three steals per game. Reece Holbrook leads at seven rebounds per night. Lion head coach Johnathan Chaney joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner this week to talk about his team’s preparation for Keota.
Chaney said, “Keota has really been consistent this year. For us it comes down to rebounding. With Billie Kindred and a few of those other guys, Keota is probably one of the top rebounding teams in the state. Above all of the X’s and O’s and offense for us, it’s going to come down to rebounding. One thing about our team that has been consistent this year is their willingness to come back. We’ve run into some losses and every time we get knocked down, these kids rally together.”
The Eagles have won seven straight in the series, including a meeting in December of this year they took by a 60-55 behind Kindred’s monster 21 point, 22 rebound double double, while Lone Tree was paced by Burke’s 21 points.
You can hear all of the action live tonight from Keota High School on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the KCII Playoff Pregame Show at 6:30p.m. And tip between the Lions and Eagles at 7p.m.