By Stan Beall
The Star Herald
KOSCIUSKO —
The Whippets hosted the Houston Hilltoppers last Friday night in a Region 4 contest and fell to the visitors 75-45.
The first quarter did not fare so well for the Whippets when they couldn't get a shot to fall and quickly fell behind the Hilltoppers 18-4.
The Whippets were able to put things together offensively in the second quarter, but were still outscored by the Hilltoppers 17-16.
The Hilltoppers would take a 35-20 lead into the intermission.
The Whippets offensive woes found them once again in the third quarter and Houston took full advantage and put the game out of reach by outscoring the Whippets 14-8 to take a 49-28 lead into the games final period. Kosciusko battled in the fourth quarter, but the Hilltoppers were too much for the Whippets on this night, outscoring the fast dogs once again 26-17 to win the contest 75-45.
"Coming into the game I thought we matched up really well with them," said Whippet head coach Shelby Kuhn. "Starting off we were not as aggressive as I wanted us to be on our guard play, but I think our big guys started out pretty well against (Chris) Jones."
Chris Jones is the Hilltoppers' center who stands 6 foot 7 inches and weighs 260 pounds.
Jones was held in check for much of the first half, but he was able to put together a strong second half and finished the contest with 20 points. "They were a little more aggressive going to the basket and they were able to open it up with a couple of threes in the first half causing us to play catch-up for the rest of the game," concluded Kuhn.
The leading scorers for the Whippets were Jamari Roby with 13 points, Rajheem Jamison with 11 points, Kyesun Jackson with eight points and Lamavius Veasley with six points.
The Whippets played at Ridgeland Tuesday night and will participate in the Region 4-4A Tournament in Houston beginning on Monday February 11.
