Knox wins, then waits at KV Sectional

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Updated: March 12, 2012 8:08AM

WHEATFIELD — The effort was there for Calumet. The talent just didn’t match up for the Warriors in a 45-26 loss to Knox on Friday in the Kankakee Valley Sectional.

The second game between Hanover Central and Kankakee Valley was moved to 6 p.m. today after Hanover decided not to make the trip because of the snow and icy conditions. The championship game will be played at 7 p.m. Monday.

Calumet coach Dori Downing was philosophical about the loss. The Warriors never were really in it, though they did play decent offensively in the second quarter.

“I don’t know what to say,” Downing said. “The better team won. We tried hard.”

The Redskins got ahead early.

Knox jumped out to a 10-2 lead with 3:45 left in the first quarter after Shelby Gilbert hit a 3-pointer from the corner. The Redskins expanded their lead to 18-4 on a layup by Chelsea Combs with 3:00 left.

Calumet cut the lead to 10 after a pair of baskets by Jacquenise Whitehead in the second quarter. But Knox built the lead up to 13 after a basket and a couple of free throws by Combs.

The second half was more of the same for the Redskins, who bumped up their lead to 22 after Kaitlin Zachary scored with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter, making it 42-20.

Hope Wagner did most of the damage for Knox, scoring 12 points. Chelsea Combs pitched in with 10 points for the Redskins.

Knox coach Dan Huizenga wasn’t too happy about the championship game getting moved. Hanover decided not to make the trip at 4:45 p.m. Friday.

“I hate it,” Huizenga said of playing Monday.

Huizenga hates it because his team won’t have a chance to game plan. Teams can’t practice on Sunday and they’ll be in school on Monday. Whatever they do in terms of preparation will have to come quickly after school Monday.