FOR RELEASE: Monday, January 30, 2006

Kirtland nets win, loss in high-scoring weekend

ROSCOMMON – The Kirtland Firebirds men’s basketball team found glory and defeat at the end of two high-scoring home games this weekend, notching a win and a loss to bring their season record to 10-12 overall. The win was a satisfying 120-95 defeat of Henry Ford Community College on Saturday, Jan. 28, followed by a maddening non-conference 103-89 loss to Kankakee CC (Ill.) on Sunday, Jan.29.

Kirtland had to do its best to hold back Kankakee, which came to Roscommon with a 16-6 record and a 13-man bench. It quickly became clear that part of the key to that would involve Kirtland finding a way to keep down Kankakee’s Jerwin Callaway who managed to sink five 3-point shots before the halftime break.

The two teams went into the break tied at 49 with the help of Kirtland’s Tony Brown who sank three 3-pointers of his own on his way to a 15-point half, and Sal Kabara who nailed four of them as part of his 19-point halftime total.

Brown, a 6’1” freshman from Battle Creek, went on to land a team-high 29 points in the game, along with 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Kabara, a 6’6” freshman from the Central African Republic, ended the game in foul trouble but with 20 points for Kirtland.

DeMarvelous Carter (sophomore, Flint) gave Kirtland a great game under the boards, snatching 12 rebounds to go with his 5 points and 7 assists. Rounding out the scoring were Matt Tompkins (freshman, Fairview) with 9 points and 5 rebounds; Dave Allison (sophomore, Lapeer) and Brian Suchowesky (freshman, Houghton Lake) each with 8 points; Darrin Wilson (freshman, Prescott) with 6; and TJ Webber (freshman, Warren) with 4.

Callaway had a team-high 24 points for Kankakee – all from beyond the 3-point stripe.

Kirtland traditionally takes part in a Kankakee-sponsored tournament each December which the Firebirds won in 2004.

With only eight games left on the Firebirds’ schedule, don’t miss another opportunity to see the Firebirds in action. They play at home again Wednesday, Feb. 1, when they host Oakland Community College at the CRAF Center for a 7:30 p.m. game, which follows on the heels of the Lady Firebirds’ game. They’ll then travel to Mott CC and St. Clair County CC, before hosting Delta College at Houghton Lake High School on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. Firebirds’ games are admission-free.

Saturday, Jan. 27

Kirtland CC 120, Henry Ford CC 95

Tony Brown couldn’t miss Saturday and racked up a spectacular 44 points for the Kirtland Firebirds on the team’s way to a 120-95 defeat over Henry Ford Community College at the CRAF Center in Roscommon. It was the second time this season the Firebirds bumped the 120-point mark.

Brown’s total included five baskets from beyond the 3-point stripe and he was 9-for-12 from the free throw line while adding 9 rebounds and 10 assists to an already-impressive stat sheet.

Sal Kabara added 24 points and 9 rebounds for Kirtland. Also in double digits were Matt Tompkins with 14 points, David Allison with 13 points and 5 assists, and Brian Suchowesky with 10 points. DeMarvelous Carter and Darrin Wilson each added 6 points and Ryan Filipiak rounded out the scoring with 3.