December 30, 2022
41st Annual Cougar Holiday Tournament Championship
Peoria, IL The nation's longest win streak came to an end Friday afternoon, as No. 3 CCBC Essex defeated No.1 Kirkwood 59-54 in the championship game of the 41st Annual Cougar Holiday Tournament
at Illinois Central CC in Peoria, IL.
The Eagles (13-1 overall, 4-0 ICCAC) entered the contest with a 39-game win streak, which happened to date back to the championship game of last year's holiday tournament in Peoria.
Kirkwood took the lead early at 11-6 thanks to five quick points by sophomore Tasia Jordan.
The Eagles would lead 17-14 after a quarter of play.
The success on offense that Kirkwood experienced in the opening quarter evaporated quickly, as CCBC would hold a 32-25 lead at halftime.
CCBC continued to lead until late in the third quarter when Kirkwood put together an 11-4 run late in the quarter to take a brief 43-42 lead.
CCBC would answer immediately with a three-pointer to put the Knights right back on top 45-43.
CCBC would lead 48-44 heading into the final quarter of play.
Every time the Eagles managed to cut into CCBC Essex's lead in the fourth quarter, the Knights had answered, as they would hold on for the 59-54 victory.
Sophomore Karsyn Stratton led the Eagles in scoring with 13 points. Jordan was the only other Eagle to finish in double figures, as she recorded another double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
One area that hampered the Eagles was the free throw line, as they finished 17-27 (63%) from the line.
Tasia Jordan and freshman Kaylee Corbin were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
FRIDAY TOURNEY RESULTS
Championship: #3 CCBC 59, #1 Kirkwood 54
3rd Place: #10 Illinois Central 72, #6 Lake Land 69
5th Place: #13 Bryant & Stratton 68, (RV) Black Hawk 57
7th Place: North Iowa Area 76, South Suburban 68
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Faith Blackstone, CCBC Essex
Cassandra Hawthorne, CCBC Essex
Anasia Staton, CCBC Essex
Tasia Jordon, Kirkwood
Kaylee Corbin, Kirkwood
Cierra McNamee, Illinois Central
Halie Gilbert, Illinois Central
Katelyn Littleton, Lake Land
Lacyia Hill, Bryant & Stratton
Khloe Damm, Black Hawk
Championship: #3 CCBC 59, #1 Kirkwood 54
3rd Place: #10 Illinois Central 72, #6 Lake Land 69
5th Place: #13 Bryant & Stratton 68, (RV) Black Hawk 57
7th Place: North Iowa Area 76, South Suburban 68
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Faith Blackstone, CCBC Essex
Cassandra Hawthorne, CCBC Essex
Anasia Staton, CCBC Essex
Tasia Jordon, Kirkwood
Kaylee Corbin, Kirkwood
Cierra McNamee, Illinois Central
Halie Gilbert, Illinois Central
Katelyn Littleton, Lake Land
Lacyia Hill, Bryant & Stratton
Khloe Damm, Black Hawk
Kirkwood returns to action next Saturday, as they travel to Quincy, IL to face John Wood CC.
