Split for KIPP basketball

The KIPP Academy boys basketball team suffered the first ding on its division record with a 48-41 loss to Match Charter Public High Monday at KIPP.The Panthers are 9-1 in the Northern Division of the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization (MCSAO) and 9-2 overall, with the other loss coming to Southern Division power Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers. KIPP has an opportunity to pull itself into a tie for the division lead when the two teams meet again at Match.KIPP coach Duane McClendon said the loss came down to what KIPP didn?t do as opposed to what Match did do. McClendon said KIPP was 7-for-24 from the free throw line and had 20 turnovers. Missed layups also proved costly.Despite the struggle, KIPP was in this one all night. Match led by as many as 12 at one point, but KIPP cut the lead to four with about a minute remaining.?I?m proud of the effort,” McClendon said. “It?s a learning experience … we?re having some growing pains, but we?ll get to see them again.”Dave Metelus had 11 points and six rebounds for KIPP.?He was very instrumental in our push to get to within four,” McClendon said.Freshman Jonathan Mola had 10 points and nine rebounds and Danya Smith had seven points and seven rebounds. Ricardy Mehu made some things happen out there as well with six rebounds, an assist and three steals.GIRLS BASKETBALLKIPP 77, Match 25At Lynn, the KIPP Academy girls basketball team locked up the No. 1 seed in the MCSAO tournament. KIPP has two more regular season games before it gets to the postseason.Junior Alex Huffman had the hot hand for KIPP, scoring 21 of her game-high 23 points in the first half. She turned her talents to distributing the ball in the second half and did a good job.?She was on her way to a monster game,” KIPP coach Nat Jones said. “I did leave her in a lot in the second half, but she distributed the ball.”Waleska Murial had 16 points for KIPP, Pleilerkay Gaye, 14 points, and Marie Kamba, eight points. KIPP improves to 12-2.Four teams from each division in the MCSAO will make the tournament. Jones said Academy of the Pacific Rim and Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, who both play in the other division, are two of the better teams that KIPP could face in the playoffs. The Panthers are the two-time defending champions.