The Kankakee (IL) varsity basketball team will host a non-conference game against Clemente (Chicago, IL) on Friday, January 17, at 6:30 PM.

Kankakee vs Clemente Game Info:

What: Illinois High School Basketball
Who: Kankakee (IL) vs Clemente (IL)
When: Friday, January 17, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Kankakee vs Clemente

The 2024-2025 basketball season has provided a fascinating contrast between two teams: Clemente and Kankakee. While Clemente has had its challenges, Kankakee has been dominant in most aspects of the game. Let’s take a closer look at their performance based on records, scoring averages, and other key metrics.

Overall Records

• Clemente (7-8 overall) has struggled this season with a slightly negative record. They’ve shown some promise, but their overall win percentage of .467 highlights their inconsistency, especially in conference play, where they hold a .333 win percentage.
• On the other hand, Kankakee (12-3 overall) has been one of the most successful teams in the league this season. Their .800 overall win percentage and .833 conference win percentage show that they have dominated in both non-conference and league games.

Conference and Non-Conference Play

• Clemente has had a tough time in conference games, posting a 2-4 record. While they have been more successful at home (3-2), they’ve struggled on the road (1-3), which has contributed to their overall performance.
• Kankakee, by contrast, has thrived in conference play with a 5-1 record, and they’ve also been incredibly strong in non-conference matchups with a 5-2 record. Their away performance is exceptional, with a 5-0 record, showing their ability to win in hostile environments.

Scoring Breakdown

When it comes to scoring, there is a stark contrast between the two teams.

• Clemente averages 42.5 points per game across four quarters, with their best quarter being the fourth, where they score 16.5 points per game. This indicates that Clemente often plays catch-up after the first three quarters but has the ability to close games with a strong finish.
• Kankakee, however, is a scoring powerhouse. They average 73.8 points per game, and their dominance is evident in every quarter, particularly the third quarter, where they score 24.7 points per game. This ability to maintain scoring consistency throughout the game has been key to their success.

Breakdown by Game Location

• Clemente has shown a slight advantage when playing at home (3-2), but their record on the road and in neutral-site games (1-3 away, 3-3 neutral) reflects their struggles in unfamiliar settings.
• Kankakee, however, has been strong in all settings. They have a strong 5-2 home record and an outstanding 5-0 record away. Their 2-1 neutral-site record shows that they can perform anywhere.

In-State vs. Out-of-State

Looking at games within the state, Clemente holds a 7-8 in-state record, which mirrors their overall performance. Their 0-0 out-of-state record indicates they haven’t played games outside of Illinois, making it hard to assess their performance in unfamiliar environments.

For Kankakee, their 10-3 in-state record is impressive, and their 2-0 out-of-state record highlights their ability to perform when facing unfamiliar teams, suggesting a well-rounded team with both regional and national appeal.

Conclusion

While both teams have had their highs and lows, Kankakee’s dominance in scoring and their strong performance in all types of games place them as one of the top contenders this season. Clemente, on the other hand, will need to find more consistency, especially in the early quarters and on the road, if they hope to improve their record. Kankakee’s ability to maintain high-level play throughout the game and across various venues sets them apart as a team to watch for the rest of the season.