North Nodaway basketball standout Kristin Herndon has been steadily moving up the ranks for Knox College since joining the program four years ago. In the 2020-2021 season, COVID shut down nearly the entire season, and the team only played three games. In 2021, the program got a new coach in Kyra Mowen.
Last year, the team got off to a 2-9 start. Historically, Herndon has been a guard who has hit 3-pointers and stolen the ball. She has had as many as 17 tips and 10 steals during her time at North Nodaway. But the new coach moved her into the post when she took over. Frequently, players struggle or have a learning curve ahead of them when they are moved to a new position, but Kristin has thrived in her new position, breaking into the starting lineup and getting as many as 16 points and 16 boards in a game.
This year, Herndon has become the leading scorer and rebounder for the Prairie Fire. She has become a model of scoring consistency this year, averaging 14.2 a game and scoring in double figures in all but two of her games. She is also averaging 8.7 boards a game through 10 games. She is also the leading shot blocker on the team. Already a shot blocker as a sophomore at North Nodaway, Kristin hit a big growth spurt her junior year and became a force. She grew even more after leaving North Nodaway and is now 6 feet, and might as well be even taller with her long arms. She has 3.7 blocks per game through 10 games and has blocked as many as 9 in a game this year.
Prairie Fire 76, Dominican (IL) 45
The Prairie Fire pulled away, outscoring Dominican in every quarter to get the win. Herndon had 17 points, 6 boards, and 4 blocks in 22 minutes as 14 different people got to play. Teammate Sarina Dacio led the scoring with 22 points and four 3-pointers and had 4 steals. Brianna Arizmendi had 9 boards in 14 minutes. Twelve different players made the scoring column.
Prairie Fire 87, Blackburn 42
Fueled by a ridiculously lopsided turnover margin and a big second quarter, the Prairie Fire put the game away by half and led 47-14. Knox forced 25 turnovers on defense while surrendering the ball only 6 times themselves. They outscored Blackburn 24-4 in the pivotal second quarter. Herndon once again led the way, getting 19 points, 8 boards, and 5 blocks along with 3 steals. Catessa Duran and Mae Callahan had 10 each. Thirteen different players scored in the win.
Coe 60, Prairie Fire 58
After two ridiculously easy wins, the Prairie Fire came back down to earth as a bad second quarter, in which they shot 2 for 13, proved to be the difference against an unbeaten team. Down by 9 points going into the fourth quarter, they used the free throw line to get back in the game, rallying before falling two points short. They were unable to generate the kind of defensive pressure that fueled their first two games as Coe only surrendered the ball 9 times.
Herndon had 16 points and 13 points in the game, getting a double double and doing all she could to get her team back in the game. She has greatly improved her free throw shooting this year; she was 6 for 7 from the line against Coe. Sarina Dacio had 17 points and Catessa Duran 12. Kylee Callahan had 5 assists.
Prairie Fire 89, Central (IA) 73
The ability to bounce back from losses is what separates good teams from the rest, and Knox bounced back to beat Central (IA) in a wild game. The Prairie Fire have gotten wins following all three of their losses so far this year. Last year, they struggled after a loss.
Knox took a 28-18 lead after one quarter, but then Central (IA) hung 32 points on their to take a 50-49 halftime lead. But Knox got back to what got them their first two wins, locking down defensively, forcing 23 turnovers for the game, and getting the 89-73 win. They also won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Central (IA) 53-34.
Herndon had 18 points, 11 boards, and 4 blocks in the win. Catessa Duran had 14 points, 16 boards, and 3 steals. Sarina Dacio had 19 points and 5 threes. Kylee Callahan had 7 assists and 3 steals. Sophie Elstone had 10 points and 4 assists. Once again, Herndon showed the ability to draw fouls from enemy defenses; she was 8 for 11 from the line after going to the line 7 times the game before.
Prairie Fire 75, Grinnell 66
For the third time in a row, the Prairie Fire had a bad second quarter; for the second time in a row, they recovered to get the win. This time, they built a solid 14-9 lead after one only for Grinnell to rally to lead 28-27 at the half. Once again, the Prairie Fire had to win the game all over again, and once again, they delivered, going to the line 14 times in the second half after only going to the line 3 times in the first.
Herndon had 14 points and 10 boards in the win, getting another double double. Sarina Dacio had 19 points and 5 assists. Sophie Elstone had 16 points and 5 assists. Juliana Vinluan had 4 assists and 3 steals off the bench.
Principia 74, Prairie Fire 63
This time, Knox had a bad third quarter, getting outscored 22-11 in the period and shooting 3 for 13, and this time, they did not survive against a solid team. Herndon had 6 points and 4 boards in the game. Catessa Duran had 11 points and 11 boards while Sarina Dacio had 11 points and 3 steals.
Prairie Fire 65, Lawrence 58
Once again, Knox had a bad quarter, digging themselves into a 19-7 hole after one quarter. But this time, they climbed out of it behind red hot shooting and outscored Lawrence in the second quarter 28-14 to take a 35-33 lead. They overcame 4 for 14 shooting in the third quarter and 3 for 12 shooting in the fourth to come away with the win. They dug themselves out of their hole on the line, taking 29 trips to the line in the last three quarters after taking only two trips in the first.
Kristin Herndon had a double double, getting 14 points and a season high 14 boards for the game, to go with 5 blocks. Kylee Callahan had 10 points and 6 assists. Strong bench play was key in the win, with Nyah Daniels getting 12 and Loraya Rocha getting 9 off the bench in the win.
Prairie Fire 67, Ripon 54
Ripon came out red hot, taking a 21-14 lead after one, but Knox had cut it to one by the half and used a 20-9 third quarter to take control. After struggling from the field at times, Knox had a good day from the field, shooting 27 for 50, or over 50%. Kristin Herndon nearly had a triple double, getting 14 points, 9 blocks, and 9 boards. Catessa Duran had 17 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals while Sarina Dacio had 16 points.
Westminster (MO) 84, Prairie Fire 82
Knox started off well, taking a 23-16 lead after one, but then Westminster came out on fire in the second, outscoring them 23-11 to take a 34-29 halftime lead. They were fueled by the two headed monster of Annette Rameriez (28 points) and Shelby Kurtz (21 points), who went to the line a combined 25 times. But Knox chipped away, outrebounding them 50-34 for the game, and getting a big night off the bench from Loraya Rocha, who had 21 points and 13 boards. They led by as much as 9 in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold it and Westminister forced overtime.
Kristin Herndon, who battled foul trouble, had 8 points, 7 boards, and 3 blocks. Catessa Duran had 14 points and 7 assists along with 9 boards. Kylee Callahan had 12 points, Sophie Elstone 11, and Sarina Dacio 10.
Prairie Fire 74, Eureka 66
Knox once again started off well, breaking out to a 40-21 lead at one point in the second quarter. But then Eureka started hanging around and chipping away. The lead steadily shrunk all game until finally, Eureka took a 60-58 lead at one point in the fourth quarter. But Knox, forced to win it all over again, did so and closed it out for the bounceback win.
Herndon had 16 points and 3 blocks to lead a balanced effort; five purple shirts had double figures. Kylee Callahan had 13, Catessa Duran had 12 points and 3 steals, Sophie Elstone 11 points and 4 steals, and Sarina Dacio 11 points and 5 steals.
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