Kennedale entered the state basketball tournament this year as the defending state champion for Class 4A Division II after the Wildcats downed Houston Wheatley 69-65 in the title game last March. This was the Wildcats’ second state title. The first was gained in the 2007-08 season.
How do the current Cats compare to last year?It is really hard to say, as high school teams change from year to year. Seniors graduate, JV players come up, and new players move in or out of the district. Team chemistry changes. But it is interesting to note the similarities.
Last year at this same time, Kennedale was 30-7 overall with a 12-0 district record, ranked #12 in Class 4A by Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) with a 14-game win streak. This year, the Cats are 31-5 overall with a 12-0 district record, ranked #10 by TABC, and a 16-game win streak. The Kennedale Wildcats have been coached by Doug Groff for the past 23 years.
Doing well so far …Last Friday night, the Wildcats in the UIL Area Round beat the Van Alsytne Panthers (24-11, 10-4 record) by a score of 60-47. Earlier, in the opening round of the playoffs, the Cats eliminated a tough #22 Dallas Lincoln by a score of 82-71. This past Tuesday, the Cats finished Chapel Hill by a score of 63-56. Chapel Hill finished the season at 32-3 and 13-1 in district play.
Next up …The MaxPreps #5 Kennedale Wildcats will challenge the MaxPreps #1 Carter Cowboys from Dallas tonight in the Regional Finals (4th round). Midlothian High School will host the game beginning at 7pm.
The Carter Story …Dallas Carter finished last year with an overall record of 38-8 after finishing 12-2 in District 11/4A behind Dallas Kimball (28-5, 14-0). The Carter Cowboys and the Kimball Knights were assigned to Division I for the 2024-25 state 4A playoffs. As it played out, Kimball eliminated Carter in the state regional finals. Kimball advanced to the final four and went on to win the 4A DI title.
Carter has been close to the title before. Playing in Class 5A, Carter High School made the finals in 1995 before losing to San Antonio East. In 2004-05, the Cowboys lost in the semifinals. Moving down to Class 4A, the Cowboys lost to Silsbee in the finals 2017-2018.
This year, the Cowboys have been a consensus top pick for most of the season in Class 4A. On their way to the regional finals tonight, Carter defeated Godley by 95-47, Panther Creek (22-8) by 73-51, and then Athens (22-5) with a 68-26 score.
Carter has been coached by Lyndon Love for the past 13 years. On their roster, as posted on Hudl, the team consists of 1 senior, 6 juniors, 3 sophomores, and 1 freshman (listed at 6’9″).
