What a difference two weeks can make. Kennedale visited the #12 Godley Lady Cats last Friday night and came away with a win, a share of a district title and a jump in the TABC polls from #13 to #11. {{more}}
It is not unusal for the Kennedale Kats (24-8, 6-1) to be in first place in district. But, considering that Kennedale had not lost a district game in at least four years and the overwhelming loss that they suffered in that district game two weeks ago by Godley, this win was big.
Godley (25-3, 6-1) had beaten Kennedale twice before in this season. First, in a tournament championship match, Godley bested Kennedale in overtime 52-50. The second loss was in first round district action when Godley came to Kennedale?s home court and acted as if it was theirs. Almost from the start, the Lady Cats from Godley controlled the game and went into the last quarter up by 25 points. They won the game 69-53 and in the process Kennedale lost their top scorer, Jasmyn Poe, to an ankle injury.
Godley never led in this district rematch on Friday.
The Kennedale LadyKats scratched out an early lead and at the end of the first quarter, it was 13-10. Kennedale expanded their lead to as much as 9 points in Q2 before Godley closed out the half with a run to keep the game within three, 28-25 in favor of Kennedale. The three point lead held up in the 3rd with Kennedale up at 40-37 as Q3 ended. Godley tied the game once in the third.
In the fourth, the Godley Lady Cats outscored Kennedale 17-14, just enough to tie the game on a last second shot at 54.
Usually, the bets would be on the home team in an overtime game, but not this time.Kennedale scored first with a two pointer by Lucy Benson underneath. Godley tied it up with two fouls shots. Kennedale went back up again by two after a steal by Kat Mosely and a basket from underneath by Benson. Again Godley tied it up on two free throw shots. Kennedale responded and went ahead by one on a second of two free throws by Benson. The LadyKats of Kennedale then push the lead to three on a two point basket by Amanda Davis making the score 61-58.
After a three point try by Godley, Evie Whorley brought down the rebound and was fouled. She added another point to Kennedale?s lead as she went 1 for 2 from the line. With the score at 62-58, Godley scored only one more point while Kennedale continued to pad the lead with free throw baskets by Kat Mosely (2) and Evie Whorley (2) before the 4 minute overtime period ended at 66-59.
Head Coach Doug Watson said that the difference between the last two Godley games was turnovers and defense. In the earlier district loss to Godley, Kennedale had 31 turnovers compared to 14 in Friday night?s game.
Kennedale, now tied with Godley for the district title, has one more game Tuesday night against Alvarado. Barring some type of upset, Godley and Kennedale will have a one game playoff on Friday night to determine who goes in to the UIL playoffs as the first place team.
Evie Whorley was the Top Player of the game with 10 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl and 18 points. Other LadyKats scoring/playing were Lucy Benson (8 rebs, 5 ast, 3 stls, 16 pts), Kat Mosely (3 rebs, 4 ast, 1 stl, 15 pts), Amanda Davis (3 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl, 9 pts), Brenee Ellis (12 rebs, 1 ast, 4 stls, 1 blk, 3 pts), Jasmine Alli (1 reb, 2 pts), Payton Williams (1 ast, 2 pts), Dajia Simmons (1 reb, 1 pt), Robbie Johnson (1 rebs, 2 ast, 1 blk).
In earlier action in district play:
Venus, January 30 (W)
Kennedale traveled to Venus in second round action at the end of January and came away with a win 47-29. In a low scoring game, the first half was a struggle for Kennedale lwho led just by 2 at 8-6 at the end of Q1. Venus came back to tie the game at half at 19. But, Kennedale owned the 2nd half. The LadyKats outscored Venus 13-4 in the third and 15-6 in the fourth to win the game going away 47-29.
Top Player was Lucy Benson with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assist and 3 steals. Other LadyKats scoring/playing were Evie Whorley (9 rebs, 2 ast, 2 stls, 11 pts), Payton Williams (1 reb, 1 stl, 8 pts), Kat Mosely (4 rebs, 2 stls, 5 pts), Dajia Simmons (5 rebs, 4 pts), Brenee Ellis (4 rebs, 2 stls, 3 pts), Amanda Davis (1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 3 pts), Robbie Johnson (6 rebs, 2ast, 2 pts), Jasmine Alli (7 rebs, 1 ast, 1 blk), Aysia Williams (1 reb).
Diamond Hill, February 3 (W)
Kennedale played host to a struggling Diamond Hill team last Tuesday beating the winless Lady Eagles 70-5.
Top Player for the game was Evie Whorley with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assist and 5 steals. Other LadyKats playing/scoring were Kat Mosely (3 rebs, 2 ast, 4 stls, 14 pts), Robbie Johnson (4 ast, 11 pts), Brenee Ellis (5 rebs, 5 ast, 1 stl, 6 pts), Peyton Williams (3 rebs, 2 ast, 1 blk, 6 pts), Amanda Davis (2 ast, 3 stls, 6 pts), Jasmine Alli (6 rebs, 2 stls, 5 pts), Dajia Simmons (8 rebs, 1 stl, 4 pts), Aysia Williams (3 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 pts), Lucy Benson (1 reb, 4 ast, 2 stls, 1 blk).
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