Last weekend the Kennedale Lady Kats improved their overall record to 7-5 by going 4-2 in the annual Kennedale Invitational Tournament losing out in the championship round. The Kats did earn spots for Lucy Benson and Evie Whorley on the All-tournament team. {{more}}Kennedale played the following games:
4A Lubbock Estacado – L
In pool play the Kats opened with a 50-48 loss to Lubbock Estacado (6-9). In a back and forth game, the Kats took the Q1, 11-7. The Kats fell behind 20-19 at the half. In reverse of Q2, the Kats picked up 13 points to take a one point lead in the 3rd. Despite an 11 point effort by Evie Whorley in the 4th, the Kats fell in the last seconds to Estacado, losing by 2.For Kennedale, Whorley finished the game with 24 points followed by Lucy Benson 7, Taylor Austin 6, Kylie Embry 6, Sydnee Biscoe 4, Sydney Johnson 2 and Kalyne Daniels 1.
6A Keller Central ? W
Next up for the Kats was Central Chargers (1-14) from Keller. After tying the Chargers in Q1 at 14, the Kats took charge of the game. Outscoring Keller 22-6, the Kennedale took a 36-20 lead into the 3rd and never looked back winning the game, 68-41.For Kennedale, Whorley led all scorers with 23 followed by Biscoe 11, Benson 10, Peyton Williams 8, Embry 6 and Austin and Johnson with 5 each.
5A Lubbock Cooper ? W
In the last game in pool play, Kennedale drew the Lady Pirates (11-5) from Lubbock Cooper. Kennedale won this match 57-51 but was later to lose the championship game against these same Pirates. In game one, the Kats out played Cooper in every quarter except the last but the Lady Pirates could not make up the 13 point deficit even though they outshot the Kats 14-7.Leading scorer for the Kats was Benson with 15, followed by Austin 14, Whorley 12, Biscoe 8, Williams 6 and Embry 2.
5A Saginaw ? W
In tournament play, Kennedale took on the Lady Raiders (4-7) from Saginaw High School. Saginaw took the early lead outscoring the Kats 23-16 in Q1 and kept it until the 4th. Kennedale had a huge 4th going on a 28-15 run to close the gap and take the take the game in dramatic fashion by one 75-74.Evie Whorley scored 34 points for the game ? 28 coming in the second half and was 16 of 19 from the line for the game. Tossing in four 3?s, Williams finished with 19 points followed by Benson 8, Johnson 6, Austin 4, Daija Simmons 2 and Biscoe 2.
4A Greenwood ? W
Moving into the semifinal bracket, the Kats face the Greenwood Lady Rangers (10-7) from Midland on Saturday. This one stayed close through most of the game. Kennedale was one point behind in Q1 18-17 and one behind at half 31-30. But the Kats outscored the Rangers 13-6 in the 3rd to take a 43-37 lead into the 4th.Whorley stepped up her game scoring half of Kennedale?s 16 points in the 4th, going 9 for 12 from the line for the game and scoring 28 total points. Kennedale won 59-51. Scoring 9 each for the Lady Kats were Benson and Biscoe followed by 6 on two 3?s by Williams, Austin 5 and Johnson 2.
5A Lubbock Cooper ? L
In a rematch with Cooper of an earlier pool play game, Kennedale came out cold and never caught up, losing 72-58. Kennedale did outscore the Lady Pirates 22-10 in the 3rd after being down by 13 to draw within 5 points at the start of the 4th but Cooper regained their poise and finished off the Kats with a 22-13 final quarter.This was a rough hard fought game with Benson and Austin fouling out and Simmons playing with 4. A total of 42 fouls were called between the two teams. With the scoring spread around, Whorley finished with 16, Austin 13, Benson 12, Biscoe 5, Johnson 4, Williams 3, Embry 3 and Simmons 2.
This weekend Kennedale is in the Granbury KIA Tournament.. Last year in the championship game the Kat lost out to Godley in overtime 52-50.
