The Kennedale Wildcat basketball team (15-11, 4-0) continued its run through District 7-4A with wins over the Alvarado Indians (3-19, 1-3) and the Midlothian Heritage Jaguars (17-5, 3-1) this past week. {{more}}The Cats hope to complete the sweep of district opponents in first round district action this week against the Venus Bulldogs (13-14, 3-1) at home in the Wildcat Den.
Senior Forward Zach Tate in Alvarado game (Staci Otts) 11-0 run to start the game …
Last Friday the Wildcats stayed home to played Alvarado, slicing through the Indians by a score of 74-27. Forward Colton Otts (Sr) and Guard Brandon Conwright (Sr) for the Cats had big nights with 20 points each, leading all scorers.
Conwright scored 9 straight points to start off the game including one 3. It was 11-0 before the Indians hit a basketball. For Alvarado it would be a long night on the road. At the end of Q1 it was 15-6 and Alvarado scored only 2 more points in the half. Meanwhile, Kennedale had a 17 – 0 run to start Q2. The score at half was 32-8. The Wildcat when on to make 40 more points against the Indians? 18 and the game ended with a big Kennedale win, 74-27.
Scoring for Kennedale besides Otts and Conwright were Darius Hammond (Sr) 6, Stephone Jackson (Sr) 6, Micheal Alridge (Sr) 5, Alex Groff (Jr) 5, Zach Tate (Sr) 4, Uniikye Washington (So) 4 and Chris Saulsby (Jr) 2.a good challenge on the road …
Senior Guard Michael Alridge (Staci Otts)
The Midlothian game was a good challenge for the Wildcats on the road and in the midst of district play. Midlothian is the new kid on the block with the school opening this fall full of underclassmen. The basketball team is solid with a 17-5 record. And, with a 3-1 district record, it is the team that will battle Kennedale for the title in District 7-4A.
The Jaguars made a game of it from the beginning. The first quarter was a back and forth affair up to the 3:30 minute mark when Kennedale went on a 18-5 run that carried over into the first few minutes of the second quarter. At that point the Cats were up 36-23. It was a deficit that the Jaguars would fight to overcome up to the fourth. At halftime, it was 43-32 in favor of the Wildcats.outscoring Cats 22-16 in comback attempt …
Heritage had not given up yet and outscored Kennedale 22-16 and came within three points of the lead in the closing seconds of Q3. Kennedale got called for a number of shot fouls in the quarter and the Jaguars made good on them by going 9-11 from the line.
Senior Forward Colton Otts
Heritage cleared the slate by tying the Cats in the first minute of the 4th quarter at 59 and then again at 61. Kennedale responded by going on a 10-2 run to make it 71-63 with 3 minutes left. During that run Wadley kicked it off with two followed by three straight baskets by Conwright. Otts contributed with a nice block to get the ball back to the Cats.
The Jaguars, playing catch-up again, pulled within two points with 1:27 on the clock at 72-70, but they fell behind again when Conwright and Wadley followed other each with lay-ups. The Jaguars were then forced to foul with the game at 76-70 and 34 seconds left. Cool under pressure, Hammond hit two from the line and Wadley followed with the next set of free throws to seal win. The Cats won by 7.
Senior Guard Quardriaz Wadley vs Heritage (Staci Otts)
For Kennedale, Conwright had 23 points followed by Otts with 19, Hammond 13, Wadley 8, Washington 6, Tate 5, Saulsby 4 and Jackson 2.
win streak at 7 now …
Friday night the Wildcats, who have won their last 7 games, will face Venus for the first and only time in district play. When Heritage was added to the schedule this year, the district decided to keep the same round robin format, playing each other twice except for one team. By luck of the draw, Kennedale and Venus will play each other only once.Kennedale will be playing at home with the Varsity game scheduled for 8 p.m. The Lady Kats will also be playing Venus at home on Friday and will be playing at 6:30 p.m.
