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Kennedale vs. Houston Yates
3 p.m. Thursday at Frank Erwin Center in Austin
KENNEDALE
District: 6-3A (first)
Record: 38-0
Coach: Doug Groff
State titles: 2008
Previous appearances (last): 1 (2008) {{more}}Playoff victories: 82-47 over Iowa Park, 91-35 over Llano, 86-74 over Burkburnett, 87-82 in overtime over Shallowater, 70-39 over Stephenville.Top players: Ty Charles, 6-5, G, Sr.; Aundre Jackson, 6-5, G/F, Sr.; V.J. Hughes, 6-2, G, Jr.Notable: Kennedale has three players averaging double figures in scoring, with Jackson at 19.9 points, Charles at 15.1 and Hughes at 13.8. Going into last week, Charles was averaging a team-best 8.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists while shooting 59 percent from the field. Jackson was shooting 75 percent from the floor, including 79 percent from two-point range. … Hughes? older sisters Niqky and Destini helped Waxahachie win the 4A state title in 2006. And Hughes? dad, Vance, coached the Kennedale girls to 3A state runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2013. Destini, a McDonald?s All-American and LSUsignee, played for that 2008 Kennedale team.HOUSTON YATES
District: 23-3A (first)
Record: 23-8
Coach: Greg Wise
State titles: 2 (4A in 2009 and 4A in 2010)
Previous appearances (last): 5 (2013)Playoff victories: 116-59 over Houston KIPP Sunnyside, 107-104 over Huffman Hargrave, 93-78 over Silsbee, 87-69 over Mexia, 103-86 over Navasota.Top players: J.C. Washington, 6-7, F/C, Sr.; Damion Lewis, 6-2, G, Sr.; Melvin Swift, 6-8, G/F, Sr.Notable: Only three of Yates? eight losses have been to Texas teams ? twice to nationally ranked Prime Prep and once to Lincoln. … Swift, who committed to Xavier before reopening his recruitment, and Houston signee Washington were starters for Yates in last season?s 85-72 loss to Madison in the 3A state championship game. … Yates has a lot of players who can put up big numbers offensively. Lewis scored 42 points in two games at the regional tournament, including 25 against Navasota in the regional final. Washington scored 29 points in the second-round playoff win. And Jacob Young, Lorenzo Phillips and Swift have all scored 18 or more in a playoff game.
