High Plains Shootout

Those mangy Wildcats had returned to the region for the 3rd time in 4 years, and this time the local Lobos were called out to defend the reputation of West Texas basketball and a fight it would be. {{more:[Read more]}}

clawed their way to Lubbock ?

These Cats were different from the earlier Wildcats. They were small and battled scarred, having lost as many as they had won early in the season and they were not expected to be there. These Kennedale Wildcats at 24-13, had to claw their way to Lubbock. But, the local Lobos (23 miles out of town) were just as unlikely defenders.

The KHS Cheerleaders along with at least 100 fans took the 5 hour trip to Lubbock to support the team (Photo Staci Otts)

The Levelland Lobos, 25-11 and a 2nd seed out of their district, maybe not have been on anyone?s radar to win the Region 1 4A title but after taking a win in the last seconds from Kennedale, the Lobos followed up with a 64-61 upset win over #6 Abilene Wylie, 29-6. And, will now take their West Texas play to San Antonio as a final four team.

lead changed 8 times ?

Colton Otts (Sr) finished w 20pts, 7-12 FG, 2-3 3?s, 4-6 FT, 9 REBs & 1 STL. (Photo Staci Otts)

Friday night on the campus of Lubbock Christian University, the game between Kennedale and Levelland was close throughout. The lead changed hands 8 times and was tied 8 times. There were 13 three point baskets ? 6 by the Cats (46%) and 7 by the Lobos (50%). Kennedale had 13 turnovers to 12 by Levelland. The Lobos won the first quarter at 19-14 after leading by 8. The Wildcats won the second and went in to the half at 35-34. The third ended in a tie at 48 all. And, in a dramatic ending with only 2 points dividing the teams with just seconds left in the game, Levelland iced with a couple of free throws to win 69-65.

The Game

Lobos opened a 8 point lead ?

Brandon Conwright (Sr) with 19 pts, two 3?s, 5-6 FT, 4 REBs, 5 ASSt, forced 4 TO had 1 STL (Photo Staci Otts)

The Wildcat won the tipoff but the Lobos scored first on a 3 by Lukas Bontrager who recorded three 3?s and 13 points in the game. Wildcat Senior Colton Otts, who had perhaps his best game, matched the Lobos with a 3 pointer moments later. Otts finished the night with 20 points going 7-12 from the field, 2-3 for 3?s, 4-6 from the line, recording 9 rebounds with 1 block. But, it was Levelland that opened the biggest lead of the game at 16-8 during the first quarter when they went on a 13-5 run. However, Senior Darius Hammond popped in a three to close out the quarter to let the Lobos know that this game was not over. Hammond finished the night with 10 points, hitting 2 threes, going 2-3 from the line, getting 3 rebounds and 2 assist. Kenton Williams and Nick Gerber for the Lobos each had 7 points. Both would finish the game with 23 points to lead all scorers. 1st Quarter Points: L-19 K-14/Score L 19-14.

Cats outscored the Lobos 21-15 in 2nd ?

Quardraiz Wadley (Sr) had 9 pts, 3-6 FG, 3-3 FT, 6 REBs, 4 ASSt, forced 3 TO and had 4 STLs (Photo Staci Otts)

In Q2 the lead changed 5 times after Otts scored first followed by a 3 from Hammond to knot the game at 19 just moments into the quarter. Junior Chris Saulsby gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 21-19. Levelland responded with consecutive three?s by Bontrager and Gerber followed by a foul shot from Cameron Gonzales (6 pts, 3 rebs, 6 asst, 1 blk, 1 stl) to go up by four 26-21. Kennedale climbed back with 4 points from Senior Brandon Conwright (19 pts, two 3?s, 5-6 line, 4 rebs, 5 asst, forced 4 TO, 1 stl), 2 points from Freshman Tre Jones and back to back baskets from Otts to regain the lead at 32-30. From there the lead alternated until just before half when Otts was fouled and sank both free throws to put the Cats up by one 35-34. Otts finished with 10 points in the quarter. 2nd Quarter Points: K-21 L-15/Score K 35-34.

Cats finish with 8-0 run ?

Darius Hammond (Sr) finished with 10 pts, hitting two 3?s, 3-3 FG, 2-3 FT, 3 REBs plus 2 ASSt. (Photo Staci Otts)

Q3 had Levelland in the lead until the very end. The Lobos scored first on a goal by Kentton Williams (23 pts, 9-16 FG, 4-6 FT, 5 Rebs, 3 Asst). Williams would go on to score 10 of Levelland?s 14 points in the third. Levelland had a lead of 8 points just over midway in the quarter 48-40 when Kennedale went on a 8-0 run to tie the game at 48. Senior Quardraiz Wadley for the Cats netted 5 points. Wadley (3-6 FG, 3-3 FT, 6 Rebs, 4 assist, caused 3 TO, 4 Stls) ended the game with 9 points all in the 2nd half. 3rd Quarter Points: L-14 K-13/Score 48-48.

 

Down by 6, all that was left was to board the bus – not the Cats ?

Head Coach Doug Groff has taken the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 dance 3 times in 4 years (Photo Staci Otts)

Brandon Conwright started the 4th with a 3 point basket giving the Cats a short lead but it was quickly tied by the Lobos. Once the Lobos went up on the Cats, they stayed ahead, pushing the lead to 4 at 58-54 midway into the game. Hammond and Wadley tied it with back to back baskets before Gerber gave the Lobos the lead for good but the game was far from over. The Lobos pushed their lead back to 4 and then 6 points with baskets by Williams and Jeremy Parsley and foul shots by Bontrager. With 1:19 left in the game, it seemed all that was left was for the Cats to do was board the bus for home. The scrappy Cats were not through yet and mounted yet another comeback.

14 seconds left and down by 2 ?

Tension was high as the Cats huddled with 14 seconds left and behind by 2 (Photo Staci Otts)

Wadley started it with the Cats? trademark aggressive play and drove straight to the basket and was fouled in act of shooting. After he made both free throws, he followed with a steal and fed the ball to Conwright for a fast break lay-up. Now, the game was down to a basket with 28 seconds left. Unbelievably, the Wildcats forced another turnover when the Lobos’ Williams was trapped underneath the Levelland’s basket and made a wild pass back down the court that went sailing past Gonzales and out of bounds. With 14 seconds left, only 2 points separated the teams and the Wildcats had possession under their basket.

After 3 consecutive timeouts and with the tension in the now standing crowd at a fever-pitch, the game resumed. Hammond passed into Jones who passed it to Wadley. Wadley, who had the hot hand in the 2nd half drove past his defender and went up for the basket. The ball bounced around but would not fall. Otts rebounded and put the ball in the basket. It didn?t count. Wadley, who had tried to score over Lobos? Parsley was called for a charge on the play.

 

Time on the clock was 4.2 seconds. Forced to foul, Kennedale sent the Lobos? Bontrager to the line with just 3 seconds left. Bontrager, who had scored the first points of the game, sank the final two. 4th Quarter Points: L-21 K-17/ Score L 69-65.

 

Kennedale: Team and points scored – Colton Otts (Sr) 20, Brandon Conright (Sr) 19, Darius

Hammond (Sr)10, Quardraiz Wadley (Sr) 9, {{t2:Tre Jones: }} (Fr) 4, {{t2:Chris Saulsby: }} (Jr) 2, {{t2:Stephone Jackson: }} (Jr) 1, {{t2:Zach Tate: }} (Sr), {{t2:Michael Aldridge: }} (Sr), {{t2:Alex Groff: }} (Jr), {{t2:Uniikye Washington: }} (So), {{t2:Devon Stapleton: }} (So), {{t2:Dylon Barber: }} (Jr) and {{t2:Bryce Hackett: }} (Jr). Coaches ? Doug Groff, Matt Munson and Matt Casey

Levelland: Team and point scored – Kentton Williams (Sr) 23, Nick Gerber (Jr) 23, Dillan

Bontrager (Jr) 13, Cameron Gonzales (So) 6, Jeremy Parsley (Jr) 2, Jeffrey Elliott

(Jr) 1, Qualin Miller (Jr) 1. Coaches ? Jeff Bontrager, Jordan Elam and Kyle

Cavitt