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? ? ?They had their naysayers. “The boys can?t be good after losing their ‘best’ in a transfer to Mansfield last year. The Lady Kats can?t play without their 2 year all-state player who was lost for the season with an injury. But both teams ended the season undefeated in district play, ranked in the top three in the state and in the case of the Lady Kats winner of the UIL Silver trophy as state runner-ups.??? ? ?Three Lady Kat seniors vowed that this year?s team would win region and {{more}}go to state, a vow fulfilled. The goal was to win the state title and the Lady Kats came ever so close, playing in the finals and giving it their all losing 69-62. Despite the extraordinary play of McKinley Bostad (19 points in the final game and all-tournament team) and the consistently high level of play of Autummn Williams (19 points and all-tournament team) and Travanti Downes (12 points and all-tournament team), the show was stolen by a freshman player from Mexia, Na?Teshia Owens, with 25 points and the tournament MVP award.??? ? ?The team started out ranked as the #1 team in 3A but started without 2 time all-state player, Jamaika Hughes, and then the loss of senior Nia Watson early in the season. Both players had season-ending injuries. The Lady Kats played at times with just 6-7 players. They finished 6th in the Sandra Meadows tournament out of a field of 32 4A and 5A teams. In that tournament they beat state ranked teams Houston Woodland and Vista Ridge but losing to the #1 team in the state undefeated Duncanville. The Lady Kats dropped to #10 but quickly climbed back to 3rd place and then knocked off top-ranked Stephenville in the region finals last week.?? ? ?Congratulations to the coaches Vance Hughes, Mindy Morris Youngs and Corinne Sevilla and the team Erin Washington, Jasmyn Poe, Jamaika Hughes, Tahnia McDaniel, Taryn Johnson, Brenee Ellis, Kalia Spann, McKinley Bostad, Briana Ellis, Nia Watson, Sadie Fleschner, Autummn Williams and Travanti Downes.?? ??
