Kennedale Lady Kats Claim the Prize ? going to the final four in Austin

? ? ?In a game that lived up to the expected hype, the #1 team in 3A girls? basketball, Stephenville, fought hard and long before surrendering to a determined and focused #3 team, Kennedale, 49-45. It was Kennedale that put Stephenville in the #1 spot after losing to the Lady Bees in late December, 73-52 in Stephenville. Kennedale had more than a region championship on the line – the Lady Kats had started the season at #1. {{more}}

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? ? ?The game was a seesaw game easily seen by looking at quarters. Stephenville won the 1st by one. In the 2nd Kennedale took control and the lead but it was just 20-18 at halftime. Neither team had more than a 5 point lead during the game as the leader was new almost by the minute. In the 3rd, Stephenville mounted a charge that carried through the 4th. Stephenville was up 32-31 at the beginning of the 4th and managed a 4 point lead in the first half of the quarter. It was seesaw after that but Kennedale took the lead around the 3 minute mark and Stephenville had to play catch up.

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? ? ?The last couple of minutes were not pretty. Double fouls were called with more fouls called in those minutes than any other part of the game. But with Kennedale up by 4 to 5 points in the final seconds, Stephenville was forced to foul continually in an attempt to get the ball back. The Lady Kats made their points when they needed and won that battle even after a technical was called on Kennedale with 5 seconds left in the game. At that point, Kennedale had its biggest lead of the game 48-43.?

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? ? ?Autummn Williams led Kennedale by scoring 16, Travanti Downes had 11, McKinley Bostad had 9, Jasymn Poe had 9, Tahnia McDaniel had 2 and Taryn Johnson had 1.?

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? ? ?Autummn Williams was named MVP for the tournament. Travanti Downes and Jasmyn?Poe were named to the All-Tournament team.?

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? ? ?The Lady Kats will make their second appearance in Austin for the final four. In 2008, A?Coach Hughes led team made it into the finals before losing to a perennial girls? basketball power, Canyon HS. Canyon has since moved up to 4A. ?The Lady Kats will play in a semifinal game on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Smithville at Ervin Center in Austin. The final is scheduled for Saturday ?at 10 a.m.