Reg 1 Quarterfinals Kennedale vs Hirschi

Wildcat basketball is in familiar territory tonight, Kennedale has played in the quarterfinals 5 out of the past 6 years. This year Kennedale will be playing Wichita Falls Hirschi at Decatur with a tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Expect fireworks. {{more: [read more]}} Directions

 

playoff field down to 32 …

The state 4A playoff field is down to 32 4A teams from across the state. In 4A Region 1, the quarterfinals match-ups are Levelland (22-11, 7-3) vs Lamesa (25-7, 8-3), #25 Hirschi (22-11, 7-2) vs Kennedale (23-12, 9-1), #19 Estacado (24-7, 9-2) vs Bushland (18-9, 8-0) and #11 Abilene Wylie (27-5, 8-0) vs #17 Decatur (23-8, 5-2). These eight teams will be playing for a chance to win the regional championship in Lubbock March 4th and a state final four slot.

This is an unusual semifinal group in that there are no top ten teams in the mix, just three top twenty and one, Hirschi, coming in at #25. Four teams including Kennedale are unranked. Only four teams were 1st seeds (district champs), Bushland, Estacado, Wylie, Kennedale. But, one district has three representatives. District 2-4A is represented by Estacado, Lamesa and Levelland. 2015-16 UIL Boys State Basketball Championships – 4A Regions 1 & 3 tournament.

 

third time to meet this year …

For Kennedale and Hirschi this will be the third time this year that they have faced one another. On December 11, the Cats won 74-60 and then lost to Hirschi 49-60 less than two weeks later.

In common opponents, both have had similiar results. Both Kennedale and Hirschi have beaten Iowa Park, Kennedale last week and Hirschi twice during district play. Both have wins over Bowie and Lubbock Cooper. Kennedale and Hirschi each have a loss against #11 Abilene Wylie. And, both have lost to #7 Bridgeport early in the season. However, Hirschi got a second chance last week and beat Bridgeport in area play by a score of 48-40.

 

teams are late bloomers …

Offensively, Kennedale averages 68 points per game while Hirschi averages 58 points. Both teams are late bloomers, meaning that most of their losses came early in the season. Both teams are senior loaded. The Huskies and the Wildcats are similar in height, listing two players at 6-4. Kennedale has a couple at 6-5.

The Huskies last lost a game on February 16 in a one point loss in a battle for the district title against Burkburnett. Kennedale last lost a game on Feb 12 against Midlothian in a battle of district leaders.

 

both lost in quarterfinals last year …

Last year Kennedale was knocked out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals by Bridgeport. Bridgeport went on to win it all in Austin. Hirschi is no stranger to the quarterfinals, losing out last year to Abilene Wylie.

What all this means is that Kennedale has its first real game in the playoffs. These teams are similar in history, records and looks. Kennedale will the underdog but not by much but that’s ok with the Wildcats. They are just looking for the win and a chance to return to Lubbock.