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It was not a December to remember for the Kennedale Wildcats (11-12, 2-0). Over that space of time they lost three significant components of their team to injuries while facing some the top talent in the state. {{more: continue …}}
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Key injuries ?
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Put out with injuries in December were Tre Jones (Sr), Tai Davis (Sr) and Devon Stapleton (Sr). Then along came the Whataburger Tournament. Kennedale was 10-9 going into the tournament dropped three games to 4A Burkburnett 75-65, #14 4A Argyle 56-44, and #6 3A Bowie 64-49.?
#24 Tai Davis (Jr) shown in Mineral Wells game is nursing an injury but hopes to keep playing (photo Staci
Otts)
There were moments in each game that were good for the Cats. At the half, they were leading Burkburnett by 13 points and they were down just 6 against Argyle while outscoring Bowie 19-13 in the third. And, Head coach Doug Groff has been pleased with the leadership his top senior players, Uniikye Washington and Bryce Hackett, have provided.?
The Cats won their final game of the tournament against Decatur 56-43. In the game, Kennedale was down by 2 after the first quarter but came back to outscore Decatur in each of the final three periods.
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Gained some girth and height ?
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But the Wildcats have gained some needed girth and height with the addition of senior Nathan Otts (6?4?, 240 lbs) and junior Jaden Smith (6?6? 180 lbs). Both joined the team from the state runner-up Wildcat football team. They were both starters on the 14-2 Wildcat football team that didn?t finish play until just before Christmas.
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2-0 in district play ?
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Still the district favorite, Kennedale has beaten two district foes in first round district action, taking big wins over Mineral Wells and Castleberry. The Cats are in an early lead with Lake Worth at 2-0.
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Mineral Wells ??
- On December 19, they hosted Mineral Wells and came away with a dominating 67-43 win. Breaking a 13-13 tie at the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats when on a 23-6 run in the 2nd and a 21-12 run in the 3rd to take a 28 point lead going into the final quarter.?
- Leading the team was Uniikye Washington (Sr) with 17 points and Bryce Hackett (Sr) with 13 points. Close behind was Scott Whorley (So) with 12 followed by Wayne Landry 7, Tai Davis (Sr) 6, Trey Poe (Jr) 5, James Cain 2, Versie Hodges (So) 2, Jamal Downes (Jr) 2, CJ Johnson (Sr) 1, Robert Corbett (Sr) 1.
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Castleberry ??
- This past Tuesday while the rest of the students were still on the Christmas break, Kennedale travelled to Castleberry to take on the Lions. Again, it was tied after the first quarter at 9 but Kennedale had a 10 point lead at the half and continued to outscore Castleberry in the second half to win by 20 at 62-42.?
- Top scorer for the Wildcats was Jaden Smith (Jr) with 13 followed by 12 from Trey Poe. Scott Whorley finished with 11, Uniikye Washington 10, Bryce Hackett 6, Nathan Otts 3, Tai Davis 2 and Versie Hodges 2.
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The Cats will continue their district run with a game against Diamond Hill-Jarvis at home Friday night with the varsity playing at 8 p.m.
