The Kennedale Wildcat basketball team (10-1) finished off Lake Worth and Springtown last week to enter their last game one game ahead of Castleberry.? {{more: continue …}}?
Castleberry at 10-2 is finished and will be watching Tuesday night as Kennedale takes on Benbrook. It was the Lions from River Oaks that tagged Kennedale with that single loss two weeks ago.
Benbrook is in 3rd place in the standings at 7-3 followed by Lake Worth at 6-5.
Senior Uniikye Washington scored 36 points in the two wins for Kennedale last week (Photo: Staci Otts)
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the Kennedale/Benbrook match-up …
Kennedale (20-13, 10-1) will travel to Benbrook (15-16, 7-3) Tuesday to face the Leopards at 8:00 p.m.?The last time the two teams played was January 19th, when Kennedale earned a 77-69 win. Kennedale used a big 2nd quarter to put some space between them and kept the Leopards at bay the rest of the game. Benbrook split games with both Castleberry and Lake Worth, playing hot and cold this season.??Kennedale is the favorite in this game but the Leopards have not lost a district game at home this season.
Game updates:?
Tuesday, February 6 ? Lake Worth (W) 62-31?
- The Frogs had the fourth playoff spot already on the way to their table but a win over the Wildcats would have wrapped up neatly for a nice take-out after dinner treat. In their first meeting this year, the Frogs took a 17-14 lead in Q1 and were down just 2 at halftime at 31-29 before losing to Kennedale 65-56. This time around Lake Worth could not keep up with the Cats? pressure defense.
Senior Bryce Hackett had 27 points in the Wildcat sweep last week (Photo: Staci Otts) The Frogs matched play with the Wildcats in the first quarter, remaining within a single point at 12-11. After that though, it was all Cats play. Lake Worth managed to score just 3 in the second and 6 in the third while Kennedale scored 31 poionts during that same stretch. The score was 43-20 heading into the 4th period and would end up doubling the score on the Frogs at 62-31.
- Six players scored for Kennedale with three combining for 46 of the Cats? total. Uniikye Washington?(Sr) had 16 and both Bryce Hackett?(Sr) and Jaden Smith?(Jr) finished with 15 each. Devon Stapleton?(Sr) had 9 followed by 5 from Scott Whorley?(So)and 2 from Jamal Downes?(Jr).?
Friday, February 9 ? Springtown (W) 71-43?
- It was senior night at Kennedale High School, as the Wildcats took on the Springtown Porcupines. Springtown was in 5th place with just a sliver of a chance of moving up into the final 4th playoff slot for District 7-4A.
Senior Nathan Otts taking a shot against Springtown. He is one of 7 seniors on the team this season (Photo:
Staci Otts)
Kennedale quickly dispense with any upset hopes by outshooting the Pojos 13-2 in the 1st quarter while on their way to a 33-15 halftime score. After the half, the Wildcats smothered Springtown, allowing just 5 points in the 3rd while scoring 23. The Cats claimed another win 71-43.
- Seniors on the team for the Senior Night game combined to score over half of the points with 42 of the total 71 points scored for the evening. Senior Uniikye Washington for the Wildcats pumped in 20 points for the game as lead scorer. Senior Bryce Hackett had 11.
- Four more seniors contributed to the total. Senior Devon Stapleton, a 1st Team All-District player last year who has been out a major portion of the season with an injury and who just recently returned to play, dropped in 5 points. Other seniors Wildcats scoring included, Nathan Otts 2, Lane Hubenak 2 and Stephen Jerrick with 2 points.
Senior Lane Hubenak off the bench to score for the Wildcats Friday night (Photo: Staci Otts)
- Also contributing to the win were juniors Jaden Smith with 14 and Trey Poe with 9 points along with two sophomores, Scott Whorley with 4 and Blake Taylor with 2.
