Photo by KHS
I once saw a cat that had 6 toes, it was named “Thumbs”. It was an oddity. I think I saw another oddity last Friday night in Lewisville when the Wildcats from Kennedale came to claim a regional title and exclusive membership into the final four club of the state playoffs.
Kennedale Head Coach Doug Groff expects his teams to play smart and aggressively. The 2024-25 Kennedale Cats contest the ball anywhere, anytime. This game was no exception.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as the Indians of Sanger lined up against the Wildcats in round 4 of the UIL State 4A/D2 playoffs. The first quarter went as expected, with two good teams fighting hard. Kennedale managed a 3-point lead, 13-10, and the period came to an end. But it was in the second quarter that Kennedale showed that they came to play.
Was that an extra hand or what …
It was the second period that the oddity showed and left the Indians and the referees scratching their heads and even doubting what they were seeing. Either the Cats had third hands, or Coach Groff had taught them one of the best sleight of hand tricks in basketball.
Sanger players were confused as Kennedale slid in and out and around them with hands everywhere, stealing the ball, slapping it away, or breaking up passes. It worked as the Cats outscored the Indians 21-12 to take a 34-22 lead into halftime.
Indians fight back hard in the third period …
After the break, the Indians decided the best play was to fight fire with fire. Sanger came out of the dressing room pushing, crowding, and out-hustling the Wildcats. It worked for the better part of the 3rd period as the Indians drew within 5 points of the lead. Whether it was exhaustion for the Indians or the Wildcats “waking up”, the flow of the game abruptly changed back to the Cats. Although the Cats were outscored 17-13 during the third period, their surge in the last few minutes of the 3rd pushed the lead back to 12 points at 47-39.
Cats commanded the court in the final period …
The surge by Kennedale carried over into the fourth and final period. Once again, Kennedale was playing like they had extra hands. Sanger may have occasionally touched the ball, but the Wildcats always seemed to have the ball. Kennedale won the final period, outscoring their opponent 29-14 and winning the game 76-53.
For Kennedale, Trey Smith led all scorers with 22 points. Other Kennedale players scoring were Jacoby Lovings 18, Jackson Stingley 14, Mason Forbes 8, A’meir Williams 5, Jayden Miller 4, Bryson Nickerson 3, and Jayden Mancha 2.
Third Wildcat state semifinal appearance …
Kennedale has been in the state semifinals twice before. The first time was seventeen years ago with the 2007-08 season, and again six years later in 2014. The 07-08 team (30-5) went on to win Kennedale High School’s only boys basketball state title, winning dramatically, in overtime 61-59 over Burkburnett and yes, on the proverbial last-second shot.
Kennedale’s next state semifinal came six years later in the 2013-14 school year with a team with the best record in school history at 38-0. The unbeaten Wildcats fell to Houston Yates, 86-79, in the semifinals. Ironically, Yates won the state title in the next game against Dallas Madison but was forced to vacate the title because of recruitment violations. Kennedale’s loss to Yates remained on the books. For the faithful, however, it will be Kennedale’s lone unsoiled season.
Doug Groff has been the head coach for all three state qualifiers.
Next up: Krum vs Kennedale, 4A D2 State Semifinals, Tuesday, March 4, 7:30 pm, Glen Rose High School.
More is to follow on the next match-up.
