Photos by Addison Poe
This year’s edition of the KHS Wildcats Basketball varsity is a well-built car, carefully put together and kept running on all cylinders. It is not a “Cad” but not a Soul either. It is dependable, capable at long sustain speeds, great on fast breaks, and will provide a smooth ride. Each part works in tandem and is driven by whoever has the hot hand. There is no one star.
It [team] performed well in the regular season finishing at 27-7 overall and 10-2 in district play. MaxPreps ranks the Kennedale team at #18 across the state in Class 4A.
The Cats this year are in the state 4A playoffs as a second seed from District 10/4A, one game behind Life Waxahachie who finished the regular season at 30-5, 11-1. Life’s only loss in district play came at the hands of the Wildcats.
Round One Playoffs (Bi-District) Tuesday …
Kennedale has drawn the Young Men’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth from District 9/4A as its first playoff opponent. YMLA has a record of 13-14, 7-5. District 9 was led by Eastern Hills (25-7, 11-1) followed by Dunbar (14-16, 10-2), YMLA, and Benbrook (11-21, 5-7).
Two of YMLA’s biggest wins this season came against 5A Southwest 56-41 and later against Dunbar in district play 45-44.
Kennedale and YMLA have only one common opponent this season, the Alvarado Indians. YMLA lost to the Indians 54-44. The Wildcats split games with Alvarado losing 66-64 and then winning 63-49 the second time around.
The game is as close to a home game as the Cats will have in the playoffs since it will be played at Arlington Martin High School, 4501 W Pleasant Ridge Rd, Arlington, TX 76016. (Directions) The game time is 7 pm. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. They can be bought online here as well as at the door.
Drivers for the Wildcats this season …
In the last ten games, the top drivers for this team have been Pablo Agosto-Vega (Jr) who has hit half of his 3-pointers and has been excellent at the line while averaging over 12 points per game and leading the team in deflections and steals.
Landon Brooks (Jr) is not far behind with over 11 points per game but leads the team in rebounds and blocks.
Austin Pickett (Sr) and Tristan Lewis (Jr) both averaged 9 ppg. Lewis is tops at the line and in assists and is second in deflects and steals. Pickett comes in 2nd in assists and 3rd in total rebounds and in steals.
Jacoby Lovings (Fr) averages 7 ppg and is 3rd and 4th in deflections and steals respectively.
Breylen Harris (Sr) put up 6 ppg and is 4th on the team in rebounds and deflections and 5th in blocks.
But it has been a team effort along with points and plays by Noah Biles (Jr), Ruben Rivera Agosto (Jr), A’meir Williams (So), Tyler Choice (Sr), Destined Mason (Sr), Emmanuel Okewole (Sr), Isaiah Salas (Jr), and Grayson Powers (Jr).
