How did the two teams get here …
Kennedale finished the regular season with an overall record of 27-7, ranked #12 by TASB in its final poll and ranked #4 by MaxPreps in its most recent poll. Kennedale is on a 15-game winning streak.
Krum (26-9,13-1) finished the regular season ranked #15 by TASB and ranked #10 by MaxPreps. Krum has won nine straight games. The Bobcats have earned the title as “giant slayer” in this tournament with the upset of #2 Canyon Randall last week. Randall was one of the favorites to win the 4A championship.
District results …
The Kennedales Wildcats captured the District 12/4A title with a 12-0 record. The top four teams in District 12, in order, were Kennedale, Life Waxahachie (25-9, 9-3), Venus (14-18, 7-5), and Alvarado 17-15, 6-6). Life Waxahachie and Alvarado, with larger enrollment, were assigned to D1. Kennedale and Venus were assigned to the Division 2 tournament. Each division will have a state championship awarded.
Krum earned first place in District 7/4A with a record of 13-1. The top four district finishers in order were Krum (26-9, 13-1), #17 Burkburnett (27-12,12-2), #18 Decatur (29-9, 10-4), and Eagle Mountain (18-15, 8-6). Krum and Eagle Mountain, with smaller enrollment, were assigned to play D2 while the other two went to D1.
Kennedale and Krum have played each other once this season. For both, it was the season opener. Kennedale won the game 76-72 in a hard-fought contest. The Bobcats took an early lead, but the Wildcats countered in the 2nd period to get and hold the lead for the 4-point win. Kennedale has a 4-1 record playing Krum over the past four seasons.
Playoff results this year ..
Kennedale defeated Dallas Lincoln (16-19) in the first round 80-76 in double overtime. In the second round, the Wildcats won 59-52 to knock out Aubrey (22-11). That was followed with a big 82-52 win over Paris North Lamar (24-11). Last week, the Cats advanced to the state semifinals with a 76-53 win over Sanger (27-7).
Krum defeated Ftw Dunbar (12-17) 80-54 in the first round, booted Glen Rose (26-9) next, followed by a 56-48 win over Pampa (21-54). This past weekend, the Krum Bobcats faced their biggest challenge in the playoffs with an upset of #2 Canyon Randall (31-6) 63-61. (Randall had been ranked by TASB as #2 in Class 4A going into the playoffs.
Common Opponents …
Aubrey – Krum lost early season 47-5; Kennedale won in the playoffs 59-48
Celina – Krum lost early season 56-71; Kennedale lost early season 69-78
Sanger – Krum lost pre-district 66-71; Kennedale won in the playoffs won 76-53
Burkburnett – Krum won twice, 61-54 and 65-57; Kennedale won twice, 70-57 and 77-76.
Brief history of the Krum Bobcats …
Thirteen years ago, Krum was playing in Class 2A. The growing district moved up in 2013 to Class 3A, but only for two years. The Bobcats quickly passed through to Class 4A with the next realignment in the 2014-15 season. Like most teams, season results varied, but the last four years have been strong under Head Coach Ty Tabor.
Krum, by beating Randall this year, exacted a measure of revenge as it was Randall who knocked Krum (34-4, 10-0) out of the playoffs last year (2023-24) during the 4th round of the state playoffs. That same season, Kennedale won a preseason game against the Bobcats 74-65.
In 2022-23, Krum (23-12, 9-1) made the 3rd round of the UIL 4A playoffs before losing by two to Wichita Falls Hirschi. That same year, the Wildcats split games, with Kennedale winning an early season game 82-71 and Krum winning a later preseason game 63-71.
For 2021-22 school year, Krum (15-15, 8-4) lost in bi-district play to Ftw Western Hills. Kennedale earned a 47-40 win over the Bobcats 47-40 in early season play that year.
Winner of this game is a toss-up …
This is, as it should be this late in the playoffs, a game with evenly matched teams. Kennedale might be the favorite to win, but the Bobcats proved that they are ready to play with the upset win over Randall last week. It should be the toughest test so far for the Wildcats, even considering the Dallas Lincoln double overtime win four games ago.
Tip off is set for 7:00 pm tonight at Glen Rose High School.
