Kennedale girls visualize success in Saturday’s 3A state final

By Travis L. Brown

Special to the Star-Telegram

The Kennedale girls basketball team played the waiting game Friday in Austin for its date in the UIL Class 3A state title game. They spent the time sharpening a game plan that is all about visualization.

A 87-66 semifinal win over Smithville on Thursday gave Kennedale (31-6) a day to wait in the state capital, so coach Vance Hughes surrounded his girls with basketball.

Friday morning was spent practicing and game planning for Mexia (35-3), which advanced to the state final by defeating Krum 50-41.

Key for Hughes during practice was to emphasize to his posts the importance of their play on the offensive end of the court.

“It will be crucial, with the height advantage we have, for our posts to step up and have a good game,” Hughes said.

Hughes has three players who are 6-feet or taller, including junior Nia Watson and 6-1 posts Sadie Fleschner, a senior, and sophomore Tahnia McDaniel.

Mexia’s tallest player is 5-9 senior Brandi Jones, but what concerns Hughes is his opponent’s overall team speed. He said he’ll have to be smart in not allowing Mexia to run circles around his taller players.

Kennedale left practice with game plan intact, and watched Duncanville’s 64-40 Class 5A semifinal win over League City Clear Springs to continue the intense basketball focus for its game at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Frank Erwin Center.

Saturday, the team was scheduled to wake up early and head to the gym to watch the end of the Class A Division I championship and ride into their game having seen the excitement of someone winning a state championship.

“We’ll forget about being tired and sleepy and see one team win a championship, and hopefully, we’ll get that in mind to do the same,” Hughes said.

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