Kennedale responds to every blow, defeats Wheatley for first state title in 17 years
Kennedale head coach Doug Groff said he knew his team had the talent, heart and mentality to bounce back facing a deficit.
Kennedale, due to subpar efficiency, had to continuously prove that against Wheatley in the Class 4A Division 2 state championship. Kennedale shot 10 of 26 from the free-throw line and 1 of 10 from three-point range.
Although Kennedale kept absorbing blows from Wheatley, the team kept retaliating with haymakers of its own. Groff said all his team needed was to be within striking distance for a chance, and that goal was accomplished.
In the final minutes, a 9-0 run gave Kennedale a lead, and it was maintained. Kennedale secured a 69-65 victory on Friday, March 7 at the Alamodome to secure its first state title in 17 years.
“They’re gutsy,” Groff said. “They fight it out. If we’re not playing good, we’re going to try to wear people down. They stuck together. Encouraged each other. It’s what I saw tonight and what I’ve seen the entire year.”
Kennedale is the first school from Tarrant County to win a boys’ basketball state title since Mansfield Timberview in the 2019 season. The victory gave Kennedale its second state championship — the first was in 2008.
“I think this group is special because they’re fun, they’re energetic,” Groff said. “I love all my teams, but this group seems to have a real tight-knit connection to the community that I haven’t seen in other teams.”
To start the game, Wheatley (28-8) went on a 9-0 run, and Kennedale’s offense struggled with a physical, aggressive Wheatley defense that pressed and blitzed ball handlers. Kennedale (33-7), ranked No. 12 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, had nine turnovers in the frame but showcased better composure after taking a few minutes to settle in.
Wheatley took an 18-12 lead into the second quarter that Kennedale cut to one-point after three consecutive field goals. Wheatley, however, quickly regained its lead and added to it, leading by 14 with 2:39 to go in the half.
Kennedale responded with a 12-0 run capped by a fastbreak layup through contact by junior Trey Smith.
“This is what we do,” Groff said. “I know it seems funny to say that, but we’ve done it all year. We’ve always responded to challenges. We’ve always responded to runs. It sounds cocky to say that but it was almost expected that we would fight back.”
Wheatley took a narrow 36-34 lead into the third quarter but once again separated itself, taking a 44-39 advantage with less than two minutes left in the frame.
At that point, Kennedale had missed its last five field goals and had four quick turnovers. Once again, Kennedale bounced back, finishing the third quarter with a 7-0 run and taking its first lead with its first three-pointer of the game, which junior Jacoby Lovings made.
Groff said that when it comes to three-point shooting, you have to be fine with the makes and misses. He did add that three-point shooting was not part of Kennedale’s game plan, which was to keep attacking the rim.
“You’re going to make some (three-pointers),” Groff said. “You’re going to miss some. But you know, it’s important that you keep fighting. It’s important you go get that offensive rebound.”
In the fourth quarter, Kennedale proved that at every point where Wheatley made a run, a counter run would be made.
Wheatley held a five-point lead with 4:19 to go; Kennedale went on a 9-0 run to take a four-point lead with 2:34 remaining.
“They don’t give up,” Groff said. “They fight. We’ve been behind before. We’ve played good teams before. We felt like if we could keep it tight in the fourth quarter, we’ll make our run, and we’ll pull away.”
The Wildcats found themselves in a position to win, and Smith, who was previously 1 of 6 from the line in the game, hit a free throw with four seconds remaining to seal the game. Smith earned MVP honors, finishing with 22 points on 10 of 18 shooting with four rebounds and two assists.
Kennedale junior Jacoby Lovings, finished with 16 points and six rebounds. He said winning a state championship was a great feeling.
“We’ve been dreaming about this since sixth and seventh grade,” Lovings said. “It’s a dream, man. I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM.
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