BATTLE OF WILDCATS: Kennedale Claims their 1st Texas High School Basketball State Championship since 2008

After trailing for almost three quarters, the Kennedale Wildcats clawed their way back into the game to overcome a 14-point first half deficit to knock off the Houston Wheatley Wildcats, 69-65; Junior guard Trey Smith's 22 points take home the MVP.

Wheatley forward Kam'Ron Hamiton leaps for a block on Kennedale's Jacks Stingley in the first half of the TX-4A Division II state championship. | Tom Dendy / Tom Dendy

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - The Texas high school 4A-Division II state championship was a barn burner.

The Kennedale Wildcats (32-7) battled their way back led by junior guards Trey Smith and Jacob Lovings to capture the state championship. Smith led Kennedale with 22 points earning the game's MVP.

Junior guard Trey Smith made a nice move to get away from a Wheatley defender to get a nice layup at the rim for Kennedale. Smith led his Wildcats with 22 points and winning the Game's MVP. / Tom Dendy

Kennedale was down for much of the first three periods and trailed by 14 in the second quarter, but led by their dynamic duo junior guards, they fought back to close the half on a 12-0 run headed into the halftime break trailing by just two, 36-34.

“We trust them to win us the game,” Kennedale coach Doug Groff said. “Everybody has a role, and they know they’re the finishers. And the other guys know that they’re gonna take care of it.”

After the break, Kennedale would continue to fight cutting the lead to one on two occasions, but Wheatley would always have an answer to hold on to the lead.

Until - Lovings drilled a corner three on a quick offensive set giving Kennedale it's first lead since early in the first period at 46-44.

In the fourth quarter, it was a fast pace, back and forth action as both teams battled for the gold state championship trophy. Eventually, it was Lovings that nailed crucial free throws to make it a four point lead, and Smith added one of two at the charity stripe to put the game on ice with less than 10 seconds to play.

“Going through my mind is, ‘I gotta make one free throw,’ but I wanted to make two, but it just didn’t happen,” Smith said. “So I’m glad I made the first free throw.”

Wheatley’s Quinton Sanders, who finished with a game-high 24 points, helped his team jump to a lead in the third. But Kennedale was relentless.

Kennedale’s Jackson Stingley was running down the court to beat Wheatley’s full-court press when, as he looked to his left, he saw Lovings. The 5-10 guard rewarded his teammates by making a 3-pointer that gave Kennedale its first lead of the game with 56 seconds left in the third quarter.

"It is a dream come true, we have been dreaming of this for a long time," Lovings said of he and his Kennedale teammates about winning the coveted Texas basketball state championship. "It feels good."

Groff and his Kennedale teammates were never worried that the lights were to bright and they knew they had a chance to win because they had been battled tested all season long and trailed in games before

“They don’t give up. They fight,” Groff said. “We’ve been behind before. We played good teams before. We felt like if we could keep it tight, and in the fourth quarter we’ll make our run and we’ll pull away.”

The Kennedale Wildcats celebrate their Texas high school boy's basketball state championship, Friday night | Tom Dendy / Tom Dendy

#12 Kennedale v #8 Wheatley: UIL TX-4A Division II state championship Recap:

Final Score: Kennedale: 68-65

4Q: 5.3: Kennedale: 68-65

Wheatley last shot at prayer, Kobre Dickerson banks in three-pointer with 5.3 seconds.

4Q: 14.6 seconds: Kennedale: 68-62

Quinton Sanders misses desperation 3. Trey Smith rebound. Fouled. Will shoot 2.

Lovings breaks the presses, dribbles around, and draws foul in corner with 25 seconds left. Converts 2 Free throws

Kennedale ball.

Wheatley Full Timeout and Possesses the Ball.

4Q: 41.5 seconds left. Kennedale: 66-62

Trey Smith pick pockets the Wheatley player and goes to the hoop to draw the foul. Shooting 2 - Hits 1 of 2.

Lovings nails a crucial two free throws with 1 minute to give Kennedale three point lead back.

4Q: 1:02: Kennedale: 63-62

Kennedale is shooting 4-16 from the free throw line.

Quinton Sanders converts layup on the other end as Kennedale misses 2 free throws. Timeout Kennedale.

4Q: 2:40: Kennedale: 60-57

Jacob Lovings with a crazy acrobatic layup up and under the defender. Chance at a 3 point play. Converts Free Throw.

Stingley gets the block on one end and then the lay in on the other.

Trey Smith is absolute cinema with an off balanced floater. 57-55.

Elder draws an And 1 Foul at the Rim to give Wheatley the three-point lead back. Converts at the line.

Wheatley team technical foul after Wheatley reached across end line and touched the Kennedale player.

4Q: 5:55: Kennedale: 50-48

After Wheatley tied it at 46, Kennedale has used their own press defense to get back-to-back steals and take the lead back.

4Q: 8:00: Kennedale: 46-44

End of THREE AT The Dome: Kennedale has clawed their ways all the way back and enter the final period with a 2-pt lead.

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3Q: 48.8 SECONDS: KENNEDALE: 46-44

A corner three by Jacob Lovings gives Kennedale their first lead of the game with less than a minute in the third.

Jacob Lovings gets a nice bucket in an offensive set getting around one defender for a off balanced floater, then Trey Smith intercepts a long pass then a nice 2 point bucket to get to draw within one.

3Q: 3:08: Wheatley: 43-38

Great outlet pass on a press back as Quinton Sanders finds himself wide open for a breakaway dunk.

Senior guard Quinton Sanders finds himself in the open court after a nice press break on a long outlet pass in the third quarter. / Tom Dendy

3Q: 5:09 Wheatley: 39-38

A'Meir Williams with the offensive rebound and putback slam

Bryson Nickerson earns a hard 2 for Kennedale.

Quinton Sanders starts the scoring for Wheatley with an 'And 1

THIRD PERIOD

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HALFTIME LEADING SCORERS: Kennedale: Trey Smith 14 points Wheatley: Quinton Sanders 11 points

HALFTIME SCORE: WHEATLEY LEADS BY JUST 2 POINTS AFTER LEADING BY 14 , 36-34

Trey Smith has 14 points to lead Kennedale at the half.

Kennedale has come alive. Jacob Lovings and Trey Smith have come alive for the Wildcats in green. They are finishing the first half on a 12-0 run over the last 2:15 of the half.

2Q: 2:04: Wheatley: 36-26

After a 7-0 Wheatley run, Kennedale answer with a two quick buckets to cut their deficit to 10.

DUNK ALERT!!! Quinton Sanders with the 1-hand put back slam off offensive rebound.

Herb Goldsmith adds his second three of the game.

Transition offense for Wheatley leads to a Kobre Dickerson and a Wheatley 6-0 run to get the lead back to 9. (29-20, Wheatley, 4:24)

2Q: 4:45: Wheatley: 27-20

Back-to back Kennedale buckets bring it to 19-18, but then Wheatley has the answer with a top of they key 3 from Quinton Sanders

SECOND PERIOD

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End of the FIRST QUARTER: Wheatley leads 18-12

1Q: 1:19: Wheatley: 16-12

Then, A'Meir Williams and Lovings get another set of back-to-back buckets

Wildcats respond with three ball from Kobre Dickerson.

Kennedale settling in with back to back buckets to cut the lead to 3. (11-8, 2:29, 1Q)

Kennedale showing early nerves has already committed 6 turnovers

1Q: 5:08: Wheatley: 9-2

Trey Smith gets Kennedale on the board for his first bucket

Dorsey back at the line for 3 free throws - Wheatley on a 9-0 run to start.

Elder with the transition corner mid range jumper

David Dorsey adds two free throws

Wheatley strikes first on a nice post pass from Peter Dorsey to Marquon Elder

FIRST PERIOD

Kennedale starters: Trey Smith, Jacoby Lovings, Bryson Nickerson, Jacks Stingley, A'mier Williams

Wheatley starters: David Dorsey, Quinton Sanders, Marquan Elder, Peter Dorsey, Kam'ron Hamilton