Kennedale holds off Silsbee 81-68

AUSTIN -- Kennedale surprised many by just qualifying for the state tournament. Now the Wildcats figure they might as well win it.

Kennedale looked up to the task Thursday afternoon, dispatching Silsbee 81-68 in a Class 3A state semifinal game at the Frank Erwin Center.

Kennedale will face Burkburnett, a 82-55 winner over San Antonio West Campus, in the 3A state championship on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Seniors Kiefer Hohenberger and Brad Kubenak paved the way for the Wildcats (32-5), scoring more than a third of Kennedale's points and almost half of their rebounds. Hohenberger led all scorers with 20 points and added eight rebounds, while Kubenak notched a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

"That's senior leadership for you," Kennedale coach Doug Groff said. "There hasn't been much that's gone on that they haven't seen. They understand what's going on and they can handle it."

Silsbee tested that notion throughout the game as the two sides traded the lead nine times and were tied five. The ultimate difference proved to be the free throw line.

Kennedale shot 18 of 29 from the free throw line in the second half while the Tigers (29-7) hit just two of nine. Silsbee finished the game hitting just 4 of 14 from the charity stripe and paid the price with several key misses down the stretch.

Still, a 3-pointer by Nick Walters got Silsbee within 62-61 with 5:08 left in the game and the Tigers kept it a one-point game until inside the four-minute mark. Kennedale answered with a 14-1 run, with half the points coming from the free throw line, that ended any chance of a Silsbee rally.

Shannon Robinson led the Tigers with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Walters added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

For the complete photo gallery of this game, click here.

Date of Article: Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:23 pm