PHOTO: Carter’s Amarion Hunter makes a three-pointer and finished with team-high 21 points
By Brian Gosset
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X – @gmsportsmedia1
MIDLOTHIAN – Kennedale’s title defense came to an end on Friday night against Dallas Carter, 76-58, in the Class 4A D2 Region 2 final at Midlothian High School.
The Wildcats end the season 31-6.
Carter (29-6), No. 1 in the 4A state rankings according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, advances to its first state semifinal since 2018 where the Cowboys will play Brock (28-9).
Brock knocked off Lubbock Liberty 56-42 on Friday night.
After Kennedale got a steal and layup in the first five seconds, Carter scored the next seven points and 16 of 19 following a dunk by Kaiden Eason. The Cowboys led 23-8 after the first quarter.
Kennedale’s Trey Smith, who scored a game-high 25 points, had eight in the second quarter to help the Wildcats get into a rhythm on offense, but their defense continued to struggle with containing Carter.
Carter’s lead extended to 21 before Kennedale pulled within 39-21 at the intermission after Jacoby Lovings hit a step-back three-pointer to beat the buzzer.
The Wildcats couldn’t get close enough to pose any threat in the second half. Lovings chipped in 13 points and Kennedale hit 10 three-pointers.
Amarion Hunter led Carter with 21 points followed by Eason (15), Landen Higgs (14) and Terrell Jackson (11).
Kennedale beat Houston Wheatley 69-65 in last year’s 4A D2 final for the program’s second title – first since 2008.
