After a one-year absence, the Yorktown Kitty Kats are back in the playoffs, clinching a berth with a thrilling 52-43 victory over the Kenedy Leopards in a fourth-place tiebreaker last Friday night.
Yorktown and Kenedy entered the final week of District 312A play deadlocked at 8-6, setting up a mustwin showdown. The Kitty Kats first had to navigate a high-stakes road test against Pettus, where they clawed out a hard-fought 5850 victory. Freshman Palyn Koopmann led the charge with 15 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while senior Laynie Boyd added 13 points. A defensive switch in the fourth quarter, with sophomore Rylie Krueger, who had seven key points in the game, and freshman Trinity Flores face-guarding Pettus standout Hayleigh Cruz, proved crucial in sealing the win.
That set the stage for Friday’s tiebreaker game in Yorktown, where the Kitty Kats played with the intensity of a team determined to extend its season. Yorktown jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the first quarter, but Kenedy refused to back down, trimming the deficit to 26-22 at halftime. The teams traded blows in the third, with Yorktown clinging to a 35-32 edge entering the final frame.
