By Rodney Hays

Editor

Nobody knows for sure, but the Prosper Eagles got what could be the first playoff win in the history of the boys basketball program Friday night.

Prosper traveled to Southlake Carroll HIgh School to take on the No. 9 Kennedale Wildcats in the area round of the UIL boys basketball playoffs. Prosper beat the Wildcats 72-70 to claim the area championship.

Head Coach Greg Nix said he didn't know if it was the first playoff win for the basketball team or not, but it is a big win for the Eagles.

The Eagles had their work cut out for them against a big, physical Kennedale team led by 6-10 Nick Cates. Cates had 14 blocks on the night for the Wildcats.

Nix said the team used a 2-3 zone to keep Cates in check and tried to speed up the tempo to wear the big man down.

The strategy seemed to work for the Eagles, who had a 16-point lead in the third quarter. The Wildcats were able to cut the lead to 7, but the Eagles built it right back up to 15. Kennedale was able to cut the lead to 2 but could not overcome the Eagles.

Nix said several key errors led to the Kennedale comebacks.

"We had two or three crucial turnovers down the stretch," Nix said. He said the team also "missed 9 of 10 free throws in the fourth."

Marcus Oliver-Davis came up big for the Eagles with 25 points and 22 board. The 6-2 junior also had the task of guarding much taller Cates most of the evening.