Grady avenges loss to Ropes in playoff opener

November 17, 2012

Grady's Brandon Lucas passes to E.J. Rodriguez during Friday's 80-56 win over the Ropes Eagles (7-4). The Wildcats (8-3) advance to play Petersburg on Friday in Hermleigh.

ACKERLY — Grady (8-3) opened its season with back-to-back losses, including a narrow, 56-48 defeat at the hands of the Ropes Eagles (7-4) in the Wildcats first game of the year.

After winning six of its last seven regular season games, Grady — under the tutelage of first year Head Coach Chris Kuykendal — met Ropes once again Friday in the first round of postseason action.

This time, a much-improved Wildcat squad upended the Eagles in a convincing, 80-56 win.

Grady trailed 16-0 early in the affair, but rallied back to take a 44-22 heading into the second half.

“I think we put two portions of a game together tonight on offense and defense,” Kuykendal told the Midland Reporter-Telegram. “We fell behind early and they couldn't stop our offense once we got going.”

Grady will travel to Hermleigh for a game against the Petersbug Buffaloes (10-1), which is tentatively set for 6 p.m. Saturday.