In a tightly contested game on January 7, 2025, the Kennedy-King Statesmen narrowly defeated the Olive-Harvey Panthers, 75-74, in a thrilling finish. Kennedy-King came from behind to secure the win.

Kennedy-King's offensive attack was led by Devontae Jean, who was highly efficient, scoring 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Jean also added 5 rebounds and 4 assists, making key contributions throughout the game.

Omari Watters was also instrumental for Kennedy-King, leading the team with 18 points and 8 rebounds, while Jalen Kittler had a double-double, scoring 13 points and dishing out 10 assists. Kittler added 7 rebounds and 3 steals, playing a pivotal role in Kennedy-King’s defense and ball movement. Carson Tangness added 14 points off the bench, including 3 three-pointers, giving the Statesmen timely scoring.

Olive-Harvey (5-11) fought hard but came up just short. They were led by Derrick Hicks, who scored a game-high 21 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the field, while grabbing 6 rebounds. JCarey Spates added 15 points, and Terrell Craig had a solid game with 15 points and 6 rebounds. The Panthers shot a respectable 55.6% from the field but struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 42.1% of their attempts (8-19), which ultimately cost them the game.

The game was a back-and-forth battle from the start. Olive-Harvey took a slim 38-36 lead into halftime, but Kennedy-King outscored them 39-36 in the second half, with the Statesmen pulling ahead in the final moments. Both teams shot well from three-point range, with Kennedy-King hitting 50.0% of their threes (8-16) and Olive-Harvey connecting on 42.9% (6-14).

Turnovers played a significant role in the game, as Olive-Harvey committed 27 turnovers compared to Kennedy-King’s 13. Despite dominating the boards with 29 total rebounds, Olive-Harvey’s inability to take care of the ball allowed Kennedy-King to capitalize and edge them out in a game that came down to the wire.