There were hugs for Kennedy High's basketball team after its game against Washington but these were not victory hugs and no player received more than April Ham.
In the final 2 1/2 minutes of the third quarter Kennedy scored the final 10 points, four by Ham, the vocal leader of the Golden Cougars. When the quarter ended, Ham came off the court with a gaze firm and steady. Kennedy, which had trailed by nine at halftime, had cut a Washington lead that had been as large as 12 to three.
But Kennedy's momentum melted and Ham's stare turned to tears as Washington defeated the two-time defending City Section 4-A Division champion, 60-44, in a quarterfinal game Wednesday night at Kennedy.
Washington (13-10), the third-place representative from the Mid-City League, blocked Kennedy's return to the Sports Arena by unleashing Detra Lockhart.
Lockhart, self-inspired according to her coach, scored 11 of her game-high 30 points in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Kennedy converted 2 of 17 shots in the period.
