A.J. Carter scored 24 points to lead Kennedy to a 72-62 win over Class 3A top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert Friday night at the Kennedy gym.

Cole Murdock scored 12 points and John Bardsley added 11 for Kennedy (16-5, 12-4).

Cordell Pemsl scored 20 points and Jerad Walker added 16 for Wahlert (17-4, 13-3).

Kennedy pulled away from a 35-31 lead with an 22-8 burst in the third quarter.

Wahlert closed within seven points with a minute to play, but could not catch the Cougars.

WAHLERT (62): Walker 5 4-4 16, Lattner 0 0-0 0, Timp 4 2-2 10, Carter 2 2-2 6, Ott 0 2-2 2, Potts 3 0-0 8, Adams 0 0-0 0, Holtmann 0 0-0 0, Pemsl 8 4-6 20. Totals 22 14-16 62.

KENNEDY (72): Daniels 2 0-0 5, Carter 8 6-9 24, Jacobus 1 1-1 4, Bardsley 3 4-4 11, Murdock 5 2-3 12, Gardner 0 0-0 0, Gurling 0 0-0 0, Heisler 3 3-3 9, Hall 0 0-0 0, Odom 0 0-0 0, Holzer 0 0-0 0, Heitland 2 3-4 7. Totals 24 19-24 72.

Halftime - Kennedy 35, Wahlert 31. 3-point goals - Wahlert 4 (Walker 2, Potts 2), Kennedy 5 (Carter 2, Daniels, Jacobus, Bardsley). Fouled out - None.