Tough Hughes Springs gets win over KHS in opener

Photo by Kathy Bowden LISTEN UP — Kilgore High School head girls basketball coach Tracy Kincade (center, kneeling) talks to his team during a time out Tuesday in the season opener against Hughes Springs. Kilgore lost, 55-34, in Kincade’s coaching debut against a Hughes Springs team that made the Class 2A regional finals last season. New Kilgore High School girls basketball coach Tracy Kincade knew that the Lady Bulldogs’ season opener against a very good Hughes Springs team would be a challenge.

He was right.

The Lady Bulldogs lost the game, Kincade’s Kilgore coaching debut, on Tuesday night at home, 55-34, but Kincade said he was much happier after the way his team played in the second half.

Trailing 26-9 at the halftime break (after committing 14 first-half turnovers), the Lady ’Dogs played a good second half, committing only three turnovers and scoring 25 points.

“I thought we played much better in the second half,” Kincade said. “Ashia (Kelly) got into foul trouble, and that changed our game a good bit.”

Kelly, a sophomore, picked up two fouls early, then after sitting a while, was whistled for her third before halftime. She finished with three points and three blocks.

The Lady ’Dogs (0-1), who have won district championships in two of the last three seasons, bring back only two players with varsity experience from last year: Kelly and LaJohnna Woolridge. Woolridge led KHS in scoring Tuesday night with 13 points.

Kilgore had 27 rebounds on the night, but only got to the free throw line for five shots (and went 0 for 5). The Lady Bulldogs shot 11 of 31 from the field, and went 4 of 18 from three-point range. They blocked seven shots.

Other scorers for KHS: Lakelia Williams had six points; Daria Tolbert and Simone Jones each scored four; and Kim Daniels and Tai’Shea Reese each scored two.

Brittany Roberson led Hughes Springs with 16 points. Shantelle Johnson scored 14, and A.J. Johnson scored 10.

The Lady Bulldogs were to host Gladewater on Friday night, but due to the football playoff game (Kilgore vs. Livingston at Lufkin on Friday night at 7:30), the basketball game has been re-scheduled. It will still be at KHS, but will be played Saturday at 2 p.m., beginning with freshmen, with junior varsity and varsity to follow.

The KHS boys basketball season begins Monday, a home game against Pittsburg. It will begin with freshmen at 5 p.m., then JV and varsity. It will be the third season for head coach Brady Gage.

 Sabine beats T.K. Gorman: The Sabine Lady Cardinals, looking to get off to a good start to the 2005-06 season after making the Class 3A playoffs last year for the first time in 13 years, went on the road Tuesday and beat Gorman in Tyler, 5038.

It was the head coaching debut for Teresa Clark, who replaces longtime Sabine girls coach Eddie Shawn, who retired from coaching.

The Lady Cardinals (1-0) were impressive, led by Lacey James, who had 13 points and four steals. Sandy James had 11 points and six rebounds, and Marlana Brittain had eight points and seven rebounds.

Samantha Jackson scored six points, had four steals and eight assists.

Sabine was scheduled to host Jefferson Friday night, but that game has been canceled due to Jefferson’s participation in the football playoffs. The Lady Cards are now off until Tuesday, when they host Quitman, beginning with JV play at 5 p.m.

Sabine coach Bo Barrow’s boys basketball team opens the season Tuesday night at home against White Oak, beginning with freshmen at 5 p.m.

 West Rusk wins opener: The West Rusk Lady Raiders also opened the season on the right note, beating Tatum, 37-30, for head coach Tommy Fields.

For West Rusk, Destiny Walker led with 11 points (including three three-point shots). Patrcia Patin and Alex Hammontree each had 10 points. Shan Hawkins scored four, and Erin Bates two.

“I thought it was a good first game for us,” said Fields, now the longest-tenured girls basketball coach in the Kilgore News Herald area. “We have just had three workouts, so we have a lot of work to do.”

Fields said his Lady Raiders (1-0) were 4 of 13 from the free throw line. He pointed out that Walker had big three-pointers in the second half and Hammontree came up big for the Lady Raiders late to give them the lead.

The Lady Raiders are back in action, varsity-only, on Friday night, hosting Carlisle. Tipoff will be 4 p.m.

Tatum’s JV won, 22-18.