LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

KC teams split with San Jac

They were playing Region XIV Conference games in two different cities, and the results were just as opposite for the Kilgore College basketball squads Wednesday night.

The Kilgore College Runnin’ Rangers lost to San Jacinto, 73-64, in Pasadena; the Lady Rangers stomped San Jac, 103-79, in Houston.

Coach Scott Schumacher’s Rangers are now 8-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play, making their return to Masters Gymnasium on Saturday night — their first home game since Dec. 1 — all the more important.

Coach Contina James’ Lady Rangers (7-8 overall, 2-3 in conference) added to the frustration of the last winless team in the conference. Headed into last night’s game, San Jac was the last-place team in the conference, having lost each of the four conference games it had played. Now, it’s 0-5.

Both KC teams face Angelina College on Saturday, beginning with the ladies game at 2 p.m. The men will follow, likely a 4 p.m. tip-off. The Angelina men are ranked 11th in the latest NJCAA poll, while the Angelina ladies have been one of those up-and-down teams so far this season.

Wednesday night in Pasadena, the Rangers lost even though they played San Jac a very good game, trailing by just five in the final minute. Jonathan Leopaul led KC with 25 points. Marcus Thornton scored 11 for the Rangers, and Ron Larris also hit double-figures with 10.

Marcus Hubbard and James Causey each scored four points.

Rob McIver led San Jac with 22 points.

 KC 103, San Jac 79 (ladies): The Lady Rangers hit 100 points for the second time in conference play (the first was the conference opener, when they scored 106 in a loss at Panola College).

KC got 21 points and seven rebounds from leading scorer Adonna Weaver, 16 points from Candice McCarty, 13 points and 10 boards from Josilyn Wilkes, and four points and 11 rebounds from Dominique Brown, who also contributed heavily to the offense with 10 assists.

Ashlee Thomas scored 25 for San Jac.

SOCCER

KSA registration Saturday

The Kilgore Soccer Association will conduct registration for its spring season this Saturday, Jan. 14, and Saturday, Jan. 21 at the cafeteria at Kilgore Heights from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Registration is open to boys and girls who have turned four by Dec. 31, 2005. Players new to the KSA must bring a copy of their birth certificate for proof of age. Returning fall players can look for their postcard to re-register by mail.

Games are played on Saturday mornings at the Kilgore Sports Complex on Highway 135.

For more information, call (903) 9848132, or see the KSA’s Web site, kilgoresoccer. org.

FOOTBALL

Kilgore’s Jones up for national award

Kilgore High School senior defensive end Eddie Jones, a Parade All-American who just returned from representing East Texas in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, might not be finished collecting awards.

Jones has been nominated as the Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year.

As a result of the nomination, Jones is among a select group of players, according to a press release by Procter & Gamble, who are eligible to be selected for the national award and be honored in a feature in USA TOday in February.

The award honors athletes who are able to elevate their play and embody leadership, performance and desire, and serve as examples to their teammates on and off the field.

The top 50 players will receive a plaque and other awards.

For more information on the award, see oldspiceredzoneplayer.com.

BASEBALL

KHS booster club meets Tuesday

The Kilgore High School Baseball Booster Club will meet Tuesday night at the LEAP building on the Kilgore Heights campus. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Some of the topics to be discussed: booster club membership, the Hit-a-Thon, the upcoming Oil Belt Tournament, merchandise and adopting by-laws.

Members are asked to make an effort to attend.

ROLLER HOCKEY

ETHL sign-up today, this week

Registration for the East Texas Hockey League’s next season is this week — today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday — at Interskate in Kilgore.

Sign-up for the ETHL is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the skating rink (located at Highway 259 and Kilgore Street), and on Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. Sign up for the deck hockey league will also be conducted during those times.

Discounts are available for families with multiple players and for new players.

Directors are Terry and Cheryl Houk.

For more information, call (903) 9843729. Online, visit easttexashockey.com.

— BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS