’Dogs, Lady ’Dogs getting better

Courtesy photo by Cindy Kulak GOOD WEEKEND — Kilgore High School senior defender Rafael Lara (right) steals the ball from a Terrell attacker. Lara and the Bulldogs made the finals of the Terrell tournament, but lost to Terrell in a shootout. It took a few games, but both the Kilgore High School soccer teams appear to be getting their “sea” legs underneath them.

Both the KHS boys and girls competed over the weekend in a large tournament in Terrell. The girls, coached by Heidi Hagan, won the consolation championship; the boys made the finals against the home team, and lost in a shootout.

The Bulldogs (2-4-1) will be at home tonight against Athens. Junior varsity play will begin at 5:30, with varsity to follow. All KHS home soccer games are played at R.E. S. John Memorial Stadium.

Boys coach Kris Duplissey was impressed by the continued development of his sophomoredominated squad, who went 2dominated squad, who went 21 in the tournament. The Bulldogs opened with a pair of wins on Friday, then gave Terrell all it could handle in the shootout.

Scoring for KHS in the finals were Will Estel and Travis Hull, with Estel getting credit for an assist on Hull’s goal.

“We had a good tournament,” Duplissey said. “We’re getting a little bit better.”

Duplissey has said he hopes to see his team improve with each game leading up to their District 16-4A opener on Tuesday, Jan. 31 (next week!) at Henderson.

Coach Hagan’s Lady Bulldogs lost their tournament opener to Paris in a shootout, but then beat John Tyler in the same fashion. The Lady Bulldogs beat Palestine 3-0 Saturday morning to win the consolation championship. The KHS girls also went 2-1 in tournament play. They are off tonight.

Dana Deerinwater, Sara Stewart, Suzie Espinoza, Vanessa Davila, and Rosa Chavez were among the KHS girls who scored in tournament games.