LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

KHS girls open season tonight

The Kilgore High School Lady Bulldogs officially open the 2008-09 season tonight at Carthage, a 5 p.m. freshmen start, with junior varsity and varsity afterward. KHS is coached by Davia Garrett.

There is an early schedule change, though. The girls were to host Marshall on Friday night, but due to the football game between the same two schools being played at Marshall, coach Garrett has decided to move the KHS-Marshall girls basketball games to Saturday. Freshmen will play at 1 p.m., then JV and varsity.

The KHS boys have a little longer — they open the season officially on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at Athens. The Bulldogs are coached by Jimmy Williams. They'll play a scrimmage Nov. 18 here against New Diana. Kilgore's first home game isn't until Dec. 2, hosting Gladewater.

KC ladies beat Grayson; men at Ranger tonight

The Kilgore College Lady Rangers defeated Grayson, 77- 66, at Grayson over the weekend, and are 2-0 headed into the Rose City Classic at Tyler Junior College this week.

The Lady Rangers, coached by Roy Thomas, will play LSUSouthern Shreveport on Thursday at 4 p.m., will face Arkansas Baptist on Friday at 6 p.m., and will play Collin County on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. All of those games will be broadcast live on the internet at tsrnsports.com, the Texas Sports Radio Network website, with Manny Almanza calling the action.

Coach Brian Hoberecht's Kilgore College Rangers lost a pair of games to good competition over the weekend in a tournament at Fort Smith, Ark., losing to Coffeyville, Kan., 71-48, and then to Fort Smith, 68-60, on Saturday.

The Rangers play at Ranger tonight at 7 p.m., then host Dallas Diesel on Saturday, a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Both teams have more games before Saturday, Nov. 22, but that date is important because that's the opening night for the Region XIV Conference schedule. KC's teams play a doubleheader against Panola College that day, beginning with the women at 2 p.m. FOOTBALL

KHS pep rally Wednesday; tickets on sale

The Kilgore High School football program is once again in the UIL Class 4A playoffs, visiting Marshall this week in the first round. That game will be played Friday at 7:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the area playoffs to play either Red Oak or Ennis.

Tickets for the KHS-Marshall game will be $7 at the gate, but if you'd like, they're already on sale at the KHS athletic department offices for $6 each through Thursday at 3:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. until noon on Friday.

Also, Gabriel Jordan Auto Group and Westbrook Trucking are hosting a pep rally and tailgate party on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the car dealership there at the corner of Highway 259 and Stone Road. The KHS cheerleaders will be selling hot dog plates that night.

SOCCER

Meet-the-coaches Nov. 18

The annual meet-the-coaches night for the Kilgore High School soccer program will be next Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the KHS cafeteria. The KHS soccer booster club invites everyone to come visit with girls soccer coach Amanda Farmer, back for another season, and to meet new boys coach Michael Bradshaw.

Volunteers needed for tourney

The Kilgore Soccer Association is hosting a tournament for boys and girls eight-and-under and 10-and-under teams this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers are needed to help in the concession stand between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday. Anyone interested can call Jesseame Cheshire at (903) 987-0124.