KHS teams lose Tuesday games at Canton, home vs. Gladewater

Both Kilgore High School basketball teams are playing a challenging non-district schedule this year, and it continued last night, both at home and on the road.

Coach Davia Garrett's Lady Bulldogs lost at Canton, 70-39, and coach Jimmy Williams' Bulldogs lost their home opener to Gladewater in overtime, 48- 45.

Kilgore's boys are home on Friday night against Carthage, a varsity-only night beginning at 6:30 p.m., and the Lady 'Dogs play this weekend, beginning Thursday, in a round-robin tournament at Union Grove.

• Canton 70, Kilgore 39: "We played great defense the first half and were only down by six in the third quarter," Garrett explained. "But we turned the ball over a few times on offense. In the third, we scored 14, but let them score 16. In the second half, we got our offense going, but slacked off on the defense."

Airren Blankenship, a junior, scored 12 points off the bench for Kilgore, and fouled out in the beginning of the fourth period. Raven Wiley had nine, but got into foul trouble early. Wiley and Blankenship both had a good night rebounding, Garrett said, and each had two blocked shots. Kearia Rayson had seven points. "She played well last night," Garrett said. "She was more aggressive with taking the ball to the hole."

Andrea Ashley and Lanita Bryant each had three points and LaDoris Conrod and Kitt Sechrist both had two.

The Lady Bulldogs play in the tournament at Union Grove on Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m. against Carlisle. On Friday, Kilgore will play Union Grove, also at 2 p.m., and on Saturday, the Lady 'Dogs will play Union Hill at 1:35.

Kilgore's freshmen and junior varsity, coached by Lacy Thompson and Jerry Reddic, respectively, will play in a tournament at Carthage this weekend. The freshmen play Thursday morning at 9 a.m, and the JV plays Thursday afternoon at 12:45.

• Gladewater 48, Kilgore 45 (overtime): The Bulldogs dropped to 0-2 on the season, but have lost both games by a total of five points.

Last night here at KHS for the 'Dogs' home opener, Kilgore and the Bears went to overtime tied at 43, but KHS only scored two points in the extra session. Kilgore was led by senior Drake Bickham, who had 18 points. Ken Smith had nine in the loss.

KHS is back home Friday night, hosting Carthage. On Tuesday night, both KHS boys and girls will be home, hosting Tatum.