Kilgore splits with Nac; huge win for girls
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photo by Lester Murray GOOD SHOWING FOR THE BULLDOGS - Kilgore senior Corwin Rowlett (center, 10) navigates through traffic on the court against Nacogdoches. Rowlett and the Bulldogs wound up losing, 70-50, but gave a good performance against one of District 12-4A's best teams. Kilgore's Lady Bulldogs brought home a 44-36 win over Nac, tying the teams for first place in the district standings.

After suffering what might have been the most surprising loss of a season that hasn't had many, the Kilgore High School girls varsity basketball team might have pulled off its biggest win so far this season.

All alone in second place in the District 12-4A standings for some time, even after being upset by Whitehouse on Tuesday night, Kilgore had a chance to pull even with Nacogdoches for first place in the district standings on Friday night.

The Lady Bulldogs did not disappoint, taking a 44-36 win home with them after a tough game at Dragon Coliseum.

The KHS varsity boys gave the Dragons, in second place in the boys' standings, a good, solid game, but wound up losing, 70-50.

Both KHS teams will face Jacksonville on Tuesday - the girls will be at home, beginning with junior varsity at 6 p.m., and the boys on the road, a 5 p.m. freshmen start, with JV and varsity to follow.

• KHS 44, Nac 36 (girls): Nacogdoches started the 12-4A schedule on a tear, winning its first nine games. Since then, though, the Lady Dragons are on a two-game losing streak.

Nac had defeated Kilgore here at KHS earlier in the season, but now, both teams are in first - each has a win over the other. And Kilgore has momentum, having won six of its last seven games.

Coach Davia Garrett's Lady 'Dogs are now 13-8 overall, and 9-2 in 12-4A. Nac is 22-8 overall, and also 9-2 in district play.

Friday night at Nacogdoches, Kilgore got a big performance from Ashia Kelly, who had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Tai'Shea Reese scored 13 and also had 10 rebounds, and Troylisha Orange scored 11. Shae Morgan had three points and Raven Wiley scored two.

JaMorgan Davis and Chelsea Leeder each scored eight points for Nac, who had a difficult time against Kilgore's defense. Davis, a physical presence for the Lady Dragons, was held scoreless through three quarters by KHS.

The Lady Bulldogs, as mentioned, host Jacksonville on Tuesday, then have just two more regular season games left: at home against Pine Tree on Friday, and at Hallsville on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

• Nac 70, Kilgore 50 (boys): For three quarters, Kilgore (6-16 overall, 2-7 in 17-4A) very much held its own against the Dragons, who have been the second-best team in the district so far this year.

Kilgore got a big first quarter from Michael Hardeman, who had eight points in the first session, and had Nac on its heels. The Bulldogs led after one quarter, 14-12.

Nac rallied in the second quarter, but led KHS by just two, 30-28, at halftime.

The second half was all Nac, though, including an 11-0 run to end the third quarter. Kilgore got just 10 points in the third period, outscored 17- 10, and just had a difficult time keeping up with the Dragons' scoring pace.

Hardeman's 16 points led Kilgore. He also had four rebounds and two steals.

Drake Bickham had 14 points, but was held to just three in the second half. He had nine rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

Corwin Rowlett had seven points, four assists and three steals; J.J. Adams had four points, two rebounds and an assist; Shaun Edwards, Cody Murphy, Steven Smith, Xavian Sanders each had two points - Edwards had two rebounds and a block; Murphy had three assists, two steals and a rebound; and Sanders had a steal and a rebound. Also, Devaron Harvey had a point on a free throw and three rebounds and a steal.

Pat Hall led Nac (18-10 overall, 8-1 in district play) with 23 points. Jermaine Rogers had 10.

The Bulldogs have five games left in the season, beginning that stretch at Jacksonville on Tuesday. The 'Dogs will also be on the road Friday, playing at Pine Tree.