LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BASKETBALL

Photo by Lester Murray GET THE SHOT OFF! - Kilgore High School's Michael Hardeman (right) puts up a shot against Pine Tree. Hardeman and the Bulldogs will visit Pine Tree tonight, one of three KHS-PT matchups on tonight's local sports schedule.

KHS teams face PT tonight

Basketball teams from Kilgore High School will take on Pine Tree High School tonight, and for the KHS Lady Bulldogs, it's a chance to remain in at least a tie for first place in District 12-4A.

The KHS girls will have a varsity-only night against Pine Tree, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A parents night ceremony will precede the game. Kilgore (14-8 overall, 10-2 in district play) is tied with Nacogdoches for first in the district standings. Nac visits Jacksonville tonight. The girls have just two regular-season games left: at home against PT tonight, and at Hallsville on Tuesday. The top three teams in each district make the playoffs. Hallsville and Whitehouse are fighting for the third spot.

The Bulldogs will travel to Pine Tree tonight - freshmen tip off at 5 p.m., with junior varsity and varsity to follow.

SOCCER

Kilgore soccer teams meet PT, too

The court won't be the only meeting between KHS and Pine Tree teams tonight. They'll meet on the soccer field, too, here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium and at PTHS.

The Kilgore Bulldogs, coached by Kris Duplissey and Joey Pippen, will try to reverse their recent District 17-4A fortunes tonight against the Pirates. The schools' JV teams meet at 5:30 p.m., and the varsity will play afterward, likely around 7. Kilgore's varsity soccer Bulldogs have lost their last two games, and had an open date Tuesday night. KHS is 1-3 in district play.

The Lady Bulldogs, coached by Amanda Walzel and Alice Crocker, play at PT tonight, also beginning with JV at 5:30. The Lady Bulldogs are 2-2 in district competition.

BASEBALL

KHS season begins soon

The Kilgore High School baseball team will be playing at Driller Park before you know it. The Diamond 'Dogs host a scrimmage against Longview on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m., play an alumni game on Saturday, Feb. 9, then play two more home scrimmages against Gilmer (Tuesday, Feb. 12) and Carthage (Friday, Feb. 15). The Bulldogs will officially open the season on Monday, Feb. 18 at Wills Point.

Important dates to remember for coach Jeff Blackstone's team:

• The Bulldogs will once again compete in the Rose City Classic tournament in Tyler, to be played this year on Feb. 21-23. Kilgore will open the tournament against Rockwall on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at University of Texas at Tyler Field. The tournament will also be played at Mike Carter Field. Other teams in the tournament are Tyler Lee, John Tyler, Shreveport Byrd, Greenville, Nacogdoches, and Haughton.

• The annual Oil Belt Classic tournament will be Feb. 28-March 1, and includes Bullard, Rockwall Heath, Lindale, Pine Tree, Liberty Eylau, Sulphur Springs and Longview.

• Kilgore opens its District 12-4A schedule on Tuesday, March 11 at Whitehouse.

• The junior varsity team opens its regular season Feb. 18 at home against Tyler Lee.

KBBA registration begins Feb. 16

Sign up for the 2008 season of the Kilgore Boys Baseball Association (KBBA) will begin Saturday Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the KBBA fields on Harris Street.

Registration is $75 per player. Children must be five years old before April 30, and should bring birth certificates to registration. Ages range from five through 14.

It will be on Feb. 22 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., on the 23rd from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., and tryouts will be there on March 1, the time to be announced.

For more information on KBBA, call the KBBA office at (903) 984-4170, or e-mail Stephanie Osteen at kilgorebaseball@yahoo.com.

You can also visit the KBBA online at ourleaguesite. com/kilgorebaseball.

SOFTBALL

Lady Bulldogs' season nears, too

Coach Cassie Newell's Kilgore High School Lady Bulldogs will have four preseason scrimmages leading up to their regular-season opener at home against White Oak on Feb. 11.

Kilgore will visit Lindale on Jan. 29 for its first preseason scrimmage, and will scrimmage here against Bullard Feb. 1. The Lady 'Dogs scrimmage again at home on Feb. 5 against Gladewater, and then welcome White Oak for the season opener.

Kilgore will again take part in the annual tournament at Lufkin Hudson on Feb. 14-16, and is gone for much of the month of February. KHS opens its District 12-4A schedule at Henderson on March 4. Newell is assisted by Rhonda Fletcher.

Booster club meeting Monday

The KHS softball booster club will meet Monday at 7 p.m. at the softball field's locker room, at StreamFlo Field on Harris Street. The meeting is open to anyone interested in supporting the softball team. For more information, call Lee Ann Warren at (903) 985-0681, or Frank Baggett at (903) 987-1463.

FOOTBALL

Banquet Feb. 11

The annual Kilgore High School football banquet will be Monday, Feb. 11 at the Devall Student Center on the Kilgore College campus. The banquet, organized and prepared by the school's football booster club, will begin at 6:30 p.m. that night. Tickets are $15 each, and are on sale now at the KHS athletic department offices.

- BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS