KHS girls win a thriller
Lady 'Dogs win physical battle with PT; boys lead late, but fall, 58-42
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

A TOUGH ONE - Kilgore's Ashia Kelly (right) puts up a shot over a pair of Pine Tree players. Kilgore won a close game, 46-43, on Friday night at KHS gym.

Headed into the Class 4A playoffs for the first time in a couple of years, the Kilgore High School Lady Bulldogs needed a good tune-up for what they'll see in the upcoming postseason. On Friday night, the Pine Tree Lady Pirates gave them one.

Kilgore trailed early, got back in front, trailed again and then clawed its way back into the lead, winning a very physical 46-43 decision in an exciting game with the visiting Lady Pirates here at KHS gymnasium. Kilgore (15-8 overall) is now an impressive 11-2 in District 12- 4A games this year with just one left to play: the regular-season finale at Hallsville on Tuesday night.

If KHS wins that game, the Lady Bulldogs are guaranteed at least a share of the district championship with Nacogdoches, who beat Jacksonville, 35-29, on Friday. Nac hosts Marshall on Tuesday night to wrap up the regular season. If Kilgore wins and Nac loses, the Lady 'Dogs are the district champions, and vice-versa: if Kilgore loses and Nac wins, Nac claims the title outright.

If the teams finish tied, they'll share the 12-4A championship, but it's likely they'll have to play a game to determine which team would be the top seed from the district in the playoffs. The firstplace team gets a bye in the first round.

Kilgore's boys lost at Pine Tree, 58-42, on Friday night, and have three games left in their season, beginning with a home game against Hallsville on Tuesday.

• Kilgore 46, Pine Tree 43 (girls): Pine Tree's Ashley Colmenero and Meredith Redd put on a shooting display early, popping three-point shots. Kilgore got on the boards, though, and began rebounding better before the end of the first period, but still trailed the Lady Pirates, and at one point, trailed by 10 (20-10) in the second quarter. Kilgore went on a 6-0 run to close the half, and trailed 23-19 at the break.

Kilgore tied the game on a bucket by Ashia Kelly early in the third quarter, but Colmenero and teammate Kirsten Smith put PT back up by four, 27-23, very quickly on back-to-back buckets. The crowd got a fright with less than a minute left in the third quarter when Kelly crashed to the floor, and had to be helped off the court and into the locker room by trainers. She made a dramatic return later in the game in the fourth quarter, though, to a round of cheers.

With 4:25 left, Alexis Popelar tied the game at 40, but that would be all the Lady Pirates would get - in large part thanks to Shae Morgan, who would score Kilgore's last six points, most of it from the free throw line, and put the game out of reach. Redd hit a threepointer with 1.8 seconds left, but Kilgore inbounded the ball successfully, running out the clock.

For KHS, Raven Wiley had a good game down low, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds and a steal. Kelly had 12 points, nine rebounds, blocked five shots, and had an assist.

Morgan also hit double figures, getting 11 points. She had three rebounds and an assist.

Also for Kilgore, Tai'Shea Reese came up very big, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Troylisha Orange had a point on a free throw, and had six steals, four rebounds and two assists, and Kitt Sechrist had a point on a free throw.

• Pine Tree 58, Kilgore 42 (boys): The Pine Tree Pirates did wind up beating coach Jimmy Williams' Kilgore Bulldogs, but they had to make a bit of a comeback to do it.

Klgore (6-18 overall, 2-8 in District 12-4A) once again played a good first half, leading 26-22 going into the break, but was outscored by the Pirates, 36-16, in the second half. Kilgore led 32-24 with about five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but only scored 10 points the rest of the game.

KHS got 16 points from Michael Hardeman, 11 in the first half, and 12 points from Drake Bickham.

Jamarcus Peters led Pine Tree with 26 points.

The Bulldogs' schedule is winding down - they've got just three games left. They'll be home Tuesday, hosting Hallsville; at Henderson on Friday; and at home against Marshall Tuesday, Feb. 12, which is also parents night.