LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS
BASKETBALL

Paris teams beat Kilgore College

The Kilgore College Runnin' Rangers ran into an alreadymad nest of hornets Wednesday night at Paris Junior College.

The previously-unbeaten Dragons had lost their last two games, but beat KC, 61-53, to end that streak and notch another Region XIV Conference win. For the Rangers, every loss sets them back from their ultimate goal: being one of the eight teams to take part in the conference tournament that will be played on their home court, Masters Gym, beginning March 8.

Rosharon sophomore Brandon Roberson had 12 points for the Rangers (12-10 overall, 4-10 in conference play), and Emmanuel Bidias A Moute, a Cameroon native, scored 11 points. James Graham and La'Marshall Corbett, both freshmen, each scored seven and Maurice Foster six. The Dragons held Ridge McKeither, who had been hitting over the 20- point mark, to just five points. He did have eight rebounds. Omar Thomas chipped in five points for the Rangers, who get to come home Saturday to face Angelina, a 4 p.m. tipoff (it will follow the women's game).

Eric Tramiel led Paris, and all scorers, with 15 points.

• Paris 59, KC 54 (ladies): The Lady Rangers lost their sixth straight conference game by just five points last night to the Lady Dragons. KC is now 9-10 overall, 3-8 in conference play, and its hopes of playing in the conference tournament are sinking - the Lady Rangers have seven games left to work themselves into tournament positioning.

For KC against Paris, Denetra Kellum had 14, Nakazi Glover 13 and Jo Petrovic 12. Lynzi Williams and Ashley Proctor each had 16 for Paris.

Like the men, the Lady Rangers host Angelina on Saturday, a 2 p.m. tipoff. GOLF

KHS boys finish fifth in first tourney

The Kilgore High School boys golf team finished fifth in the Dragon Invitational tournament at Piney Woods Country Club near Nacogdoches last week.

Kilgore shot a collective 347 in the event. Tyler Lee's team won, finishing with a 311. Homestanding Nacogdoches and Lufkin finished in a tie for second place with a 319. Pine Tree was third (326), Center fourth (342) and then Kilgore. Other teams participating in the tournament were Hallsville, Bullard, Carthage, Lufkin Hudson, Marshall, Livingston and John Tyler.

For KHS, Chance Fitch was the low-man, shooting a 79. Cameron Clower had an 81, Jacob Patterson an 88 and Zach Zimmerman a 99.

"We played well for the opening tournament," said head coach Jimmy Williams. "Chance Fitch had a chance to go really low, but struggled some with his putter.

"Clower had a couple of bad breaks, but had a solid round. Patterson hit 10 fairways, but struggled with his approach shots. All players will continue to get better as the year goes on."

The boys will next play in the Bullard invitation tournament at Oakhurst on Monday. The KHS girls golf team will open their season as a part of the Bullard girls tournament, also to be played at Oakhurst Tuesday afternoon SOFTBALL

Time change for KHS season opener

The Kilgore High School softball team officially begins its season here at Stream-Flo Field on Monday, facing White Oak. The games have been reversed, though, to help some members of the softball team that are also going to the football banquet that night. The varsity softball team will play at 4:30 p.m., with the junior varsity to follow.

KHS will then play in Lufkin Hudson's weekend tournament Feb. 14-16, and at Mineola Feb. 19. Following Monday's season opener here, the Lady Bulldogs don't return home until March 7, facing Marshall. That's actually the second District 12-4A game for the Lady 'Dogs. They begin district play March 3 at Henderson.

Kilgore's softball squads are coached by Cassie Newell and Rhonda Fletcher.

KYSA registration begins Feb. 23

Registration for the spring season of the Kilgore Youth Softball Association (KYSA) will begin Saturday, Feb. 23, and will be held several days throughout the first portion of March.

Registration will be held at the sports complex on Highway 135 (that's also where games are played) at the red building. There is a registration fee of $75 per player, with discounts after registering two players from the same household.

The first registration day is Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the sports complex. There are two more Saturday registration days: March 1 and March 8, both from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

There are also a pair of mid-week registration days: Tuesday, Feb. 26 (from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.) and Tuesday, March 4 (from 4 p.m. until 6).

There will be no late registration this year. For more information on KYSA, contact Evelyn Stokes at (903) 984-8704, or see the KYSA website at kysakilgore.org. BASEBALL

Alumni game Saturday at Driller

Kilgore High School's baseball program will play an alumni game, open to fans, on Saturday at Driller Park. Any Kilgore High baseball alumni are welcome to play, and should be there to sign up shortly before the game starts.

KHS plays a second scrimmage Tuesday here against Gilmer, and then another on Feb. 15 against Carthage. The season will open Monday, Feb. 18 at Wills Point.

Kilgore, coached by Jeff Blackstone and Ronnie Lee Garvin, will play in the Rose City Classic (Feb. 21-23) and host the Oil Belt Classic Tournament (Feb. 28-March 1). The OBC will be played at Driller Park in its entirety this year, rather than played at various sites.

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. FOOTBALL

Banquet is Monday night

The annual Kilgore High School football banquet will be Monday 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. Tickets are $15 each, and are on sale at the KHS athletic department office.