LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS
BASKETBALL

KHS boys beat Henderson

A big final five minutes by the Kilgore High School varsity boys basketball team gave the Bulldogs a season sweep over archrival Henderson.

Kilgore beat Henderson 40-33 on Friday night, getting 13 points from Drake Bickham, seven from Xavian Sanders, six from Michael Hardeman, four each from Cody Murphy and Corwin Rowlett, and three each from J.J. Adams and Devaron Harvey. Henderson was led by Russell Wylie, who scored 11.

The game was tied at 36, coach Jimmy Williams said, with 5:01 left when Bickham took over. The big junior played in foul trouble the entire first half, but scored nine of the Bulldogs' final 14 points. Kilgore also had a big offensive rebound and put-back shot by Hardeman and got clutch free throw shooting from Murphy late in the game - the senior hit 3-of-4 free throws in the last minute.

"We played our best basketball in the last five minutes, when it counted," Williams said. "Cody, J.J., Xavian, and Devaron did a good job pressuring their guards."

Kilgore shot 40 percent from the floor and hit 15 of 23 free throws (60 percent). Henderson shot 30 percent from the floor and took just 10 free throws, converting just three. The Lions had more turnovers (17-9), but outrebounded Kilgore (31-29).

Bickham went 4-of-5 in field goals, 5-of-8 from the free throw line, had seven rebounds, two steals and an assist. Sanders went 3-of-5 field goals, had two steals, seven rebounds and an assist. Hardeman had seven rebounds and a pair of steals, and Murphy had four assists and two steals.

KHS hosts Marshall in the regular-season finale on Tuesday night, when seniors will be honored.

KHS girls, Nac play after deadline

The Kilgore High School girls basketball team, which finished as the co-District 12-4A champions with Nacogdoches, were to play Nac for a third time this season on Saturday night, following the publication of this edition of the News Herald. The game was really for playoff seeding only: the winner gets a bi-district round bye (and won't have to play on Tuesday night). The loser will have to play Lindale on Tuesday, although a site and time, obviously, have not been determined.

See more on this game, and whether or not the Lady Bulldogs will play Tuesday night, in Tuesday's News Herald.

BASEBALL

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.

KHS scrimmages Gilmer Tuesday

Coach Jeff Blackstone's Kilgore High School varsity baseball team has a scrimmage against Gilmer here at Driller Park on Tuesday at 5 p.m., and another scrimmage at home Friday against Carthage, also at 5 p.m.

Those are the team's last warm-ups before the season begins on Monday, Feb. 18 at Wills Point, a 6 p.m. first-pitch. The Diamond 'Dogs will play in the Rose City Classic in Tyler the weekend of Feb. 21-23, then return home for a game against Bullard Feb. 26.

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 beginning Thursday, 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.