KC swept by TVCC; running out of time to make tourney
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

The Kilgore College Rangers are giving crowds coming to see their games a lot of excitement.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, and for their chances to get into the Region XIV Conference tournament, the excitement is not translating right now into conference wins.

KC lost at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens on Wednesday night, 83-81, in overtime when Trent Brownlee of TVCC put back a jump shot at the buzzer, and gave the Cardinals the close win. The teams split the season series, each taking the win on their own home court.

The loss drops KC to 13-11 on the year, but 5-11 in conference play - not good enough to be one of the top eight men's teams in the conference. And if the Runnin' Rangers aren't in the top eight by the end of the regular season, then they won't get to play when the conference's center stage is here at Masters Gymnasium - Masters Gym is the home of both the men's and women's conference tournaments this year, the weekend of March 7-10. Currently, KC is two games out of eighth place.

KC came back and tied the game at 71 with under 30 seconds left in regulation time in the game, and neither team could go up, sending the game into the extra session.

Ridge McKeither, a freshman, led KC (and all scorers) with 24 points. He also pulled down 12 rebounds. Brandon Roberson, a sophomore from Rosharon, had 22 points (including six threepointer shots).

Mike Pugh scored 19 points to lead the Cardinals.

• Trinity Valley 88, KC 49 (ladies): The 17th-ranked Lady Cardinals, with just one Region XIV Conference loss all season, successfully knocked down 11 three-point shots Wednesday night at home, hosting a scrappy KC Lady Rangers team.

The Lady Rangers are in a tailspin right now, having lost seven of their last eight games. Unlike the men, where the top eight are chosen, only the top six are chosen for the tournament for the women. And if the tournament began today, KC wouldn't be in it. The Lady Rangers are 10-11 overall, 4-9 in conference play.

KC was led by Denetra Kellum's 18 points. Nakazi Glover added 14 for KC, 12 in the second half.

Both KC teams face San Jacinto on Saturday, but the San Jac campuses are in different cities. The San Jac men play their home games in Pasadena, and the men's game will tip off there at 4 p.m. The San Jac ladies play their games in Houston, and the Lady Rangers will face the San Jac ladies there at 2 p.m.

KC's men have five games left in the regular season; the Lady Rangers have four.