Chase to make the tournament
Rangers, Lady Rangers on outside looking in for conference tourney
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

CLOSE, BUT NOT QUITE - Kilgore College got 25 points from Brandon Roberson 21), but lost to Tyler Junior College, 69-67, on Saturday afternoon.

Here's what it comes down to: in order for the Kilgore College Runnin' Rangers to make the Region XIV Conference tournament, which will be played here at Masters Gymnasium, the Rangers will have to win the remaining three games of the regular season, and hope that Panola College loses its last three games.

And the KC Lady Rangers aren't in any better shape. The Lady Rangers are two games out of the last conference tournament spot with just two games left.

Both Kilgore College teams lost to Tyler Junior College here at Masters on Saturday afternoon. Both games were close. The men lost, 69-67, and just before that, the women lost to the Apache Ladies, a heartbreaking 64-63 defeat in overtime.

Coach Scott Schumacher's Rangers can control whether or not Panola loses the first of those three games. KC (14-13 overall, 6-13 in conference play) plays at Panola tomorrow night, a 7:30 p.m. start (following the women's game).

Coach Roy Thomas' Lady Rangers (10-14 overall, 4-12 in the conference) play at Panola tomorrow night at 5:30, then take Saturday off before the regular season finale Tuesday night at home against Lon Morris, the team the Lady Rangers trail for that sixth and final conference tournament spot.

• TJC 69, KC 67 (men): If the regular season were over today, not only would KC not make the men's conference tournament, but TJC would be its top seed.

The Apaches left Masters brushing the fire of defeat off their coattails on Saturday. A shot by KC's Maurice Foster missed, as did a follow-up tip-in attempt by Gerald Brown, or the game would have at least gone to overtime.

Schumacher hasn't had the easiest of seasons. He and his wife Lisa became proud parents for the third time earlier this year, and he's playing with a lineup of mostly freshmen. The Rangers haven't played poorly - they've been facing very, very good competition.

Against Tyler, Danville, Va., native Ridge McKeither scored 25 points and had 14 rebounds. McKeither did foul out, however, with just over two minutes left in the second half. Sophomore Brandon Roberson, a rare sophomore on the freshmendominated squad, had 25 points as well, knocking down six three-point shots.

Jimmy Butler led TJC with 23 points. Jamie Vanderbeeken had 20.

• TJC 64, KC 63 (women; OT): A bucket by Houston freshman Sonja Thompson for the Apache Ladies with 2:11 left in regulation tied the game at 53, and proved to be the final score in regulation for either team.

Tyler's Jessi Goodman, a former Pine Tree standout, had a chance to break the tie from the free throw line with 1:17 left, but missed out. Neither team could score in the final minute, and the game went to overtime.

In the extra session, Tyler's Chasity Shavers hit a three-pointer with 13 seconds left that put TJC in front. KC's final attempt, a shot by Houston sophomore Nakazi Glover, was partially blocked by TJC's Jasmine King, from Mount Pleasant.

Glover led KC with 18 points. Denetra Kellum scored 15. King led TJC with 17.