LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS
SOCCER Bulldogs lose at PT; girls postponed; both will host Eustace Friday night

In very cold, windy conditions, the Kilgore High School boys soccer team played District 17-4A playoff contender Pine Tree to a tie through regulation, then lost to the Pirates in overtime, 2-0.

Coach Kris Duplissey's Bulldogs were playing a night early due to TAKS testing at KHS this week. The Bulldogs are chasing Marshall, along with Chapel Hill, for the third (and final) playoff spot in 17-4A.

Duplissey said the Bulldogs need to win out - starting with Eustace here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium on Friday night (then at Chapel Hill Tuesday, and home against Hallsville March 14). Kilgore also needs Marshall to lose two of its last three. Marshall faces Chapel Hill on Friday, then faces Hallsville and Athens next week.

Kilgore's junior varsity lost for just the second time in the district schedule last night at Pine Tree, 4-2.

Coach Amanda Walzel's Lady Bulldogs, also playing for an outside shot at the playoffs, had their game postponed last night. The Lady Bulldogs will play here against Pine Tree Thursday, a 5:30 p.m. JV start.

When Eustace visits KHS on Friday night, it will be Kilgore Soccer Association night. Any KSA player that wears their uniform to the games will be admitted free. KSA teams will also play mini-games at the halftimes of the KHS girls and boys games.

The Lady Bulldogs will face Eustace at 5 p.m. Friday, and the boys will follow at 7.

SOFTBALL

Rain postpones district opener

Kilgore High School's District 12-4A opener at Henderson that had been scheduled for Monday night was postponed due to the rainy weather.

The game has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, again set for a 4:30 p.m. junior varsity start, with varsity to follow.

The Lady Bulldogs (4-8) participated in the Spring Hill/White Oak tournament over the weekend, splitting their last two games of the tournament on Saturday. Kilgore lost to Spring Hill, 5-1, then beat Redwater, 4-3, in extra innings.

Kilgore has played just one home game this season: the season opener Feb. 11, a loss to White Oak. The Lady 'Dogs will finally be back home Friday, hosting Marshall in a district game. The JV will play at 4:30 , followed by varsity.

KHS softball is coached by Cassie Newell and Rhonda Fletcher.

KYSA sign-up continues today, Saturday

The final two days for registration for the spring season of the Kilgore Youth Softball Association (KYSA) is today from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., both conducted at the sports complex on Highway 135 (that's also where games are played) at the red building.

There will be no late registration this year.

There is an entry fee of $75 per player, with discounts after registering two players from the same household.

For more information on KYSA, contact Evelyn Stokes at (903) 984-8704, or see the KYSA website at kysakilgore.org.

BASKETBALL

KC men lose at Navarro; finish tonight

It's rare when the Kilgore College basketball programs play on nights other than Wednesday or Saturday, but that's the case tonight - the Lady Rangers and Runnin' Rangers both host Lon Morris College tonight, a 5:30 p.m. tipoff for the ladies game, the men to follow.

Coach Roy Thomas' Lady Rangers have been off since last Wednesday. The Rangers, though, had a weekend game in Corsicana against Navarro, and lost, 85-76. Omar Thomas led KC with 15 points. Ridge McKeither and Maurice Foster each had 12. Josh Bonney led NC with 18 points.

Tonight's games against Lon Morris will be the season finale for both KC teams, who are missing this weekend's Region XIV Conference tournament. Both men's and women's tournaments will be here; the top six seeds from the women's division will begin play Friday night at 6 p.m., and the top eight teams in the men's standings play much of the day on Saturday.

Men and women will both play semifinal games on Sunday, with championship games on Monday - the women's title game will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, the men to follow.

Tickets are being sold by session - a session consists of two games - for $8 for adults, $5 for students, or you may purchase a tournament pass for $30 that permits you to attend every tournament game.

GOLF

Golf-a-thon rescheduled for April 7

The golf-a-thon that had been scheduled at Meadowbrook Country Club for Saturday, March 8 has been re-scheduled for Monday, April 7 due to a scheduling conflict with the course.

The golf-a-thon is to benefit the American Cancer Society. Participants will play 54 holes of best ball, with a triple bogey maximum on any hole played.

To enter, you provide a minimum donation of $500 to the American Cancer Society.

For the donation, your food and drink for the day will be provided, you'll get a Nike Dri-Fit shirt, your cart and green fees are included in that donation, and dinner and drinks at the end of the day.

Cash prizes for the low nine, the low 18, the low 36 and the low 54, based on handicap, will be given.

To enter, call Greg Collins at (903) 988-3413.

FISHING

Big Bass Tournament March 29-30

The 25th annual Big Bass Tournament at Cedar Creek Lake, sponsored by KCKL 95.9-FM, is Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30.

Over 120 prizes will be given, including the first prize, a Triton Mercury bass rig.

There is an entry fee of $65 per day, and contestants may enter at the lake.

For more information and entry forms, call (903) 489- 1518, or try fishing world.com/kckl/bass online.