LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF

SOCCER

Girls open with tie; play twice today

The Kilgore High School girls varsity soccer team opened the 2009 season Thursday in Mount Pleasant in a tournament, finishing the first game with a 1-1 tie with Texas High.

Jordan Palmer had the goal for Kilgore off an assist by Macy Reynolds. Kilgore led 1-0, and T-High tied the game in the second half.

"We played OK," head coach Amanda Farmer said. "We normally don't play all that well in (morning) games, but I thought we played pretty well."

The Lady Bulldogs were to play twice more today: a morning game against Henderson and a 2:30 game against Nacogdoches.

Coach Alice Crocker's junior varsity Kilgore girls also tied Texas High 1-1. Megan Whisenhunt scored on a penalty kick to tie the game.

Following the tournament, Kilgore's girls host Whitehouse on Tuesday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the JV.

Bulldogs host tournament this weekend

The KHS boys open the season in their own tournament at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. The tournament started this morning (and will start Saturday at 10 a.m., as well), but the Bulldogs don't play until 2:30 p.m. today, a game against Palestine.

Kilgore plays again tonight at 8:30, facing Whitehouse, and plays at 1 p.m. Saturday against Pittsburg. After that, win-loss tournament records come into play. The tournament's championship game will be the final game on Saturday night.

Kilgore is coached by Michael Bradshaw and Joey Pippen — it's Bradshaw's first season.

The Bulldogs will visit Nacogdoches on Tuesday, a 5:30 p.m. JV start.

BASKETBALL

Hallsville visits KHS tonight; Lady 'Dogs at Nac

Former district rival Hallsville is the opponent tonight for the Kilgore High School boys basketball team, a 5 p.m. freshmen start with JV and varsity afterward. This is the final nondistrict game for Kilgore, who hosts Lindale on Tuesday to begin District 14-4A play. Kilgore's boys are coached by Jimmy WIlliams, assisted by Kerry Strong and John McGilvray.

The Kilgore girls, coached by Davia Garrett, Jerry Reddic and Lacy Thompson, are on the road at Nacogdoches tonight, their second district games. Just like the boys, freshmen tip off at 5. The Lady Bulldogs also host Lindale on Tuesday, making it a great night for fans to come out and see both KHS basketball programs.

KC hosts Trinity Valley on Saturday

The Kilgore College Lady Rangers will try for their fourth straight win Saturday as they host perennial championship contender Trinity Valley on Saturday night, a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

The Lady Rangers (11-2 overall, 2-2 in Region XIV Conference play) waxed Tyler Junior College, 81-61, on Wednesday night.

Coach Brian Hoberecht's Rangers (7-8, 2-2) hope to get back on the winning track and will be playing just the second game since their December break on Saturday night against Trinity Valley. The men's game follows the women's, likely around 7:30.

Both games, called by Manny Almanza, can be heard live on KZQX 105.3-FM, or on the internet at www.tsrnsports.com, the site for the Texas Sports Radio Network.

SOFTBALL

Booster meeting Monday night

The KHS Softball Booster Club will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in room 308 at the high school. Parking is available in the lot behind the school next to Mitchell Field House. The guest is Chris Hill of Personally Fit by Chris Hill. The meeting is open to anyone interested in supporting the KHS softball program.

For more information, call Lee Ann Warren at (903) 985- 0681 or Frank Baggett, Jr. at (903) 987-1463.

— BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS