Ponies, Rangers share tough-luck experience
Longview News Journal
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Panola College and Kilgore College enter tonight's Region XIV men's basketball game in similar situations.
The Ponies (11-8, 3-8) have dropped four of their last five games and are tied for last place with Lon Morris (8-10, 3-8). Kilgore (12-7, 4-7) has lost four straight, falling into a four-way tie for seventh place in the conference. However, Region XIV has been so balanced so far that last-place Panola and Lon Morris are only a game out of playoff contention.
Panola coach Jacob Wonders said his team shares some tough-luck experiences with the Rangers as they start the second cycle of conference play tonight at 7:30.
"We've been part of some tight ones and they have as well," Wonders said. "We're two of the hard-luck clubs of Region XIV.
"Right now is where things start to differentiate themselves. We're kind of in the heart of the season and there aren't going to be a whole lot of surprises."
Five of Panola's eight conference losses have been by five points or less. Kilgore has four Region XIV losses by 10 points or less.
Kilgore coach Scott Schumacher said his top concern tonight is Panola's home success. The Ponies are 8-3 at Arthur Johnson Gymnasium, where all three of their Region XIV wins have come.
"The number one worry is that Panola really plays well at home," Schumacher said. "I think at this point of the season, everyone knows the importance of every game."
Ranger guard Marcus Thornton will be Kilgore's ringleader in its attempt to snap the four-game losing streak. Thornton leads the conference in scoring with 26.8 points per game, and has been the likely focus of numerous high-major Division I scouts — including Florida State, Maryland, Louisville, Connecticut and Kansas head coach Bill Self — at recent Ranger games.
Kilgore's size — particularly 6-9 Landrell Brewer and bulky 6-7 Larry Handy — could be a problem for Panola, but Wonders said it's nothing out of the ordinary.
"We're going to be undersized at 2 through 4 for the most part," Wonders said. "It's not impossible (to overcome). It's just something you've got to do."
Kilgore edged Panola 70-68 on Nov. 21 at Masters Gymnasium in the conference opener.
Schumacher said his team has played hard and with a purpose the last two games, allowing 62.5 points per game against Jacksonville and Navarro, after 76.0 points per game in losses to Paris and Trinity Valley.
Women
Panola is mired in a second-place logjam near the top of the Region XIV standings entering the second round of conference action tonight at 5:30 p.m. against Kilgore. The Fillies (15-6, 6-3) are tied with Tyler, Trinity Valley and Angelina, two games behind first-place Blinn, which suffered its only loss of the season at Panola on Jan. 10.
Kilgore's 71-51 rout of Jacksonville on Saturday puts the Lady Rangers (9-6, 3-6) just a game out of the sixth and final postseason tournament spot, trailing 4-5 Paris and San Jacinto.
"The things you did in the first half affect what you do in the second half, but winning early isn't nearly as important as winning late," said Panola coach Tracey Stellato. "Kilgore always plays us an extremely tough game. We've got several really tough games on the road. Your early wins don't put you in the playoffs."
Panola beat Kilgore 76-73 at Masters Gymnasium on Nov. 21 in the conference opener.
The Fillies' Kim Edmonson earned Week 8 Player of the Week honors from Region XIV after scoring 20 points in Panola's 82-76 win over Tyler two weeks ago. Edmonson averages about 12 points per game, and shoots around the 40-percent mark from 3-point range.
"The kid can score. She's a good kid who works extremely hard," Stellato said. "She gives us some scoring punch at that spot."
Kilgore's Keturah Spotwood is coming off a 13-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, four-block game against Jacksonville. Adonna Weaver, Kilgore's leading scorer and rebounder, added 15 points.
Unfortunately for the Lady Rangers, their depth has taken a hit. Reserve forward Brittney Davis (2.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg) has strained ligaments in her right knee and will be out for three weeks.
Kilgore coach Roy Thomas said Davis battled a similar injury last year, when she played in high school for Lake Highlands in Dallas.
The Lady Rangers were never seriously threatened in their win over Jacksonville. Jacksonville is winless in conference play, but Thomas said two recent problems were under control, especially after a 91-50 loss to Trinity Valley on Jan. 20.
"We got off to a good start against Jacksonville. When your confidence is shaken, it helps if you get off to a good start," Thomas said. "We had 20 turnovers. Of course I would like, but I like to see it kept to nine or 10 a half."
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