Fillies surprise Lady Rangers
Longview News
Journal
Sunday, November 23, 2008
KILGORE - Panola College women's basketball coach Tracey Stellato gave man-to-man defense a bad name Saturday.
She switched her team to a zone defensive scheme, which helped spark a 72-71 win over Kilgore College in the Region XIV Conference opener for both teams. It is the first defeat of this season for Kilgore (6-1, 0-1).
Kilgore coach Roy Thomas said Panola used 1-2-2 and 2-3 zones in the second half. This helped limit Kilgore to 9-for-32 (28.1 percent) shooting as Panola rallied from a 42-34 deficit early in the second half.
On offense, Panola freshman Tiffany Eubank was the catalyst, scoring 12 of her 22 points in the second half. Panola improves to 3-5, 1-0.
"The zones we ran against them helped, but we still had to make some shots. Tiffany and Mya Santiago made some big ones," Stellato said. "Tiffany has the West Texas background and she's good with fundamentals."
Panola got its winning point with 1:28 remaining on a Crystal Allen free throw. On the ensuing possession, Denetra Kellum missed a three-pointer for Kilgore, but Kilgore got the ball back by forcing Panola into a shot-clock violation.
Kilgore's Raven Jenkins had the ball taken from her by Kayla Weaver with 17 seconds remaining, but Eubank's outlet pass went out of bounds. Kilgore's last chance was a three-point attempt by Danyell Oliver with three seconds remaining, but the shot rattled out.
Thomas said Oliver's three-pointer was a good look, but questioned Weaver's steal. "They (the officials) thought they got the ball. We thought they got a lot of Raven's arm," he said.
Kellum finished with 20 points, six assists, six steals and three blocks for Kilgore, while Oliver added 16 points.
Second half
Panola's largest lead was 60-50 with 9:07 remaining after a Eubank three-pointer. Kilgore struck back with a 10-0 run to tie the game, with Kellum scoring five points in the run. Two free throws by Kilgore's Sylvia Hoffman with 1:35 remaining tied the game at 71-71.
Santiago finished with 12 points for Panola, while Weaver had seven assists and four steals. Ashley Ferrell did not score for Kilgore, but led all players with 12 rebounds.
First half
Kellum and Dabrielle Franklin scored four points each in a 13-3 run that gave Kilgore a 40-33 halftime lead. The scoring was ended by a three-pointer from Oliver, who led Kilgore with 12 points in the half. Eubank led Panola with 10 first-half points.
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