Cardinals gun down Panola, tie for fourth
The Panola Watchman
 2/20/08

ATHENS - It was a maximum effort in futility when Panola tried to match up with Trinity Valley behind the three-point arc here Wednesday and was embarrassed, 78-59, in Region XIV Eastern Conference.
Battling for position in the upcoming XIV Tournament with just four games remaining, TVCC stayed the course with Navarro, both tied for fourth, while the Ponies dropped back to sixth. The top eight are in post-season play in a winner-take-all, single-elimination tourney in Kilgore. The prize is a national tournament invitation.
"We just couldn't hit, I think we were one of 14 from three-point range," coach Jacob Wonders said.
Trinity Valley shot 10 of 24 and in that statistical category alone beat up on Panola 30 to 3 scoring.
"We can't get discouraged, though, this conference creates a lot of swings and it doesn't get any easier for us Saturday when we play Paris (22-4, 11-4) in Carthage," Wonders said.
Paris is one of two XIV clubs nationally ranked in the NJCAA. Ringleader Tyler (22-2, 16-2) is the other.
Panola turned the ball over 13 times in the first half and fell behind 40-20 when the Redbirds made a 29-11 run in the closing 14:30.
Later, Panola would pull to within 47-33, with 15:06 remaining, but another TVCC movement put the game on ice.
Pappa Oppong had nine points to lead Panola scorers, Milton Burton added seven and Justin Dennis, Christopher Jones and Elijah Cotton marked for six each. Brandon Webb had seven rebounds.
Here is the way XIV East shapes up:
1. Tyler 22-2, 16-2
2. Paris 22-4, 14-4
3. San Jacinto 19-7, 13-5
4. TVCC 15-11, 10-8
4. Navarro 13-13, 10-8
6. Panola 16-10, 9-9
6. Blinn 16-10, 9-9
8. Angelina 10-16, 9-9
9. Lee 12-14, 6-12
9. Kilgore 14-12, 6-12
11. Jovially 11-15, 5-13
12. Ln Morris 8-18, 1-17
Panola hosts Paris, Tyler is at Kilgore, Angelina is at Trinity, Blinn is at Lee, San Jac is at Jacksonville and Navarro is at Lon Morris in games Saturday.