Photo by Rick GrayOne year ago the Rangers needed nine games to reach the four-win mark. This season the gap has narrowed considerably.
Through six games, the Rangers have compiled a 4-2 record, and the team begins conference action 1 p.m. Saturday against Panola College in Carthage.
KC narrowly lost a non-conference battle Wednesday against Arkansas Baptist College on the road in Little Rock.
KC battled back from a 12-point deficit in the second half, tying the game on four separate occasions. However, KC could not get over the hump.
“I thought we dug ourselves in a hole we just couldn’t get out of,” said KC head coach Brian Hoberecht. “You can’t do that on the road.”
KC trailed, 42-30, with 17:48 remaining in the game. Gentry Hines pulled the Rangers to within two points, 68-66, scoring a bucket with 51 seconds left.
Hines led all scorers with 20 points. Dane Smith scored 18 points.
ABC’s Clint Williams scored on a put-back with 16 seconds remaining to boost the Buffaloe lead to four points, essentially icing the game.
Four Buffaloes scored in double-digits, led by James Scott’s 16 points.
ABC (1-6) led, 37-28, at the intermission, led by Scott’s 13 points. Hines knocked down three of his four 3-pointers in the first half for KC.
KC’s leading scorer Chris Johnson sat out the game with an arm injury he suffered during the previous game against Ranger College.
//Ryan Griffin, Sports Editor