TYLER–They say it’s difficult to beat a team three times in one season, but that’s exactly what Paris Junior College accomplished against the Lady Rangers.
The Lady Dragons advanced to the semi-final round of the Region XIV Basketball Championships with a 55-51 win over the Lady Rangers March 5 at the University of Texas at Tyler’s Herrington Patriot Center.
KC lost six of the last seven games on the season, including a loss at Paris Feb. 27. Before a six-game losing streak, KC had won 10 of 11 games. That one loss was a home loss Jan. 13 to Paris.
Paris held KC to its three lowest scoring games of the season (50 points Jan. 13, 37 points Feb. 27 and 51 points March 5).
The Lady Rangers held a 4-0 lead through five minutes of action in the tournament and led 9-4 with 14 minutes left in the first half. Then, Paris pulled of a 10-2 run to take a 14-11 lead.
Lily Abreu scored a bucket and drew a foul with nine minutes left in the first period. She knocked down the free throw, tying the game at 14-14.
Paris held a 6-point lead and had possession with nine seconds left in the half. However, Danyell Oliver stole the inbound pass and Kiera Scott converted a layup, and the Lady Rangers headed to the locker room down four points, 23-19.
A second half battle ensued, and KC chipped away the deficit. Tangeka Payne’s basket with 10 minutes left in the game tied the game at 36-36 for the first time since midway through the first half.
An Oliver 3-pointer on the next possession gave KC a 3-point advantage, its first lead since 11-10.
However, Paris reeled off eight straight points and took a 44-39 lead with six minutes left.
Oliver hit another 3-pointer with less than 90 seconds remaining to tie the game, 49-49.
KC could not take advantage of two Paris missed free throws, and the Lady Dragons held on for the 4-point win.
Oliver scored a game-high 16 points, including four 3-pointers in her final game as a Lady Ranger.
Sophomores Jamie Whitfield, Camille Voitot and Raven Jenkins also ended their careers at KC. Whitfield picked up two steals, one rebound and two assists. Voitot corralled four rebounds and had a blocked shot.
Tangeka Payne contributed 12 points, while Abreu added nine points. Leading rebounder Rashida Young scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.
KC shot 50 percent from the free throw line (9-18).
The Lady Rangers end the season with a 17-9 overall record, 10-9 in conference play.