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.
With the Region XIV basketball tournament kicking off today, here’s a look at the special playoff edition of the Flare with brackets and season recaps. The Rangers meet Jacksonville at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 4 at the Herrington Patriot Center on the University of Texas at Tyler campus
Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students and children (10-0) get in free. Tournament passes are $25. The tournament parking is in Lot 15.
After winning 10 of 11 games in January and February, the Lady Rangers appeared to have control of second place in Region XIV with their sights set on No. 1 Trinity Valley.
Then the team reeled off five consecutive losses to end February, which spiraled the team to fifth place.
Heading into Tuesday’s regular season finale with Jacksonville College, KC had nothing to play for, having solidified fifth place and a matchup with Paris in the conference tournament Friday.
“When we were losing we missed easy shots, so this win is big to get us mentally prepared to play Friday,” said Roy Thomas, KC head coach.
Lady Ranger Head Coach Roy Thomas returns to a court he is very familiar with Saturday. Thomas and the Lady Rangers battle the Apache Ladies of Tyler Junior College 2 p.m. Saturday in Wagstaff Gymnasium.
Thomas coached the Apache Ladies from 1984-94. But that was not his first go-round with the TJC athletic program. He also played for the Apaches from 1968-70, helping his team qualify for the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament in 1970. Thomas is a 2003 inductee of TJC’s Sports Circle of Honor.
Now he will attempt to coach KC to a season sweep of TJC. The Lady Rangers defeated the Apache Ladies 63-60 Jan. 6 in Masters Gymnasium.
The Battle of Highway 31 season series concludes this weekend as the Rangers travel to Tyler to face the Apaches of Tyler Junior College 4 p.m. Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader.
TJC left a sour taste in the mouths of the Rangers the last time the teams met. The Apaches invaded Masters Gymnasium Jan. 6 and routed KC 76-54, but more importantly, sparked a four-game KC losing streak.
However, since that losing streak, the Rangers (16-10, 9-7) have reeled off a 7-2 record, including six consecutive home wins.
Both KC men’s and women’s basketball teams beat the Jacksonville College Jaguars Saturday in Jacksonville.
The Lady Rangers were paced by Danyell Oliver who finished the game with 14 points. Coming off of a 14-point lead at halftime, the Lady Rangers furthered their lead in the second half, eventually winning 76-58.
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Derron Hobbs’s pair of late free throws to put the Rangers up by one was enough to secure the win, holding off the Jaguars to win 55-54. Johnathan Phelps paced the Rangers with 16 points and Dane Smith chipped in 14.
