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.
After an inclement weather delay stopped the game midway through the first half, the Rangers rallied late to beat Lamar 56-53. Guard Johnathan Phelps paced the Rangers with 13 points while forward Chris Angsomwine contributed 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The game was marked by poor ball handling with both teams combining for 41 turnovers. The Rangers move to 10-8 on the season and 3-5 in conference play.
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.
Photo by Rick GrayCORSICANA – Perhaps Chase Fisher felt like he was still in high school.
Fisher, a former Kilgore Bulldog, spent much of Saturday throwing to Bulldogs from Navarro in the way of four interceptions in just over one half of play as No. 1 Navarro rolled to a 24-10 victory over KC in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Semifinals.
KC, which lost to Navarro 42-17 earlier this year, ends its season 4-6, while Navarro College (10-0) moves on to face Blinn College (9-1) 3 p.m. Sunday in Corsicana for the SWJCFC title.
Photo by Rick GrayKC’s defense forced a staggering eight turnovers to lead the Rangers to a 27-10 win over the Cisco Wranglers last Saturday, and a berth in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference playoffs for the fourth straight year.
The victory, KC’s third straight, improves its overall record to 4-5. The Rangers earn a rematch with top-seeded Navarro College (9-0, 6-0), which took over the No. 1 ranking in the nation with a 23-20 win over then No. 1 Blinn College.
“We hit tough times early,” said KC head coach J.J. Eckert. “We needed to find a way to come together and get things done and they’ve shown they can do that. In this league, anything can happen. We hope we’ve saved our best football for this time of the season.”
Jimmy Anderson became the first KC player this year to be named the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Oct. 24.
“Jimmy Anderson has shown for two years that he can make plays on defense,” KC head coach J.J. Eckert said.
Anderson’s day included two first half interceptions, the second of which he returned 80 yards to the end zone on the last play before the intermission. A penalty negated the score, but Anderson was still credited with his second pickoff, and the Rangers took a 45-14 lead to the locker room.
