Box Score BY MIKE MONTFORT
Sophomore Akol Mawein tallied a game-high 20 points, led five Bulldogs in double-figure scoring and powered Navarro to a 78-60 rout of Kilgore that catapuled NC into third place in the Region XIV basketball standings.
Everything clicked Wednesday for coach Grant McMillan's Bulldogs (10-5), who won their fourth straight game. Navarro shot a sizzling season-high 57.4 percent from the floor -- 31-of-54 -- the fourth consecutive conference game in which they've hit better than 55 percent. Wednesday's win marked fourth straight contest of 50 percent or better shooting from three-point range as NC nailed 7-of-14, but this time, with Mawein, Jules Moor and Edward Manuel as the primary triggermen. More coincidence? They held their fourth straight league opponent below 65 points, an effort that featured 20 defensive rebounds, four blocked shots and eight steals.
Mawein, who signed with The University of Arkansas, enjoyed a 7-of-11 shooting performance enroute to his 10th double-figure scoring game of the season. He came within two points of matching his season-high, recorded February 24 in an 82-79 win at Jacksonville.
Jules Moor and Edward Manuel hit double figures for fifth games in a row.
Moor totaled 15 points from 4-of-8 shooting that included 2-of-3 from long distance. He also accounted for a team-high five defensive boards, plus two assists and a steal.
Manuel, with 10 points, drilled his only two three-point attempts and finished 4-of-7 from the floor with three rebounds and two steals.
Drue Drinnon pitched in 14 and Jaylen Harrison added 11. They were a combined 12-of-20 shooting.
Navarro barreled out to a 47-25 halftime lead that featured a 20-6 sprint inside the final six minutes powered by Manuel, Drinnon and Moor. Manuel took an Antonee Abraham pass and converted a three-pointer (30-19). Drinnon penetrated the paint and dropped a pair of short jumpers (38-21) by the 2:49 mark. Inside the final 2:20, Moor and Mawein pumped in three-pointers.
The Bulldogs, who committed as many personal fouls as turnovers (8) in the game, maintained a steady 18- to 22-point advantage throughout the second half.
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NAVARRO 78, KILGORE 60
SCORE BY HALVES:
Kilgore………25.....35 -- 60
Navarro…….47.....31 -- 78
KILGORE (60): Grimes 14, Otieno 10, Morris 9, Crawford 8, Jenkins 6, Banks 3, Grant 3, Cabs 2, Lowery 2, Nelson 2, Posey 1. TOTALS: 20-6-(2-4)-60.
TOTAL FOULS: NC -- 8
REBOUNDS: NC -- 23 (3/20) Moor 5, Washington 4, Philip 4, Manuel 3, Abraham 2, Doumbia 2, Mawein 1, Drinnon 1, Harrison 1.
ASSISTS: NC -- 13 Drinnon 4, Harrison 4, Moor 2, Washington 1, Mawein 1, Manuel 1.
STEALS: NC -- 9 Drinnon 2, Manuel 2, Moor 1, Washington 1, Philip 1, Harrison 1, Abraham 1.
BLOCKED SHOTS: NC -- 4 Washington 2, Doumbia 1, Manuel 1.
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
Games Wednesday, March 17
REGION XIV
Navarro 78, Kilgore 60
Panola 81, Paris 75
TVCC 79, Tyler 51
Lamar State 99, Blinn 98 (2-OT)
Bossier Parish 91, Jacksonville 87 (OT)
Coastal Bend at Victoria, 7:30 pm
REGION V NTJCAC
McLennan 82, Collin 78
Hill 87, Ranger 79
Grayson 116. Southwestern Christian 87
(Non-Conference)
Weatherford 71, Loyalty Prep 53
REGION XIV MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
After Games Wednesday, March 17
TEAM………………….....W-L
TVCC…………………..…......14-1
Panola………..……………....11-4
Navarro......................10-5
Kilgore……………..……….....9-5
Blinn…………………..….….....7-6
BPCC............................7-8
Paris……………………...…......7-9
Tyler…………………….…........6-9
Victoria………………….......…4-6 -x played Wednesday
Coastal Bend………........…4-9 -x played Wednesday
Lamar State………..……....5-11
Jacksonville…………....…...3-14
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