Box Score BY MIKE MONTFORT
JACKSONVILLE -- Third-seeded Kilgore, behind sophomores K.J. Jenkins and Da'Sean Nelson, advanced to Saturday's Region XIV Championship game with a 77-62 semifinal victory over second-seeded Navarro.
The Rangers, now with eight straight wins, square off with top-seeded, regular-season league champion Trinity Valley at 7 pm Saturday for the regional title and automatic berth to the NJCAA Tournament at Hutchinson, Ks., April 19-24.
While taking its first win in three meetings with Navarro, the Rangers hit 14 three-pointers and scored a decisive rebounding edge (38-25) to eliminate coach Grant McMillan's two-time tournament semifinalists. KC hit 51.7 percent from the floor (30-of-58) and 48.3 percent from the perimeter (14-of-29), behind the play of Jenkins and Nelson.
Jenkins scored 24 points including 7-of-12 from three-point range. Nelson totalled 22 points (with four three-pointers) and 14 rebounds. Together they did a number on the 'Dawgs: 16-of-29 shooting, 11-of-18 beyond the arc, 20 rebounds and six assists. That's quite a stark contrast from two lopsided Navarro wins (74-57 at KC and 78-60 at NC), when Jenkins was a combined 5-of-22 in both games and Nelson scored just 2 points from 1-of-4 shooting at Corsicana.
Jules Moor led Navarro with 17 points, four rebounds and a steal.
Freshman Jaylen Harrison added 14 points and four rebounds.
Akol Mawein dropped in 13 points for NC.
Kilgore held a 36-33 at halftime.
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REGION XIV TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL
KILGORE 77, NAVARRO 62 -- FINAL
SCORE BY HALVES
Navarro...........33.....29 -- 62
Kilgore.............36.....41 -- 77
NAVARRO (62): Moor 17, Harrison 14, Mawein 13, Peel 7, Manuel 6, Doumbia 3, Drinnon 2, Abraham 0, Philip 0. TOTALS: (22-54)-(6-19), (12-19)-15-62.
KILGORE (77):
Total Fouls -- NC: 15.
Total Rebounds -- NC: 24 (11/13). Moor 4, Manuel 4, Harrison 4, Doumbia 3, Mawein 3, Peel 3, Philip 2., Drinnon 1.
Assists -- NC: 7. Drinnon 4, Moor 2, Manuel 1.
Steals -- NC: 7. Drinnon 3, Peel 1, Manuel 1, Moor 1, Mawein 1.
Blocked Shots -- NC: 2. Mawein 1, Manuel 1.
TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
6 pm -- #1 TVCC 82, #5 Paris 64
8 pm -- #3 Kilgore 77, #2 Navarro 62
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
7 PM -- #3 Kilgore 68, #1 TVCC 67
Kilgore advances to the NJCAA Tournament at Hutchinson, Ks
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TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS
Navarro 85, Vicrtoria 59
SCORE BY HALVES:
Navarro...............34....51... - 85
Victoria................33....26... - 59
NAVARRO (85):
Akol Mawein 19,
Edward Manuel 18,
Jules Moor 17,
Drue Drinnon 11,
Jaylen Harrison 8,
Sabry Philip 8,
Souleymane Doumbia 3,
Antonee Abraham 2,
Terrill Curb 0,
Keiman Capers 0,
Garrett Celsur 0. TOTALS: (34-66)-(11-25)-(7-12)-11-85.
VICTORIA (59):
TOTAL FOULS: NC -- (11)
TOTAL REBOUNDS: NC -- (32 -- 9/23) Moor 10, Drinnon 6, Doumbia 4, Harrison 2, Manuel 2, Peel 2, Philip 2, Mawein 2, Abraham 2.
ASSISTS: NC -- (25) Drinnon 10, Moor 6, Abraham 2, Peel 2, Harrison 1, Manuel 1, Phillip 1, Mawein 1.
STEALS: NC -- (7) Mawein 5, Drinnon 2.
BLOCKED SHOTS: NC -- (3) Mawein 2, Philip 1.
