CHAMPIONS! | KC wins RXIV crown, on to nationals
Apr. 14—It's certain now: the Kilgore College Rangers are headed back to the NJCAA Men's National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., for a first-round game next Monday.
But before they could make plans for the trip to Hutchinson — where they'll face Hutchinson — they first had to deal with an old rival.
KC met Trinity Valley Saturday night at John Anderson Gymnasium in Jacksonville in the championship game of the Region XIV Conference tournament. And they took care of business. They won their ninth straight game, but more importantly, clinched the conference title with that 68-67 win.
The Rangers had their backs against the wall a little bit in Saturday's game. Trinity Valley had lost just once all year — to Kilgore College — and came into the conference title game on a 12-game winning streak.
KC had to prove they were the better team.
They did it. But it took a minute.
K.J. Jenkins got to the line with just over 10 seconds left, and the Rangers losing, 67-66. Wrong man to put on the line, TVCC: Jenkins hit two of his three shots, put the Rangers in front, 68-67.
"I looked at my team and I told them I had to do this for them," said Jenkins, who was named the Region XIV Tournament's most valuable player. "We knew coming in — three days, three games. We knew every day would be a fight."
After sinking the free throws, TVCC called time out. Jenkins missed the third and Darry Moore, the former John Tyler star, grabbed the rebound for the Cardinals. KC had two fouls to give and the Rangers spaced it out to milk the clock down to 2.4 seconds.
But Trinity Valley's DaShawn Davis's shot was off the mark and the Rangers celebrated, having officially clinched both the conference title and punched its ticket to nationals.
"I was so elated for these guys," KC coach Brian Hoberecht said. "I just looked up and soaked it in."
Hoberecht added he was so happy for his team after all the obstacles they faced.
Jenkins, a sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., led KC with 18 points, and had four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Paul Oteno had 12 points, three rebounds and a steal, and Dantwan Grimes and Stephan Morris each had 10 points — Morris had six rebounds and a blocked shot, and Grimes had four assists. Da'Sean Nelson finished with eight points, seven rebounds and two assists; Duane Posey had six points, and six rebounds, an assist and a steal; and Tysen Banks had two points, but also had five assists and two steals.
Davis had 14 points for Trinity Valley. Jakevion Buckley and Anderson Mirambeaux each had 13, and Trevon Fuller had 11. Tuongthach Gathek had eight points, five rebounds and blocked two shots.
Joining Jenkins on the all-tournament team were teammates Nelson and Morris, TVCC's Davis and Anderson, Navarro's Jules Moor and Paris' Da'May Jones.
A month ago, Hoberecht and his Rangers had a couple of games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol, and they didn't play their best at times, in matchups against some of the conference's better teams.
But about two and a half weeks ago, the Rangers got on a roll. They continued that roll with a six-game winning streak into the conference tournament, played in its entirety at John Anderson Gymnasium in Jacksonville.
They secured a first-round bye, and didn't have to play a first-round game on Tuesday, and that was key. Then, they beat a former KC head coach (Scott Schumacher) and the Blinn Buccaneers) on Thursday night, and then on Friday, they snapped Navarro's hold on them — Navarro had beaten them twice, and really not in close games, during the regular season, but KC turned the tables, and held off Navarro to get to Saturday night's championship game against Trinity Valley.
We now know what happened there.
The NJCAA National Tournament, to be played at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kan, starting on April 19 and continuing through April 24. For more on the Rangers' trip to Kansas, see our story in this same issue.
Phil Hicks, sports editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, contributed to this story and also, the photo. The News Herald and Tyler Morning Telegraph are media partners through M. Roberts Media.
