BASKETBALL BULLDOGS BEAT RUSK | Check out photo gallery; in Paris Holiday Tourney Dec. 28-29

The Kilgore Bulldogs basketball team went into the Christmas holidays on a great note.

Kilgore won its District 17-4A opener at Gilmer, 40-34, on Tuesday night, then on Friday, coach Jeff Coleman and the Bulldogs defended their home court, dealing Rusk a 57-35 loss in a non-conference game.

KHS is off now until they compete in the Paris Holiday Tournament on Dec. 28. (More on that below)

Both Kilgore teams are home on Jan. 2 against Henderson – that’s the next 17-4A game, and it’s at home that night at 5 p.m., starting with junior varsity games.

Against Rusk on Friday, Kilgore built an 18-7 lead by the end of the first quarter, and went into the half up 30-15. Rusk closed the gap and got within six points, 33-27, with 1:35 left in the third quarter, but Braydon Nelson hit a bucket 14 seconds later, and Kilgore went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter – Nelson, then Eric Armstrong, Nelson again, then Kayson Brooks, and broke the game open. The Eagles didn’t really threaten again.

For Kilgore, Nelson led with 16 points, and also had five rebounds. Jayden Sanders had 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Cooper Shipman had seven points and four rebounds.

Dre Sanders had six points. Mikel Dennis had six points, as well, and had five rebounds and a steal.

Brooks had four points, two rebounds, and two steals. Armstrong finished with two points, but also had four rebounds, a steal and two assists. And Javon Towns had a point and three steals.

Now, about that Paris tournament…

It’s the 13th Annual Farmers Bank & Trust Paris Holiday Basketball Tournament. It’s a two-day event, Dec. 28-29. There are 16 teams in the tournament, a four-pool event. Kilgore is in pool D, with Paris, Burleson and Canton. The top two teams in each pool move to the championship bracket on Dec. 29 and 30.

Next Thursday, Dec. 28, Kilgore plays its first pool game against Burleson at 12:30 p.m. at Paris’ aux gym. Then, the Bulldogs play again at the aux gym at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night against Canton. On Friday morning, Dec. 29, Kilgore plays Paris in the main gym at 11 a.m. How the Bulldogs fare in pool play, as mentioned, will depend on where they go in the tournament moving forward. Kilgore has done very well in this tournament in the past.

Other teams in the tournament are Grand Oaks, Pleasant Grove, Sam Rayburn, Hope (Ark.), Life Waxahachie, Cleburne, Pine Tree, Richland, Honey Grove, North Lamar, Greenville, and Ponder.

Kilgore’s Mikel Dennis (10, foreground) wrestles for the ball with Rusk players before finally winning it during a non-district game Saturday here at KHS gym. The Bulldogs won the game, 57-35. (Photo by MITCH LUCAS – ETBLITZ.COM)

It’s magic: Jayden Sanders floats a ball to a teammate, actually unseen in this photo (it was Kayson Brooks). (Photo by MITCH LUCAS – ETBLITZ.COM)

Kilgore’s Kayson Brooks (foreground) tries to keep a handle on the ball as he brings it up court. (Photo by MITCH LUCAS – ETBLITZ.COM)

Kilgore boys basketball coach Jeff Coleman looks on as the Bulldogs play defense against the Rusk Eagles during the first half on Friday. (Photo by MITCH LUCAS – ETBLITZ.COM)