By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
The streak continues for the Lady Cards.
With a 70-57 road win Saturday against Kilgore, the 15th-ranked Lady Cards claimed a share of the Region XIV Conference title (with Panola) to extend a streak of winning or sharing the title to 17 years. They have also won/shared 26 of the last 27 conference titles.
The Lady Cards (26-4) will head to the Region XIV Tournament this week as the No. 2 seed. They finished tied with Panola atop the conference standings at 16-4, but lost both games to Panola this season, giving the Fillies the No. 1 seed.
The Lady Cards are scheduled to play Tyler, the No. 7 seed, at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Jacksonville. The Lady Cards will be attempting to secure an 11th straight trip to the NJCAA tournament and 23rd overall.
Arleighshya McElroy pumped in 25 points to lead the Lady Cards, hitting 10-of-16 shots from the floor, including three three-pointers.
McElroy was joined in double figures by Mercedes Brooks with 14 and Michal Miller 12.
Jada Wright led the Lady Cards with 11 rebounds.
The Lady Cards led 22-12 after one quarter and were up 36-21 at the half.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The fifth-ranked Cardinals will head into the Region XIV Tournament this week with a full head of steam after a 76-69 win Saturday against Kilgore at Masters Gymnasium.
The win was the 10th straight for the Cardinals, who improved to 27-3 overall and finished conference 18-1.
The Cardinals take the No. 1 seed into the regional tournament March 6-10 in Jacksonville. They will take on the Bossier Parish-Kilgore winner at 1 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals.
The win was the Cardinals’ 84th in their last 95 conference games. They have won/shared the title four of the last five years.
The Cardinals rallied in the second half to turn back Kilgore, which led 44-40 at the half.
Wendell Mitchell tossed in 19 points to lead the Cardinals, also dishing out seven assists.
Also scoring in double figures were Jaime Echenique with 14, Lorenzo Phillips 13 and Andres Ibarguen 11. Ibarguen also had 14 rebounds.
The Cardinals were 30-of-34 from the free throw line with Mitchell and Phillips hitting nine each.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Cardinals (9-11) went 2-2 in the Region XIV Crossover Tournament Friday and Saturday in Longview. Sunday’s games were canceled.
The Lady Cardinals opened the event with a 5-4 win against Lamar State-PA, before dropping close games to Butler, 3-1, and Galveston, 8-7. They closed with an 8-7 win against Blinn.
Against Blinn, the Lady Cardinal bats came alive. Savanah Martinez slammed two home runs. Kimberly Abundis and Mele Pasikala also went yard with Pasikala’s being a grand slam.
The Lady Cardinals are scheduled to be in Tyler on Tuesday, taking on Texas College in a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. Thursday, they go to Paris to open conference play. Doubleheader action begins at 1 p.m.
The next home game is scheduled Tuesday, March 13 against Western Nebraska at 3/5 p.m.