Kilgore College holds ceremony ahead of women’s basketball trip to Wyoming

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - For the first time since 1993, Kilgore College women’s basketball is headed to the NJCAA tournament, this being only the 7th time in program history that has happened.

A historic season at Kilgore College requires a historic sendoff.

“It’s just been an incredible feeling to receive that love back,” said Stephanie Williams, the head coach of the Lady Ranger basketball team.

With this tournament bid, the team will now forever be mentioned alongside the historic Lady Ranger teams coached by Evelyn Blalock.

“I make them look at all of the accomplishments that we have had, whether that was in the ‘80s or ‘90s, and I tell them what does your legacy want to be, and they came in every day with that work ethic of legacy. So, to know we are going to be amongst those conversations, God is good,” said Williams.

A sentiment held around the team is that many thought they couldn’t get here.

Giving them the underdog mentality that they still carry into their first round match-up.

“No one expected us to make it this way, we aren’t ranked or anything. We have had multiple upsets throughout this whole season. We stick together, we know we can do it, and we will do it,” said Anyla Herbert, a freshman with the Lady Rangers.

Getting to this point has taken the whole community, as many have stepped up to help give a home away from home through the hoops troops program.

Many of the families having been in Kilgore since the last tournament run.

“It’s a great experience. It’s very rewarding for us to see these kids mature, and we got a great coach here. Both coaches are great and they really built a good team,” said Pat Nault, the founder of Hoops Troops.

“Like, we really want to do this for yall. Y’all have been here through so much. Even like when nobody was here at school, y’all were still with us,” said Herbert.

Kilgore College’s first game will be on the 25th at 10 a.m., against Walters State Community College.

The tournament is being held in Casper, Wyoming.

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