KFDM COOP Posted January 20, 2009 Report Posted January 20, 2009 Kincade-less Rangers fall to Titans By Dave Rogers Sterling coach Mark Patton picked Port Arthur Memorial to win the District 21-5A boys’ basketball title this season, so Tuesday night’s showdown with the Titans figured to be a shootout. That’s if Patton was able to suit out the team he expected to a couple of months ago. But that was impossible with the ranks of Sterling’s suspended and ineligible players increasing by a very big one – leading scorer Cartavious Kincade – and Port Arthur showed little mercy in a 74-37 whipping of the depleted Rangers. “We were just totally annihilated,†Patton said later. “It was the worst loss we’ve had this year. “Once he (Port Arthur coach Terrul Henderson) knew Cartavious wasn’t playing, he went box-and-1 on Andre Corley and wore him down.†Five Port Arthur players scored in double figures, led by Jekore Tyler with 14 points and Tevin Turner with 12. The Titans improved to 16-7 overall and 1-1 in District 21-5A. Keith Harrison came off the bench to lead Sterling with eight points. Corley finished with seven and freshman Bralen Evans added six, on a pair of 3-pointers. It was the fourth straight loss for Sterling, which dropped to 14-9 overall, 0-2 in district. The Rangers played without one starter and two key subs in last week’s loss to Lee. Kincade’s absence meant Patton was down four key players. None are expected back before next week and the Rangers face a tough game at North Shore Friday. “We hoped to keep this thing close,†Patton said, “but our kids didn’t have our usual firepower, and we had some cold shooting. We only hit 4 of 13 from the free throw line.†Port Arthur jumped out to a 20-6 lead in the first quarter with Tyler scoring 12 in the first eight-minute period, half of those points coming from 3-point land. It was 32-18 at halftime and Port Arthur upped its lead to 20 points midway through the third quarter. “We’re in a bad funk,†Patton said, “for the first time all year. In some other games, we shot ourselves in the foot. But tonight, we were overmatched. “I’m not going to make excuses, but we’ve got four guys out, possibly our four top athletes. It’s an absolute worst case scenario.†The Rangers expected this would be the year they would end a 20-season playoff drought and the 0-2 start to a 10-game district schedule does not bode well. “If we get through this stretch, we’ll try to make a run at it,†Sterling’s coach said. “We’ll respond. We always do.â€
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