The trip to Hutchinson, Kansas for the junior college national basketball championships was there for the taking, but the Angelina College Roadrunners simply ran out of gas before they could get on the bus.
Just one night after AC’s thrilling and emotional come-from-behind win over Trinity Valley, the ‘Runners couldn’t muster the same magic, falling to the Panola College Ponies 82-65 in the Region XIV men’s conference semifinals Friday night in Jacksonville.
In an emotionally charged game featuring eight technical fouls and several ejections, the Roadrunners, after taking a lead early in the second half, fell back from the pace as the Ponies reeled off a 20-3 run to take charge of the game.
Robert Lewis led the ‘Runners with 20 points; Corinthian Ramsey scored 13 and Isaiah Bailey 12 in those three sophomores’ final games with AC. Gary Blackston, Quenton Bush, Victor Bell and Kyndall Powell also played their final games as Roadrunners.
Panola’s Devyn Wilson led the Ponies with 20 points. Panola College will play San Jacinto College on Saturday to decide the tournament champion, with both teams having earned berths to the national tourney in Hutchinson.
The Roadrunners finish the season with a record of 22-11.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.