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Martin leads Lady Bucs past former team
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| Blinn College guard Edricka Thomas takes the ball to the hoop against Kilgore’s Jovanna Petrovic (33) and Irinia Walker (1) during Blinn’s 71-59 victory over Kilgore on Tuesday. Banner-Press/Richard Bray |
By RICHARD BRAY/Sports Editor
With her son in the stands, Tilmila Martin showed her former team that she still knows a thing or two about getting to the basket.
The sophomore point guard led the Blinn College Lady Buccaneers on Tuesday night in the team’s 71-59 victory over Kilgore College at the Blinn P.E. Building.
Martin scored 14 first-half points against the team she played for prior to transferring to Blinn. Martin transferred after the birth of her 10-month-old son, Jaquise, who was in the stands while her mother scored a game-high 20 points.
“It was kind of hard seeing my old coaches and knowing that I came from that school, but I just played through it,” Martin said. “I just wanted to come out and win a conference game.”
Blinn finished second in each of the past two Region 14 Tournaments with a style of play that relied on relentless defense combined with strong perimeter shooting.
With Martin at the point, Blinn’s offense has now become one intent on penetration.
“She can get to the hole,” Blinn (5-1, 1-0) coach Jeff Jenkins said. “She really can get to the hole. She’s the best guard I’ve ever had at penetrating and she makes it. That’s the key.”
While the style of offense has changed, the Lady Bucs proved they still have the same stingy defense. Nakazia Glover scored 19 to lead the Lady Rangers and Denetra Kellum scored 15, but no other Kilgore player scored more than seven.
“I thought we played well defensively to hold them to 59,” Jenkins said. “(Glover) for them averaged 10 a game at Houston as a freshman, so she’s very talented. They’ve got a lot of good guards.”
Blinn went with a smaller lineup to keep up with Kilgore’s speedy roster, and throughout much of the second half the Lady Bucs opted to play their best defensive players.
“I’ll just be honest with you, we’re nowhere near as good as we can be,” Jenkins said. “We’re still not hitting shots, we’re still struggling to find each other, but it’s nice to be able to win when you’re not playing your best basketball.”
Jasmine Smith, who was charged with defending Glover in the second half, finished with 11 points, and Alisha Williams scored 12. Alexis Green and Shamon Doss each scored seven.
“I get nervous before every game, but the first conference game I was very nervous,” Jenkins said. “You just hope that your team shows up ready to play. Being that we hadn’t won at home, it was very nerve-wracking.”
Blinn’s only loss of the season came against Western Texas in its only previous home game.
The Lady Bucs will host Temple Junior College at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
BLINN 71, KILGORE 59
Kilgore 23 36 - 59
Blinn 36 35 - 71
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Kilgore - Nakazia Glover 19, Denetra Kellum 15, Jovanna Petrovic 7, Irinia Walker 5, Kendra Venzant 4, Janae Henderson 4, Sylvia Hoffman 3, Elise Kea 2.
Blinn - Tilmila Martin 20, Alisha Williams 12, Jasmine Smith 11, Shamon Doss 7, Alexis Green 7, Shaneka Mason 6, Jessica Walker 5, Edricka Thomas 3.
The sophomore point guard led the Blinn College Lady Buccaneers on Tuesday night in the team’s 71-59 victory over Kilgore College at the Blinn P.E. Building.
Martin scored 14 first-half points against the team she played for prior to transferring to Blinn. Martin transferred after the birth of her 10-month-old son, Jaquise, who was in the stands while her mother scored a game-high 20 points.
“It was kind of hard seeing my old coaches and knowing that I came from that school, but I just played through it,” Martin said. “I just wanted to come out and win a conference game.”
Blinn finished second in each of the past two Region 14 Tournaments with a style of play that relied on relentless defense combined with strong perimeter shooting.
With Martin at the point, Blinn’s offense has now become one intent on penetration.
“She can get to the hole,” Blinn (5-1, 1-0) coach Jeff Jenkins said. “She really can get to the hole. She’s the best guard I’ve ever had at penetrating and she makes it. That’s the key.”
While the style of offense has changed, the Lady Bucs proved they still have the same stingy defense. Nakazia Glover scored 19 to lead the Lady Rangers and Denetra Kellum scored 15, but no other Kilgore player scored more than seven.
“I thought we played well defensively to hold them to 59,” Jenkins said. “(Glover) for them averaged 10 a game at Houston as a freshman, so she’s very talented. They’ve got a lot of good guards.”
Blinn went with a smaller lineup to keep up with Kilgore’s speedy roster, and throughout much of the second half the Lady Bucs opted to play their best defensive players.
“I’ll just be honest with you, we’re nowhere near as good as we can be,” Jenkins said. “We’re still not hitting shots, we’re still struggling to find each other, but it’s nice to be able to win when you’re not playing your best basketball.”
Jasmine Smith, who was charged with defending Glover in the second half, finished with 11 points, and Alisha Williams scored 12. Alexis Green and Shamon Doss each scored seven.
“I get nervous before every game, but the first conference game I was very nervous,” Jenkins said. “You just hope that your team shows up ready to play. Being that we hadn’t won at home, it was very nerve-wracking.”
Blinn’s only loss of the season came against Western Texas in its only previous home game.
The Lady Bucs will host Temple Junior College at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
BLINN 71, KILGORE 59
Kilgore 23 36 - 59
Blinn 36 35 - 71
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Kilgore - Nakazia Glover 19, Denetra Kellum 15, Jovanna Petrovic 7, Irinia Walker 5, Kendra Venzant 4, Janae Henderson 4, Sylvia Hoffman 3, Elise Kea 2.
Blinn - Tilmila Martin 20, Alisha Williams 12, Jasmine Smith 11, Shamon Doss 7, Alexis Green 7, Shaneka Mason 6, Jessica Walker 5, Edricka Thomas 3.
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