Normal Lake Level
is 322.00 feet above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 314.86
Water Temperature:
51 degrees - top
51 degrees - bottom

Sports in Brief

Geocaching at Purtis Creek
Purtis Creek State Park will hold a "basics of geocaching" program from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.
Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt using a GPS unit to help you find hidden "caches" placed by people all over the world.
Geocaches are everywhere - from just down the street to the most remote wilderness areas.
The program at Purtis Creek will teach the basics of using a GPS for geocaching and how to get started. Meet at the Amphitheater. For more information, contact the park at (903) 425-2332.

Stargazing at Purtis Creek
Purtis Creek State Park will host an evening of stargazing from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.
Make a star wheel and learn how to use it, learn about the solar system and view the night sky through a telescope. Weather permitting, meet at the over flow camping parking lot.
For more information, contact the park at (903) 425-2332.

Upcoming Events

Basketball (boys)

Jan. 10
• Kemp @ Crandall – 5 p.m.
Jan. 13
• Eustace @ Blooming Grove – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Kemp – 5 p.m.
Jan. 17
• Eustace @ Buffalo – 5 p.m.
• Kemp @ North Forney – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Crandall – 5 p.m.

Basketball (girls)

Jan. 10
• Kemp @ Crandall – 5 p.m.
• Ferris @ Mabank – 5 p.m.
Jan. 13
• Eustace @ Blooming Grove – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Kemp – 5 p.m.
Jan. 17
• Eustace @ Buffalo – 5 p.m.
• Kemp @ North Forney – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Crandall – 5 p.m.

Yellowjackets lose two games Tuesday
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
QUINLAN–The Kemp Lady Yellowjackets lost to the hosting Quinlan-Ford Lady Panthers, 57-39, while the boys fell to the visiting Palestine Westwood Panthers, 58-33, Tuesday.
In Quinlan, both teams started equal, with defense being the name of the game.
Both teams scored just four points in the first period.
Quinlan’s offense showed up in the second period, scoring 22 points, while Kemp scored just 10, leaving a 26-14 score at halftime.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Kemp Yellowjacket Corey Watkins struggles to maintain control of a rebound while getting pressure from a Palestine Westwood defender (21) Tuesday. Kemp lost to the visiting Panthers, 58-33.

Kemp scored 25 points in the second half of the game – 13 in the third period, and 12 in the fourth – but the Lady Panthers topped them by scoring 16 and 15, respectively.
Lady Yellowjacket Brianna Powell led Kemp’s offense with 18 points, while Taylor Day scored eight points.
Kandace Rose was held to four points, and four Lady ’Jackets added two points each.
The Lady Yellowjackets traveled to Ferris Friday, and will visit the Crandall Lady Pirates Tuesday.
They will host the Mabank Lady Panthers Jan. 13.
The Kemp boys are set to visit Quinlan-Ford Monday, and will return to action Jan. 13, when they will also host Mabank.

Lady ’Jackets seek consistency
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
KEMP–The Kemp Lady Yellowjackets have the potential to earn a playoff bid in District 13-3A, despite a lack of experience.
“We have less experience than last year,” fourth-year head coach Kent Smith said. “We graduated two girls with a lot of varsity experience last year, and only have two girls with playoff experience this year. But, we have a ton of potential.”
Indeed, this year’s Lady ’Jacket basketball basketball is a young team with just four seniors – Kayla Collum, Brianna Powell, Taylor Day and Kandace Rose.
Angela Madrid, Lacie Henderson and Nicole Cox are the Kemp girls’ three juniors.
Sophomores Jacque Cooper, Bree Weisinger and Shelby Rodrigues round out the Lady Yellowjacket team.
Kemp held a 9-11 record prior to Friday’s District 13-3A opener at Ferris. Although that record could easily have been different were it not for minor errors and lapses in concentration. “We were in several games that we ended up losing, but should have won,” Smith said.
Those losses stem from the lack of experience, and the loss of last year’s All-State player Michelle Ritterbach and Shannon Shipp, Smith explained. Kemp does has some prime-time players, however, with Brianna Powell and Kandace Rose.
In fact, Smith explaines that Powell is “ahead of where Ritterbach was at this time last year.”
Powell provides accurate shooting all around, and is commonly double and triple-blocked.
Rose provides playoff experience and an aggressive style. With a little more consistency, she will be a threat to anybody.
The supporting cast on the team has some improvements to make, though.
“Overall, this team has good quickness,” Smith said. “They tend to make bad decisions due to lack of experience,” he added.
On the other hand, Smith noted, the lack of experience can be a positive for his team. “They are willing to take chances,” he said.
Team chemistry is showing improvements as the girls work together and rely on each other, Smith reported.
In addition to Powell and Rose, keep an eye on Bree Weisinger, who provides good shooting abilities, is quick and is a well of potential.
Taylor Day has “shown flashes of greatness” over the past two years, and will only improve as time goes on.
Nicole Cox was a pleasant surprise, as Smith originally felt she would be better at the junior varsity level. That changed, however, as Smith noticed she “does a great job getting into position underneath, plays strong defense and is very athletic.”
Once all the girls get in the same gear, nothing can stop them. “The key to us winning is trying to get consistent output,” Smith said.
Smith knows this district is strong, with teams like North Forney, Mabank and Crandall.
Kemp will have their work cut out for them, especially considering there are four schools with more than 900 students registered. Kemp is by far the smallest school in the district.