Normal Lake Level
is 322.00 feet above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 314.38
Water Temperature:
53 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, Dec. 17.
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, Dec. 17.
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)

Dec. 16
• Eustace @ Quitman – 6:30 p.m.
• Fairfield @ Kemp – 7 p.m.
• Palestine @ Mabank – 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19
• Malakoff @ Eustace – 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 20
• Kemp @ Mexia – 5 p.m.
Dec. 27-29
• Eustace @ Martins Mills Tournament – Time TBA
• Wagstaff Classic Holiday Tournament (Tyler) – Time TBA
Dec. 28-29
• Kemp @ Kaufman Holiday Tournament – Time TBA
Jan. 3
• Eustace @ Teague – 5 p.m.
• Palestine Westwood @ Kemp – 4:30 p.m.

Basketball (girls)

Dec. 15-17
• Kemp @ Grand Saline tournament – Time TBA
Dec. 16
• Eustace @ Leon – 5 p.m.
• Canton @ Mabank – 5 p.m.
Dec. 19
• Malakoff @ Eustace – 3 p.m.
Kemp @ Cross Roads – 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 28-30
• Mabank @ Idabel Winter Classic tournament – Time TBA
Jan. 2
• Kemp @ Quinlan-Ford – 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3
• Eustace @ Teague – 5 p.m.

Martins Mills, Lovejoy win Great East Texas Shootout
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
BROWNSBORO–The Martins Mill Lady Mustangs won the girls bracket and the Lovejoy Leopards took top honors in the boys bracket at the annual Great East Texas Shootout basketball tournament last weekend.
One of the premier tournaments in East Texas, this year’s tournament featured 50 teams playing on three different Brownsboro campuses.
There were 30 girls teams and 20 boys teams competing, including teams from Kerens, Canton, Athens, Tyler, Gladewater, Van, Jacksonville, Kaufman, Harmony, Rains, Palestine, and Pittsburg.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Kemp Yellowjacket Brandon Stewart (23) moves the ball up the court as a T.K. Gorman defender races beside him at the annual Great East Texas Shootout basketball tournament last weekend. Gorman defeated Kemp, 36-25.

The Mabank Panthers and the Kemp Yellowjackets were among those at the tournament.
The Mabank Panthers began their tournament play by defeating Tyler’s Grace Community, 66-56.
Mabank took a two-point, 17-15, lead after the first period, and extended their lead to 33-22 by halftime.
The Panthers added three points to their advantage in the third period, taking a 48-34 lead.
Grace’s offense sprang to life in the fourth period, scoring 22 points, but the Panther offense scored 18 points to maintain their lead and secure the win.
Mabank’s David Marler led the Panther offense with 20 points while Jordan Allen followed with 18 points.
Kemp began their tournament by facing the hosting Brownsboro Bears.
The game was a defensive struggle, with neither team breaking 40 points. Brownsboro won the contest, 39-19.
Kemp faced Gladewater bright and early the next morning in what proved to be a more offensive contest. Gladewater slipped past Kemp, winning 49-45.
Mabank’s Friday game pitted them against the Lovejoy Leopards, and Lovejoy showed why they won the tournament.
Despite Mabank’s potent offense and stubborn defense, Lovejoy won the contest, 78-51.
Lovejoy scored 26 points in the first period, and 20 points in the fourth period.
The two periods in between were a tight game with both teams scoring 18 points in the second period, and Lovejoy taking a small, 14-9, advantage in the third period.
Panthers Landon Marshall and Allen both scored 14 points to lead the Mabank offense, and Chris Newton scored 10 points.
Brandon Hatfield added eight points for Mabank.
Later that day, the Kemp Yellowjackets faced Tyler’s T.K. Gorman Crusaders.
It was another defensive showdown, with the Crusaders coming out on top, 36-25.
On Saturday, Mabank faced a strong Cayuga team, and narrowly slipped past the Wildcats, 40-38, for a chance to face the Brownsboro Bears for a fifth place finish.
Against Brownsboro, Mabank’s offense scored 61 points, but the Panther defense had no answer for a Brownsboro offense that scored 80 points to win fifth place at the tournament.
To take the top spot, Lovejoy defeated Pittsburg, 76-49, and faced Mabank.
After Mabank, the Leopards defeated Lindale to face the Bullard Panthers in the championship game. Lovejoy defeated Bullard, 79-36, to win it all.
Gladewater took home the consolation prize for the boys after gaining a win over Grace Community.
Lindale took third place after defeating Troup, 42-38.
In the girls bracket, the Martins Mill Lady Mustangs defeated Gilmer, 50-22, and Whitehouse, 51-34.
The Lady ’Stangs then defeated Carthage, 67-31, and Bullard, 50-38.
In the championship game, Martins Mill faced the Robert E. Lee Lady Red Raiders, and won a commanding, 61-44, contest.
The Jacksonville Lady Indians took the consolation title after defeating the Rains Lady Wildcats, 37-30.
Winnsboro defeated Bullard, 51-43, to take a third place finish.
The Mabank Panthers are set to host Palestine Friday, and will compete at Tyler’s Wagstaff Classic basketball tournament Dec. 27-29.
The Kemp Yellowjackets will host Fairfield Friday, and will travel to Mexia Tuesday.

Lady Defeeters win Duncanville soccer tournament

Courtesy Photo
The Tri-County Lady Defeeters U14 soccer team took first place at the Duncanville Invitational Soccer Tournament Nov. 12-13. Team members are Allison Matheson, Dannielle Sinclair, Kathleen Yates, Kaitlynn Baker, Kristian White, Sierra Weber, Morgan Lynn, Asst. Coach Donna Hopson, Nicole Whitten, Brittney Lee, Carson Marsh, Kaylee Edwards, Gena Stotts, Brittany Tarwater, Melinda Costilla, Brittni Anthony and Coach David Baker.