Panola College
March 1, 2019 - The Panola Ponies will be playing Navarro College for the Region XIV Eastern Conference Championship in Corsicana on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. The winner of the game will not only win the Eastern Texas Conference Championship, they will secure the #1 seed going into the NJCAA Region XIV Athletic Conference Tournament set for next week at Centenary College in Shreveport, LA. Panola Coach Grant McMillan's message to his team is simple, "For us it's a 1 game season. Empty your tank for one game! Saturday there won't be a lot of easy moments, no time for second thoughts or hesitation. That's why you come to Panola and Region XIV to play in ballgames like these. Playing the 1st place team in their own building against an incredibly well coached and athletic team is a huge game."
This will be the second time in the last three years that Coach Grant McMillan has led the Ponies to the Championship game. His team won the Conference Championship in 2017 and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since 1979, and was second in 2016 which was his first year at Panola. "Coach McMillan has done an extremely great job with the Panola program and has gained the respect across the country. He changed the entire mind set of our program and has built a contender each year on the court and off the court. Not only are they winning basketball games, his student-athletes are graduating on time and receiving major scholarships across the nation. He is recruiting athletes that will excel in our league and capable of going on to major Div. 1 programs, such as last years MVP, Marlon Taylor, who is one of LSU's top players this year. We are proud of the Ponies and the coaching staff and will be looking forward to a great run in the playoffs," noted Vice President of Student Services/Athletic Director Don Clinton.
The Ponies setup the Championship game on Wednesday night as they defeated Tyler Jr. College in an exciting game in Carthage. On Thursday night Trinity Valley knocked off league leading Navarro College to set the stage completely for a championship game on Saturday night. Both Panola and Navarro are coming into the game with a 12-5 Conference record and 22 wins overall on the year. Navarro beat Panola 69-68 at the buzzer in the first matchup in Carthage on Feb. 6. Region XIV is one of the toughest conferences each year in the NJCAA. This year the Eastern Conference of Region XIV is no exception with the top 4 teams all just one game apart. Panola and Navarro tied at 12-5 on top and Tyler and Trinity Valley tied at 11-6.
Saturday evenings in game in Corsicana will definitely be one that you will not want to miss!
February 28, 2019 - Panola was able to shake off a slow start and come back to defeat #21 Tyler 82-74 in front of a great home crowd on Sophomore Night. Tyler came out hot and were up 31-18 with 7 minutes remaining in the first half. Panola was able to close the gap to 39-32 at halftime. The Ponies came out hot in the 2nd half and were able to take their first lead of the game at 57-56 with just over 10 minutes remaining. They were able to hold off a late attack by Tyler to get to the final horn.
Lenell Henry led the way with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Kamari Brown added 15 points and 5 rebounds. Tariq Simmons and Jeff Boyd rounded out the double digit scorers with 13 and 11 apiece. Franklyn Penn had a solid all around game with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
With the win, the Ponies are now 22-7 (12-5 Region XIV). They are currently half a game behind Navarro, who they play on the road on Saturday afternoon.
February 28, 2019 - The Panola College Rodeo Team traveled to Robstown, Texas for the Texas A&M Rodeo on the 22nd and 23rd for the 7th of the 10 Southern Region Rodeo’s. The Men’s team won 2nd place and held their lead in the standings, while the Women’s team won second and moved to 8th place in the region. Here are some of the individual results:
Abbie Muckelroy, freshman from Center, turned in two fast times in the Barrel Racing on her horse called Frosty. Frosty ran a 17.82 to win 3rd in the long go, and followed that time up in the short go with a 17.30 to win the fast time of the short go. The total time of 35.50 won 2nd place in the average. Frosty has had some time off this fall for breathing issues, but after proper vet care and rehab is back to winning and in fine fashion.
Daylon Swearingen, a three event rough stock hand, stormed into Robstown to handle business. Daylon won 3rd place in the Bareback Riding with 2 great scores of 75 and 77. Swearingen then moved over to the Saddle Bronc Riding to score a 73 and a 5th place finish in round 1. Bull Riding was no match for the Panola man there either, where he scored 74 points on each of his bulls, for a 2nd place overall finish. Daylon was strong enough in all his events to win the all-around Championship as well. Coach Collins said “Daylon is a beast, he keeps a full time Pro Rodeo schedule, competes in College Rodeo’s, always handles his classes and business well. He is an amazing athlete and a great addition to our team. Daylon is also ranked 16th in Bull Riding world standings and 8th place All-Around Cowboy. Watch this guy because he is going to be around for a while.”
Logan Cook, Alto Texas sophomore, and all-around cowboy was not far behind. Logan took care of business in the Saddle Bronc Riding with scores of 79 and 60. The first round ride won 2nd in the long go, while the average score on two head won 4th place. Logan’s other event, Tie down Roping, was fast. Logan’s times of 9.8 and 12.4 placed him 4th in the short go and 4th in the average. Cook won the All-Around Championship last year, and is in a commanding lead this year. Coach Collins said “Cookie is one of the most talented athletes I have ever had the privilege to coach, he will graduate this spring, and I will miss him so much! Keep looking for his name in the Pro Rodeo world, because he will go on and do great things.”
The Rodeo Team will be back in action again March 15th and 16th in Bryan, Texas.
February 27, 2019 - Panola College Drama returned home from the Texas Community College Theatre Association's 2019 Play Festival competition with 39 awards. Eastfield College in Mesquite hosted the competition Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 21-23. On February 25-28, 14 of these students will compete at the KCACTF Regional Festival in Abilene.
Panola’s awards included in production award category: Superior Production; Outstanding Direction of a Play/Best Director - Karen King; Educational Respondents Recognition of Outstanding Merit in Dramaturgy; and Best Acting Ensemble - (superior acting performances by a company: Zach Holmes - Martinsville, Shelby Watson - Leon, Sarah Owens - Mt. Enterprise, Peyton Proffitt - Center, Jasmine Ryan - Martinsville, Abigail Parrish - Chireno, Justin Gonzales - Rains, Addison Pope - Carthage, Keath Kibbey - Huntington, Tailer Chong - Rains, Nathaniel Endsley - Huntington, Bethany Crowe - Kennard, and Christian Kotara - Spurger.)
In the technical awards category, Panola received awards including: Excellence Professors’ Choice: Lighting Design: Julia Prewitt - Joaquin; Sound Design: Hannah Williams - Gary; Hair and Make-up: Tony Jeter – Carthage, Chailey Norton – Mt. Enterprise, Angel Kammer - Kennard; Excellence Judge's Choice: Hair and Make-Up: Tony Jeter, Chailey Norton, and Angel Kammer; Program/Poster Design: Chailey Norton and Catalina Zoyoquila – Mt. Enterprise; Superior Professor's Choice: Dramaturgy: Maelbi Calderon, Seagoville, and Jasmine Ryan; Assistant Director: Kyree Williams - Hillsboro; Stage Management: Maelbi Calderon; Choreography: Addison Pope; Costume Design: Lacie Sepulvado - Mt. Enterprise; Properties Design: Emily Robinson - Martinsville; Web Promotion-Pre-Show Design: Peyton Profitt; Set Design: Peyton Proffitt and Zach Holmes; Lobby Display - Abigail Parrish and Tailer Chong; Superior Judge's Choice: Costume Design - Lacie Sepulvado; Lighting Design - Julia Prewitt; Dramaturgy: Maelbi Calderon and Jasmine Ryan.
In the category of performance awards, Panola received the following: Professor's Choice - Sarah Owens; Audience Choice - Jasmine Ryan; Excellence Judge's Choice: Justin Gonzales, Addison Pope, and Christian Kotara; Superior Judge’s Choice: Sarah Owens and Jasmine Ryan.
February 27, 2019 - The Fillies handled their business trip to Jacksonville Tuesday, beating the Lady Jaguars 87-54. After an 18-18 first quarter, the Fillies turned up the intensity in the second, scoring 25 points while holding the Lady Jaguars to just 12. The first half charge saw 10 different Fillies score.
The Fillies started the second half on a 7-0 run and never looked back. Business was handled on both ends by the Fillies in both quarters. Theywould out score the Jaguars 44-24 in the second half.
The scoring for the Fillies was very balanced with Maryia Adashchyk scoring a team high 16 points. Three other players; Falkowska (14), Barcharova (14) and Williams (12) finished in double figures.
The Fillies improve to 15-12 overall, 11-6 in conference. Panola will finish up the regular season at home against the Angelina Roadrunners Saturday, March 2nd in Carthage. The Fillies took the Roadrunners into overtime at Angelina but could not finish the game, losing 91-82 in overtime. Jolie Williams led the Fillies in scoring with 25.
Saturday will also be the Fillies Sophomore night.
February 26, 2019 - Panola College is proud to announce the establishment of the Gene & Brenda Giles and Dean & Cindy Giles Endowed Scholarship.
This scholarship was established by Gene and Brenda Giles and will be awarded annually to a deserving freshman or sophomore student with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
February 25, 2019 - Panola College traveled to Whitehouse, Texas to play Grayson College in a double header. It was the last weekend of non-conference for the Ponies and the best test going into Region 14 east play.
Game 1 (7 innings)
Sophomore Tyler Davis (Houston, TX) took the mound for the Ponies and it was his show. Davis posted the first complete game of the season with a stat line of 7IP-2H-1R-0ER-2BB-9K. He was dominate from the first pitch. Trent Touchet (Shreveport, LA) and Kade Clemens (Gilmer, TX) added an RBI double each to give the Ponies their only two runs. Ponies win game 1 by a score of 2-1.
Game 2 (9 innings)
Game 2 was much different than game 1. A back and forth high scoring affair that ultimately led to Grayson winning 10-8. Chris Collet (New Orleans, LA) was the big offensive provider with a double and his second big fly of the year. Hayden Collins (Cypress, TX) and Garret Hermes (Rowlett, TX) each gave the Ponies solid outings on the mound.
Panola is back Thursday (2/28) and Saturday (3/2) as they take on the Paris Dragons to open up Region 14 East play. Thursday’s game is at Paris and Saturday’s double header is in Carthage, TX.
February 25, 2019 - The Panola Fillies split a pair of conference matchups last week; losing to Tyler 72-95 and beating Coastal Bend 98-74.
In the first matchup of the week against Tyler, the Fillies had four players in double figures with Aljica Falkowska leading all scorers with 17. Jolie Williams, Mikayla Etienne and Kellymar Zapata-Ramirez all finished the game with 10 points each.
In the Saturday match up against Coastal Bend, the Fillies completed the season sweep of the Lady Cougars. After a close first quarter, the Fillies never looked back. Maryia Adashchyk lead all scorers with 21 points. Behind her in scoring was Aljica Falkowska with 17, Daryna Barcharova with 14 and Jolie Williams with 12. Adashchyk also recorded a team high six steals on the night.
The Fillies move to 14-12, 10-6 in conference. They look to complete the sweep off Jacksonville Thursday on the road. In the first meeting of the two, the Fillies won 66-46. Maryia Adashchyk lead all scorers in that contest with 12.
February 25, 2019 - Panola traveled to Bossier Parish Saturday afternoon and was able to complete the season sweep of the Cavaliers with a 85-64 victory. The Ponies were able to jump out to a quick start and lead 46-30 at half. The lead would continue to grow, to as large as 28 before the final score of 85-64.
The Ponies had a very balanced attack offensively. Franklyn Penn led the way with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Tariq Simmons added 15 points and 4 steals. Kamari Brown and Tylan Dean both added double digit scoring with 12 points apiece.
The win sets the stage for a huge final week in Region XIV play. Currently, Panola is tied for second at 11-5 with Tyler. Tyler and Panola are both a game back of Region XIV leading Navarro who is sitting at 12-4. Panola plays Tyler at home on Wednesday with a 7:30 pm tip before traveling to Navarro Saturday afternoon. Panola will honor its sophomores before the game on Wednesday.
February 19, 2019 - The M.P. Baker Library will host Texas State Historian Emeritus and author, Mr. Bill O’Neal at noon on Tuesday, February 26th in the Murphy-Payne Community Rooms of the Library. Mr. O’Neal will speak on the influence of Jacob A. Riis, a pioneering newspaper reporter and social reformer. The lecture accompanies the current exhibit hosted by the Library. Jacob A. Riis was a Danish-American social reformer whose prolific writings and revolutionary photographs exposed the poor quality of life in New York City’s slums in the late 1800s. His photographic evidence of the plight of children living on the streets at that time is often credited for spawning what was later known as the Orphan Trains.
Mr. O’Neal is past president and Fellow of the East Texas Historical Association as well as recipient of the Association’s Ralph W. Steen and the Best of East Texas awards. He is also a member of the Western Writers of America organization. He has authored more than 45 books on a wide-range of topics. Mr. O’Neal taught history for more than thirty years at Panola College and received a Piper Professorship teaching award in 2000. Mr. O’Neal is a frequent public speaker and has appeared on television documentaries on The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, TBS, The A&E Channel and TNN.
The program is free and open to the community. A light lunch will be provided for the first 50 attendees. For additional information please call 903-693-2052 or email library@panola.edu.
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