KILGORE, Texas – No. 2 seed Paris Junior College ended third seed San Jacinto College’s season with an 84-71 victory in semifinal action of the 2008 Region XIV tournament at Masters Gymnasium in Kilgore Saturday night.

San Jacinto College men’s basketball ends the 2007-08 season with an overall record if 23-9, after an 84-71 loss to Paris in semifinal action at the Region XIV tournament in Kilgore.

Paris opened the game with a 6-0 run, scoring quick off the tip and a couple of San Jac miscues. San Jac got on the board with a free throw, but that would be as close as SJC would come to catching the Dragons. Paris blew open a 17-point lead in the first half, but with under five minutes to go, Jonathan Joyner hit a jumper in the paint to cut the Dragon’s lead to nine. The Dragon’s Charles Funches had 11 points in the first half, as Paris out-shot San Jac 48 to 34 percent, and led 48-34 at the half. The teams went to the free throw line a combined 48 times in the first period, and San Jac could only convert on 50 percent.

Paris continued to show its speed and strength on the outside in the second half. San Jac again was able to cut the Dragon’s lead to nine at several points during the second half, but it wasn’t enough. Paris again out-shot San Jac, and will move on to face either Navarro College or Panola College for the chance to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament.

Sophomore Stavon Williams led San Jac with 16 points. Freshmen Maurice McNeil and Devin McDonald dropped in 14 and 10, respectively. San Jac shot 37 percent from the field, and converted on 59 percent from the charity stripe.

For the Dragons, Eric Tramiel led all scorers with 19 points. Paris shot 51 percent for the game and out-rebounded San Jac 31-30.

San Jac finishes the season with an overall record of 23-9. Head coach Scott Gernander completes his 21st season with a career record of 566-136.

For more information about San Jacinto College athletics, visit www.sjcd.edu/athletics.