CARTHAGE, Texas (Interstat) — A key Region XIV men’s junior college basketball matchup is set for Saturday when the Panola Ponies host the Kilgore Rangers.

The game tips off at 4 p.m. on March 7 at the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.

Kilgore (21-5) enters looking to rebound from a narrow 86-83 home loss to Tyler on Wednesday. The Rangers had won seven of their previous eight games prior to that defeat. Panola (16-12) arrives with momentum after a 78-64 victory over Paris on Wednesday, its third win in the last four outings.

The teams met recently in Kilgore on Feb. 25, with the Rangers securing a 70-62 win. Panola guard CJ Worsham was a standout in that loss, scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds.

Worsham is the player to watch for the Ponies. He is coming off a dominant performance against Paris, posting 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists in just one minute of play, according to available statistics. Over his last seven games, he has averaged 15.9 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Kilgore counters with forward Lamarious White, who recorded 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss to Tyler. White had a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win over Bossier Parish on Feb. 11.

Despite Kilgore’s superior overall record and the recent head-to-head victory, Interstat’s game simulator projects a high-scoring deadlock, forecasting a 100-100 final score.

Panola’s recent form at home has been strong, including convincing wins over Coastal Bend and Lamar State-Port Arthur in February. Kilgore’s road record includes a recent 69-46 loss at Angelina on Feb. 28, but also solid victories at Lamar State-Port Arthur and Navarro.

Saturday’s contest has implications for seeding in the upcoming Region XIV tournament, with both teams jockeying for position. Kilgore seeks to solidify its standing among the conference’s elite, while Panola aims to build on its late-season surge and avenge its February loss.