APACHE SWEEP: TJC TAKES TWO BASKETBALL GAMES
After winning big games on the road earlier this week, both TJC teams came out a bit sluggish on Saturday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
But with encouragement from a nice crowd, both the Apache Ladies and Apaches turned up the juice.
The results were wins by both the Tyler Junior College women (97-59 over Coastal Bend College) and men (72-49 over Kilgore College)
Both Tyler squads return to play Wednesday with the Apache Ladies hosting East Texas Baptist JV at 5:30 p.m. in a non-conference game and the Apaches traveling to Athens to play Trinity Valley Community College at 7 p.m.
APACHE LADIES-LADY COUGARS
After scoring a 67-52 win over No. 2 and previously unbeaten Trinity Valley in Athens on Wednesday, the Apache Ladies were flying high.
They were a bit grounded in the early going against Coastal Bend, but took flight again later in the game.
"I thought we could have played a little harder and a little more solid on defense," said TJC coach Trenia Tillis Hoard, whose club improved to 17-3 overall and is tied for first place in Region XIV with an 8-1 record. "The effort and intensity has to be on the floor no matter who we are playing. I felt it was a little letdown from the Trinity Valley game but we still got a big win at home today."
Kharisma Brown, who has been "under Coach T punishment" and missed the last seven games, returned to action and scored 20 points including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Others in double figures were Trelynn Tyler (14), NJCAA Player of the Week Felmas Koranga (14), Kennedy Burks (14) and Quatea Limbrick (12).
Burks led the Apache Ladies in rebounding with nine with Tyler and Koranga adding seven each. Erica Powell and Brown contributed six boards apiece.
Tillis Hoard said she did not play leading scorer Kierra Brimzy because it was the anniversary of her father's passing.
Aubrey Guerra led the Lady Cougars (4-16, 2-7) with 18 points. Jada Mitchell added 12.
Cassie Hogan, a former Douglass High School standout, hit for 11 points. She had several fans in the crowd, including Douglass coach Dayna Reed Westbrook, the former Robert E. Lee High School and SFA standout.
In other women's games: Paris 75, Blinn 70; Trinity Valley 96, Bossier Parish 62; and Angelina 91, Panola 82, OT.
The Lady Cougars were hurt by 40 turnovers. The Apache Ladies had 17.
Coastal Bend is scheduled to play San Antonio College at 6 p.m. Thursday in Beeville.
APACHES-RANGERS
"It was a slow start for both teams," TJC coach Mike Marquis said. "We had the long road trip to Paris and (the Rangers) were coming off the double-overtime game (83-77 win over Bossier Parish)."
Still, the Apaches (16-3, 6-3) managed a 10-point halftime lead, 31-21.
In the second half, TJC gradually pulled away, achieving 23-point leads three times (67-44), (70-47) and the final score.
Shahada Wells led the Apaches in scoring with 20 points, while Cameron Johnson totaled 11.
Johnson and Rory Pantophlet paced TJC in rebounding with eight boards each with Jonathan Bryant adding seven.
Demiere Brown led the Rangers (14-7, 5-5) with 12 points and six rebounds, while Rodrigue Tha Andela scored 11 points. Assane Ndiaye had six boards.
TJC was 8 of 12 from 3-point land, while the Rangers were 5 of 16.
KC had 17 turnovers to the Apaches' 11.
Kilgore plays host to Navarro at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
In other men's games: Navarro 78, Paris 60; Bossier Parish 97, Trinity Valley 76; Blinn 89, Jacksonville 85; and Angelina 79, Lamar State-Port Arthur 75.
SMOKE SIGNALS: SFA Lumberjacks head coach Kyle Keller, a former Apaches head coach, was in attendance. ... Three members of the 1971-1972 Apaches national tournament team were on hand — Steve Foster, Wayne Penick and Charles Wilson. ... Herb Richardson was in attendance as well. Richardson, 92, was on the 1949 national championship basketball team. ... New TJC football coach Thomas Rocco hosted several recruits this weekend, including Carlisle standout quarterback Gerald Turner.
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Women's Region XIV Game
No. 17 Tyler Junior College 97, Coastal Bend College 59
Coastal Bend 13 18 10 18 — 59
Tyler JC 18 28 20 31 — 97
COASTAL BEND — Aubrey Guerra, 18; Olivia Chisolm, 1; Rosalie Hansen, 3; Jada Mitchell, 12; Cassie Hogan, 11; Angelina Barela, 5; Marley Martinez, 3; Jayde Walker, 1; Tianie Johnson, 5.
TYLER — Trelynn Tyler, 14; Te'Aire Hambrick, 4; Felmas Koranga, 14; Diamond Atchinson, 3; Kharisima Brown, 20; Kennedy Burks, 14; Burgandi Griffin, 8; Frankazia Boyd, 3; Quatera Limbrick, 12; Erica Powell, 5.
THREE-POINT GOALS — CBC: Guerra (4), Hansen, Hogan, Martinez. TJC: Boyd, Limbrick.
RECORDS — Coastal Bend 4-16 (2-7), Tyler 17-3 (8-1).
NEXT UP — San Antonio College at Coastal Bend, 6 p.m. Thursday; East Texas Baptist JV at TJC, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
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Region XIV Men's Game
Tyler Junior College 72, Kilgore College 49
Kilgore 21 28 — 49
Tyler 31 41 — 72
KILGORE — Malachi Davidson, 3; Kaleb Favors, 0; Darrian Grays, 6; Jordyn Owens, 5; Assane Ndiaye, 5; Kevin Buckley, 3; Jarius Stevens, 4; Demiere Brown, 12; Rodrigue Tha Andela, 11; Warren Richardson, 0.
TYLER — Shahada Wells, 20; Deandre Heckard, 9; Cameron Johnson, 11; Kieffer Punter, 3; Jonathan Bryant, 9; Malik Lawrence-Anderson, 7; Ryan Walls, 0; Jason Bush Jr., 5; Chandler Oriakhi, 2; Edra Luster, 2; Rory Pantophlet, 4.
THREE-POINT GOALS — KC: Davidson, Grays (2), Owens, Buckley. TJC: Wells (3), Heckard, Punter, Lawrence-Anderson (2), Bush.
RECORDS — Kilgore 14-7 (5-5), Tyler 16-3 (6-3).
NEXT UP — Navarro at Kilgore, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tyler at Trinity Valley, 7 p.m. Wednesday.