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Tyler Junior College basketball used to be a tough ticket, way before ESPN came along and sprouted its "family of networks."

These days, with so many games on the tube, TJC basketball is simply a tough sell.

"I'm hoping the invention of the DVR will help our attendance," quipped TJC athletic director Dr. Tim Drain, without a hint of disappointment in his voice, a little more than 12 hours after he watched the men's team win its 21st game of the season against only one loss.

"I think it's across the board, not just basketball," Drain said of trying to pump up attendance.

"There are so many things that people can do nowadays. We're just one of many things, whether it's movies or outdoor activities, sports on TV. I don't recall any event that I've been to on the road that was sold out."

Drain experienced one packed house at Wagstaff Gymnasium for a junior college game. It happened in his first year in Tyler - the 1999-2000 season when the TJC women's team played Trinity Valley for the Region XIV Tournament championship.

The Apache Ladies beat the Lady Cardinals and went on to win the national title.

Drain is looking forward to the next really big game at the 2,500-seat Wagstaff. And no, he's not expecting a full house, but it should be among the biggest crowds of the season Saturday to see two nationally ranked teams battle for the top spot in the conference.

The No. 10 Apaches will play No. 13 Paris at 4 p.m. - following the 2 p.m. women's game - with a chance to avenge their only loss of the season.

"People have been scoreboard watching to see who's done what," Drain said. "It's kind of neat to be in this situation."

By "this situation," Drain means the Apaches have already clinched a playoff spot, unlike past years when their fortunes were riding on the outcome of the final game of the season. The only question facing the Apaches now is whether they can stay hot heading into the eight-team regional tournament, which begins 8 at Kilgore College.

TJC has a league-best 15-1 mark, and the 21-1 overall record is the program's best since the 1980-81 team started 25-1.

Paris is 14-2 and in second place. A win would give the Apaches a two-game lead with five to play.

"There's a bigger buzz than usual for this game, solely because we're sitting at 21-1 and the one loss is against the team coming in," Drain said. "Now you've got two nationally ranked teams going at it. I hope folks in Tyler take advantage of this situation that we're fortunate to be in. You're watching tomorrow's stars today for three dollars."

Children get in for $3, adults for $5 and TJC students are admitted free with their college ID. Some in attendance won't have to pay at all. Play-by-play announcer David Smoak has been giving away a set of four reserved tickets each day this week on his SportsTalk radio show.

"The timing of it is good," Drain said. "The Belle Babes are the halftime performance (for the men's game), which means countless little girls and their families and it also means the Apache Belles will be here."

The timing of the men's team has been smooth all season behind the three Js - Joseph Fulce, Jimmy Butler and Jamie Vanderbeken - along with sophomores Malcolm Thomas and William Kossangue off the bench.

All five scored in double figures Wednesday in Lufkin as the Apaches won a shootout with Angelina, 99-96.

The women's team has been up and down, but the arrow is currently pointed up. The fourth-place Apache Ladies beat third-place Angelina, 80-66, for their second straight win.