Tyler Junior College's Darryl Stewart (22) passes the ball to a teammate, during the Apaches game against Trinity Valley Community College, at Wagstaff gym, Saturday afternoon. (Lang White / Correspondent)

Although it didn’t show up in the scorebook, Tyler Junior College basketball coach Mike Marquis said there were plenty of positives out of Saturday’s 82-69 loss to No. 1 Trinity Valley Community at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

On the other hand, TVCC coach Kris Baumann was not pleased how his team played in the Region XIV contest, but still it was the Cardinals’ 20th straight victory and the second over the Apaches this season.

Leon Gilmore led the Cardinals (26-1, 16-0) with 22 points and 10 rebounds with teammate Hyron Edwards pitching in 16 points.

The Apaches (14-10, 6-10) were paced by 18 points, including five 3-pointers, from freshman Kwinton Hinson. Eden Ewing added 12 points and seven boards with Darryl Stewart scoring 10 points.

After seven technical fouls were called in the first half – five on TVCC and two on Tyler – Marquis sat point guard Ronnie Stacy and forward TJ Thomas in the second half after the pair had picked up techs.

Trinity Valley’s JC Washington was ejected in the first half when he got two quick technical fouls after the sophomore forward got in the face of an official after a foul was called on the sophomore forward. He then glared at the official as he walked off the court.

Hyron Edwards, Shamiek Sheppard and TVCC coach Baumann also picked up techs.

“We got the opportunity for Darvin Johnson to get some minutes at point guard and I didn’t want to take the chance that Ronnie and TJ could pick up their second tech and miss one or two games,” Marquis said. “Just like last year’s team, this group is becoming a team and I didn’t want Ronnie missing a game to spoil the chemistry. When the (veteran) players were on the bench they were up cheering and supporting their teammates on the floor. That is what makes a team.”

Marquis took the opportunity to rest some of his starters as well. He used that strategy last year which paid off when the Apaches won the Region XIV Tournament and a berth to nationals.

Cohen Desouza, Jaqwan McCauley, Aston Francis, Ajou Deng, Arab Abdi and Andre Brooks got plenty of minutes.

The Apaches outscored the Cardinals 41-33 in the second half after falling behind 49-28 at the half.

Marquis praised the TVCC club, noting that Baumann’s team is built for the national tournament with their superb guard play and not necessarily relying on post play.

TJC was hurt at the free- throw line, hitting just 15 of 30 attempts. TVCC was 18 of 22. Also, normally the Apaches take care of the ball, but against the Cards they had 23 turnovers. Trinity Valley had 19 miscues.

Tyler did shoot better from 3-point land, hitting 10 of 25, while the Cardinals were 7 of 31.

TJC returns to play on Wednesday, traveling to Paris to meet the Dragons in a 7:30 p.m. contest. TVCC is home in Athens, hosting Navarro at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

In other Region XIV games on Saturday: San Jacinto defeated Blinn, 97-72; Jacksonville rolled over Angelina, 95-76; Kilgore beat Paris, 85-65; Navarro downed Bossier Parish, 92-61; and Lamar State-Port Arthur topped Lee, 100-88.

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Region XIV Men

No. 1 Trinity Valley Community College 82, Tyler Junior College 69

Trinity Valley 49 33 – 82

Tyler 28 41 – 69

TRINITY VALLEY-Josh Stamps, 3; Leon Gilmore, 22; Brandon Holley, 8; JC Washington, 4; Ryan Preston, 8; Hyron Edwards, 16; Shamiek Sheppard, 3; Isaac Allen, 4; Josh Robinson, 7.

TYLER-Cohen Desouza, 5; Jaqwan McCauley, 3; Darvin Johnson, 4; Kwinton Hinson, 18; TJ Thomas, 4; Ronnie Stacy, 0; Aston Francis, 5; Ajou Deng, 3; Darryl Stewart, 10; Eden Ewing, 12; Arab Abdi, 4; Brandon Simmons, 0; Andre Brooks, 2.

THREE POINT GOALS-TVCC: Gilmore (2), Holley (2), H. Edwards (2), Robinson. TJC: Desouza, Johnson, Hinson (5), Francis, Stewart, Ewing.

RECORDS-Trinity Valley 26-1 (16-0), Tyler 14-10 (6-10).

NEXT UP- Navarro at Trinity Valley, 7 p.m. Wednesday; Tyler at Paris, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.