Tyler Junior College post Davante Cooper (21) delivers a monster dunk in a game against Paris Junior College Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium. (Mark Martin/Correspondent)

The TJC basketball teams sure know how to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

Both the Apaches and Apache Ladies played entertaining ball and both came away with close wins on Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

Lakendra Bassett and Tajuan Agee came up with big last-second scores as Tyler Junior College took key Region XIV games — the Apache Ladies defeated Blinn College 86-83 in overtime and the Apaches downed Paris Junior College 68-67.

Both TJC women’s coach Trenia Tillis-Jones and men’s coach Mike Marquis were elated with the energy the students and community fans brought to the gym.

Bassett’s bucket at the buzzer forced overtime, while Agee’s free throw with 2.1 seconds showing was the game-winner.

The Apache Ladies (16-4, 7-3 Region XIV) are off Saturday and return Feb. 1 to face Coastal Bend.

The No. 10 Apaches (17-1, 9-1) travel to Carthage on Saturday to face Panola.

Between games, TJC honored John Tyler coach Michael Johnson who passed away Tuesday. His sons, Justin and Jaron, played basketball for Apache coach Mike Marquis. A moment of silence was held.

 

MEN

TJC led for the entire game, enjoying as much as 10-point leads, but the Dragons (10-7, 4-6) battled back and tied the game at 67-67 on a 3-pointer and two free throws by Abrian Edwards, the latter with 11.2 seconds showing.

After a timeout, the Apaches designed a play for Kwinton Hinson, who led TJC with 26 points and seven 3-pointers. Hinson’s trey was off the mark, but Agee came up with a big offensive board. On the missed putback he was fouled.

The 6-8 freshman from Chicago drained the first free throw. His second was off the mark and Paris attempted a three-fourths court shot that was well off the mark.

Eden Ewing added 14 points for the Apaches as well as 12 rebounds. Jaquan McCauley had 10 boards with Will Brooks adding five blocks.

Edwards led Paris with 22 points.

 

WOMEN

It appeared Blinn was going to steal a win when Bryanna Taylor banked in a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds showing to give the Lady Bucs (13-7, 6-4) a 72-70 lead.

However after a timeout, the Apache Ladies designed a play and Bassett, all of 5-4, drove the baseline and banked in a shot as the buzzer sounded to force the extra period.

Erin Smith scored six points in OT and Catherine Okwilagwe added four points and a crucial offense board for TJC.

Smith led the Apache Ladies with 24 points with Ashley Clayborn adding 12.

Sky’lynn Holmes, who was not scheduled to play after being involved in a car accident last week, came into the game at the 6:28 mark of the third quarter. She scored 10 points as did Antionette Shrepee.

Ke’Asia Williams led Blinn with 20 points, while Jasmine Redman added 19.

 

WOMEN

Tyler JC 86, Blinn 83, OT

BLINN — Bryana Taylor, 8; Jasline Chandler, 4; Daikea Milton, 2; Alexis Oaks, 0; Karissa Black, 0; Jade Rochelle, 11; Denisha Ford, 10; Brenisha Coleman, 6; Abigail Whyte, 3; Jasmine Redman, 19; Ke’Asia Williams, 20.

TYLER — Nautica Grant, 3; Lakendra Bassett, 9; De’Janie Graves, 2; Jordan Towery, 7; Erin Smith, 24; Ashley Claiborne,12; Jordan Campbell, 3; Antionette Shrepee, 10; Catherine Okwilagwe, 6; Sky’lynn Holmes 10; Erykah Campbell, 0; Victoria Blankenship, 0.

THREE-POINT GOALS— BC: Taylor (2), Whyte. TJC: Smith (3).

FREE THROWS — BC 18 of 30; TJC 16 of 29.

TOTAL FOULS — BC 26, TJC 27.

FOULED OUT — BC: Coleman, TJC: Towery.

RECORDS —  Blinn 13-7 (6-4), Tyler 15-4 (7-3).

NEXT UP — Blinn at Trinity Valley, 2 p.m. Saturday; Coastal Bend at Tyler, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

———

MEN

No. 10 Tyler JC 68, Paris 67

Paris     31    36  — 67

Tyler     33    35  — 68

PARIS — Abrian Edwards, 22; Reggie Tharp, 6; Tereke Eckwood, 7; Jared Embry, 6; Jordan Embry, 2; Darius Williams, 0; Devin Jackson, 9; Noah Plain, 11; Brendan Ortiz, 0; Shaquille Fritz, 4.

TYLER — Will Brooks, 7; Jaqwan McCauley, 6; Brian Warren, 8; Kwinton Hinson, 26; Desmond Balentine, 0; Davante Cooper, 2; TiAndre Jackson, 0; Eden Ewing, 14; Trenton Sandifer, 0; Tajuan Agee, 5.

THREE-POINT GOALS — PJC: Edwards (2), Eckwood, Ja. Emery (2), Jackson (3). TJC: Warren (2), Hinson (7).

FREE THROWS — PJC 7 of 10, TJC 9 of 16.

TOTAL FOULS — PJC 12, TJC 11.

FOULED OUT — TJC: Ewing.

RECORDS — Paris 10-7 (4-6), Tyler 17-1 (9-1).

NEXT UP — Kilgore at Paris, 4 p.m. Saturday; Tyler at Panola, 4 p.m. Saturday.