Tyler Junior College men, women surrender late leads to Panola College

Published 11:58 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Tyler Junior College sophomore Antionette Shrepee (21) dribbles the ball down the court during a Region XIV college basketball game at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. The Panola College Ponies beat the Tyler Junior College Apaches 75-70. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Both Tyler Junior College basketball teams let go of leads in the second half and dropped a Region XIV doubleheader to Panola College on Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

In the first game, the Apache Ladies rallied to go on top heading into the fourth quarter only to see the Fillies take a 75-70 victory.



In Game 2, the Apaches led by 11 in the second half, fell behind by seven before eventually forcing overtime, but fell to the Ponies 82-78.

Both Tyler teams are on the road Saturday before celebrating Sophomore Night on March 1 against Trinity Valley. On Saturday, the No. 17 Apache Ladies travel to Houston to meet San Jacinto while the No. 15 Apaches go to Corsicana to play Navarro.

WOMEN

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The Apache Ladies (22-5) were hoping to stay atop the standings, but now trail Trinity Valley, which defeated Angelina on Wednesday. TVCC is 13-3 in league play, while TJC is 13-4.

Nautica Grant and Sky’lynn Holmes both hit for 21 points to lead TJC, but that was about it as no other player was in double figures. Holmes added 17 rebounds and four blocks.

The Apache Ladies were missing Jordan Towery, normally a starter, with an ankle injury.

Patient Okpe, a freshman from Nigeria, led the Fillies (20-7, 11-6) with 24 points.

Panola has now knocked off perennial powers TVCC and Tyler in back-to-back games.

Other women’s scores were: TVCC 79, Angelina 42; Jacksonville 84, Bossier Parish 73; San Jacinto 97, Coastal Bend 43; and Kilgore 81, Paris 76.

MEN

The Apaches (21-4) fell a game behind Trinity Valley in the North Zone as TJC is now 13-4 in league play while the Cardinals are 14-3.

TJC led 55-44, but Panola (20-7, 12-4) went on a 22-2 run to take a 66-57 lead. However, the Apaches fought back with an 11-2 run of their own to force OT.

Brian Warren hit a 3-pointer to bring Tyler within 68-66 with 56 seconds showing, and then rebounded a Panola shot and passed ahead to Trenton Sandifer, who slammed it home with 21 seconds showing for a 68-68 tie.

Panola had that amount of time to set up a play to try and win in regulation, but was force to launch an NBA 3-pointer that was well off the mark.

In the extra period, the Ponies outscored the Apaches 14-10 to take the win.

In overtime, TJC was forced to play without 6-11 post Will Brooks, who sprained an ankle, and big men Eden Ewing and Tajuan Agee, who fouled out in regulation.

Swinton Hinson led TJC with 25 points with Jaqwan McCauley and Warren adding 18 and 15, respectively.

Marlon Taylor led Panola with 26 points.

Other men’s scores were: Lee 71, Angelina 62; TVCC 90, Navarro 72; Lamar State-Port Arthur 76, Blinn 63; San Jacinto 130, Coastal Bend 96; and Paris 83, Kilgore 70.

WOMEN

Panola 75, No. 17 Tyler 70

Panola 14 20 11 20 — 75

Tyler 12 17 21 20 — 70

PANOLA — Daria Eremeeva, 15; Charlynn Perry, 3; Nailah Beyah-Blount, 2; Patience Okpe, 24; Waynenecka Wynn, 0; Stefany Lourenco, 3; Denasia Watson, 5; Tameal Jones, 2; Genesis Rivera, 11; Amanda Cruz, 5; Ekaterina Karchevskaya, 5.

TYLER — Nautica Grant, 21; Lakendra Bassett, 7; De’Janie Graves, 1; Erin Smith, 2; Ashley Clayborn, 2; Jordan Campbell, 0; Antionette Shrepee, 0; Catherine Okwilagwe, 4; Sky’lynn Holmes, 21; Victoria Blankenship, 6; Jalah Walton, 6.

THREE-POINT GOALS — PC: Perry, Cruz. TJC: Grant (5), Bassett.

RECORDS — Panola 20-7 (11-6), Tyler 22-5 (13-5).

MEN

Panola 82, No. 15 Tyler 78

Panola 30 38 14 — 82

Tyler 36 32 10 — 78

PANOLA — KJ Byers, 6; KJ Hayes, 0; Marlon Taylor, 26; Eric McGill, 9; Devyn Wilson, 7; Chan Williams-Bey, 0; TJ Killings, 10; Tope Arikawe, 18; Bryson Lockley, 6.

TYLER — Jaqwan McCauley, 19; Kwinton Hinson, 25; Desmond Balentine, 0; Davante Cooper. 3; TiAndre Jackson, 9; Eden Ewing, 3; Trenton Sandifer, 4; Tajuan Agee, 0.

THREE-POINT GOALS — PC: Taylor (2), McGill, Arikawe (2). TJC: Warren (3), Hinson (4), Jackson, Ewing.

TECHNICALS: Panola’s Byers.

RECORDS — Panola 20-7 (12-4), Tyler 21-4 (13-4).