Apaches (20) Jakieya Morgan lays the ball up against Trinity Valley Community College at Wagstaff Gymnasium in Tyler, Texas on Saturday, January 20, 2018. (Schuyler Wick/Tyler Morning Telegraph).

Tyler Junior College scored the final 10 points of the game — including eight by Tajuan Agee — as the No. 23 Apaches defeated Bossier Parish 71-65 on Saturday in an entertaining Region XIV basketball game at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

In the first game, No. 8 Trinity Valley ran past the Apache Ladies 80-59 in the women’s contest.

 

MEN

In a matchup of two of the more athletic teams in the conference, TJC led for much of the game only to see the Cavaliers take a 65-61 advantage with 3:12 showing in the second half.

From that point, the Apaches (17-2, 7-2) reeled off 10 consecutive points and held the Cavaliers (14-5, 7-2) scoreless.

TJC coach Mike Marquis noted his team played good defense and were not rattled when they fell behind.

“That’s (guards) Brian (Warren) and Dez (Desmond Balentine),” Marquis said of his leaders keeping things under control.

Also the Apaches were 14 of 14 from the free throw line in the second half, along with 20 of 22 for the game.

Balentine got two steals in the final 2:42 of the game and Tajuan Agee scored eight of the final 10 points, including 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

Agee, a 6-8 sophomore from Chicago, also had a block and three key rebounds during the stretch.

Agee tied the game at 65-65 on a dish from Warren with 1:50 showing. Then a steal by Balentine and a toss to Micah Thomas led to two free throws from Thomas and the Apaches had a 67-65 lead with 1:10 on the clock.

Agee then made two free throws each at 19.6 and 10.9 to ice the game.

Thomas, the 6-7 freshman from Memphis, Tennessee, led the Apaches with 19 points. He was 3 of 4 from 3-point land in the first half.

Agee added 15 points, including 9 of 10 from the charity stripe. He also had eight rebounds and two blocks.

Warren scored 13 points and Cameron Johnson added 10.

Edra Luster had eight rebounds with Trenton Sandifer and Balentine adding six boards each.

Brandon Moore led the Cavs with 22 points, 16 of which were in the second half.

Marquis credited his assistants Mitch Marquis and Johnathan Edwards to switching defensive matchups to keep the 6-6 Dallas sophomore under control in the second half.

Mubarak Muhammed, a 6-8 sophomore from Abuja, Nigeria, added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Tim Collins had 10 points.

The Apaches return to play on Wednesday, traveling to Paris to meet the No. 24 Dragons (18-1, 8-1).  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Other men’s results on Saturday were: Paris 96, Trinity Valley 82; Navarro 100, Panola 78; Blinn 72, San Jacinto 66; and Coastal Bend 66, Lee 63. The Jacksonville vs. Lamar State-Port Arthur game was postponed until Feb. 19.

 

WOMEN

The Apache Ladies scored the first 12 points of the second half to pull with 41-37, but TJC could not sustain the momentum.

Mercedes Brooks led TVCC (17-2, 7-2) with 20 points, followed by Arleighshya McElroy (19) and Michal Miller (15).

The Apache Ladies (8-10, 2-6) lost their sixth straight game. Djhai Patterson-Ricks led TJC with 22 points with Keyneso Hunter adding 16.

TJC hit 18 of 21 at the free throw line, while TVCC was 18 of 23.

The Apache Ladies return to play on Monday against San Jacinto in Houston. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed because of icy weather conditions.

In other women’s games on Saturday: Paris 80, San Jacinto 79; Kilgore 63, Angelina 57; Panola 91, Bossier Parish 76; and Jacksonville 78, Blinn 53.

———

Women

No. 8 Trinity Valley CC 80,

 Tyler JC 59

Trinity Valley        14   27   20    19 — 80

Tyler JC                 15   10   19    15 — 59

TRINITY VALLEY—Alaysia Ready, 2; Mercedes Brooks, 20; Tyasia Moore, 9; Tra’dayja Smith, 3; Rodrea Echols, 4; Arleighshya McElroy, 19; Michal Miller, 15; Jada Wright, 6; Dajah Daniel, 2.

TYLER JC—Djhai Patterson-Ricks, 22; Londan Mallet, 3; Trelynn Tyler, 7; Treazure Mouton, 0; Jakieya Morgan, 3; Keyneso Hunter, 16; Kierra Brimzy, 8; Courtney Cook, 0.

THREE POINT GOALS—TVCC: Brooks (2), Smith, McElroy (2), Miller. TJC: Patterson-Ricks (5), Mallet, Tyler.

FREE THROWS—TVCC 18 of 23, TJC 18 of 21.

RECORDS—Trinity Valley 17-2 (7-2), Tyler 8-10 (2-6).

NEXT UP—Kilgore at Trinity Valley, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday; Tyler at San Jacinto, 4 p.m. Monday.

———

Men

No. 23 Tyler JC 71,

 Bossier Parish 65

Bossier Parish     27   38   —    65

Tyler JC                 39   32   —    71

BOSSIER PARISH—Tim Collins, 10; Dezmond McDaniel, 8; Zach Cummings, 0; David Williams, 1; Quentre Roberts, 8; Mahammadu Jawara, 0; Jason Holliday, 3; Brandon Moore, 22; Mubarak Muhammed, 15.

TYLER JC—Cameron Johnson, 10; Brian Warren, 13; Micah Thomas, 19; Desmond Balentine, 4; Cameron McGee, 2; Luka Bergang, 2; TiAndre Jackson-Young, 0; Edra Luster, 4; Trenton Sandifer, 2; Tajuan Agee, 15.

THREE POINT GOALS—BP: Collins (2), McDaniel, Roberts, Holliday, Muhammed. TJC: Thomas (3).

FREE THROWS—BPCC 9 of 12, TJC 20 of 22.

RECORDS—Bossier Parish 14-5 (7-2), Tyler 17-2 (7-2).

NEXT UP—Kilgore at Bossier Parish, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Tyler at Paris, 7 p.m. Wednesday.