Tyler's Courtney Cook (35) goes up for the opening tip against Panola's Mashka Adashchik (23) Wednesday night at Arthur Johnson Gymnasium in Carthage. (Brandon Ogden/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

CARTHAGE — Sometimes patience is the key.

That was definitely the case for the No. 17 Panola Fillies on Wednesday night at Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.

With her team trailing by 24 points entering the fourth quarter, Patience Okpe scored 31 of her game-high 52 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. In overtime, Okpe made two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining to lift No. 17 Panola to a 98-96 victory over Tyler Junior College.

The Apache Ladies were ahead 80-63 with 3:50 remaining. Okpe scored 15 points as part of 21-3 Panola run, and Okpe’s layup with 20 seconds left gave the Fillies an 84-83 lead.

Trelynn Tyler was fouled with 14 seconds left and made both free throws. After a traveling call on Panola, Keyneso Hunter made a free throw with six seconds left to make the score 86-84. Okpe raced down the court and scored the game-tying layup with 0.7 seconds to force five minutes of bonus basketball.

In overtime, Panola got ahead 91-888, but two free throws from Kierra Brimsy and a floater by Tyler gave the Apache Ladies the lead.

Okpe hit a reverse layup to put Panola back in front before Djhai Patterson-Ricks connected on a runner off of the glass to give TJC a 94-93 edge with 23 seconds left.

A free throw by Okpe tied the game, and Brimzy put TJC back in front with a baseline drive.

With seven seconds on the clock, Okpe assisted on a bucket by Ekaterina Karchevskaya to tie the score. With TJC looking to connect on a game-winning shot, Okpe stole the ball and drew a foul with 1.3 seconds left and sank both free throws. Patterson-Ricks’ last-second heave was short, and Panola escaped with the victory.

Okpe finished with 52 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals for Panola (22-4, 14-3). Dasha Eremeeva had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Tyler led 41-38 at halftime and used a dominant third quarter to hold a 70-46 lead.

Patterson-Ricks led TJC (13-14, 7-10) with 28 points. Hunter had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and Tyler had 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Wednesday was Panola’s second overtime win over TJC this season. The Fillies took an 84-83 victory on Jan. 13 in Tyler.

The Apache Ladies will host San Jacinto at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

Other Region XIV scores on Wednesday were Trinity Valley 74, Angelina 54; Kilgore 85, Paris 71; and San Jacinto 86, Coastal Bend 38. Jacksonville defeated Bossier Parish 80-63 on Tuesday.

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REGION XIV WOMEN

No. 17 Panola 98, Tyler JC 96, OT

Tyler 19 22 29 16 10 — 96

Panola 13 25 8 40 12 — 98

TYLER—Djhai Patterson-Ricks, 28; Londan Mallet, 4; Trelynn Tyler, 20; Treazure Mouton, 0; Keyneso Hunter, 24; Kierra Brimzy, 14; Erykah Campbell, 2; Courtney Cook, 4.

PANOLA—Patience Okpe, 52; Dash Eremeeva, 13; Stefany Lourenco, 9; Ekaterina Karchevskaya, 10; Mashka Adaschchik, 0; Nailah Beyah-Blount, 3; Destiny Ephrom, 5; Jalynn Estrada, 6; Jaye Cage, 0; Victoria Rushing, 0.

THREE POINT GOALS—TJC: Patterson-Ricks (4). PC: Okpe (2), Lourenco.

RECORDS—Tyler 13-14 (7-10), Panola 22-4 (14-3).

NEXT UP—San Jacinto at Tyler, 2 p.m. Saturday; Panola at Kilgore, 2 p.m. Saturday.