Tyler High's Ashad Walker passes to a team mate during Tuesday's November 16, 2021 game against Spring Hill. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

LONGVIEW — Spring Hill and Tyler opened the 2021-2022 high school boys basketball season with a Saturday loss, so they were both motivated to enter the win column during their Tuesday night matchup at Spring Hill High School.

Tyler answered its 90-47 Saturday loss against Plano with a 75-49 win and improved to 1-1 on the season, while Spring Hill followed its 58-55 Saturday loss against Longview Christian School with another defeat to start the season 0-2.

“They came out with energy,” Tyler head basketball coach Justin Johnson said of his team’s effort on Tuesday. “They did a great job tonight.”

This was a special night for Johnson because he earned his first win as Tyler’s head coach. He returned to his alma mater, where he played at the formerly named John Tyler High school before suiting up for Tyler Junior College and The University of Iowa.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Johnson. “This is my first win. I love this game, I love my school, and I love my city. It’s just amazing.”

The Lions jumped out to the early lead and never looked back. They scored the first eight points of the game and held off a Spring Hill surge that cut their lead to 8-6. Marquette Mosley scored all seven of his points in the opening quarter to set up his team’s 24-12 lead by the end of the period.

The Tyler lead grew to 18 in the second quarter before Spring Hill cut its deficit to 39-25 right before halftime. The Panthers leaned on the three-point shot throughout the first half, as evident by 18 of their 25 first half points coming from downtown. Tayler Riehemann recorded three triplets, and Jack Beckett, Luke Hurst and Davaunte Powers earned one each. The other Panther first half points came from Riehemann and Easton Ballard’s two-point shots, and Powers, Jax Stovall and Riehemann’s free throws.

Ashad Walker executed a three-point play with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter to give Tyler a 19-point lead before recording a 54-38 lead after the period. He finished the game with 22 points in the game.

Bryson Hill heated up in the fourth quarter as Tyler closed out the win. He finished with nine points in the game. The Lions also got 12 points from Jamarcus Battee.

Tyler now turns its attention to Mount Pleasant for Friday’s non-district game in Mount Pleasant. The first tip is set for 7:30 p.m. Spring Hill, on the other hand, will participate in this weekend’s Union Grove Tournament, which will take place between Thursday and Saturday.