TVCC Coach Precious Ivy is shown during the Lady Cardinals game with Kilgore on Friday at Wagstaff Gymnasium. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

For the third time this season, the Trinity Valley Lady Cardinals and the Blinn College Lady Buccaneers will tangle on the hardwood.

They each won on their opponent’s home court during the regular season, but this time it will be on at a neutral site as the rivals will play for the Region XIV Women’s Tournament Championship on Saturday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

Tipoff is 4 p.m., with the winner earning the region’s automatic berth to the NJCAA Women’s Division I National Tournament in Casper, Wyoming.

Blinn won 64-62 in Athens on Jan. 10, while TVCC won 56-54 on Feb. 10 in Brenham.

On Friday, both teams won their semifinal games, but they both were in tussles.

In the first contest, Blinn, the No. 4 seed, scored a 75-70 overtime win over No. 1 Angelina.

In semifinal No. 2, Trinity Valley, seeded second, defeated No. 3 Kilgore, 71-58.

DALE PRUITT HONORED

At halftime of the men’s game between Lee College and Kilgore College, longtime Tyler Junior College scorekeeper Dale Pruitt was honored by TJC athletic director Kelsie Weeks and Apache Ladies basketball coach Trenia Tillis Hoard.

His family, including wife Sally, accepted the plaque honoring Mr. Pruitt as a Region XIV/Texas Eastern Conference Legend.

Mr. Pruitt passed away on Aug. 16, 2023.

The Chapel Hill High School and Texas A&M University graduate served as scorekeeper for 33 years for the Apache Ladies and Apaches. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

BLINN 75, ANGELINA 70, OT

It was third win by the Lady Buccaneers (23-9) over the Lady Roadunners (22-10) this season.

Blinn used a 19-2 run at the end of the first half to take a 31-24 halftime lead. The two teams were tied heading into the fourth quarter 49-49. It remained tight throughout until under two minutes remaining in OT.

Angelina’s Jade Fry hit a free throw to tie the game at 68-68 with 1:59 on the clock. That was the final points for the Lufkin school until Janay Quinn scored an inside bucket with 15.5 seconds showing. By that time, the Lady Bucs were on top 74-70. A late free throw by Jonesha Neal put the final score at 75-70.

After Blinn’s Tocarra Johnson was called for a charge, negating he go-ahead score, Chelsy Singleton stole the ball and took it in for a layup where she was fouled on the shot. She made the old-fashion three-point play for a 71-68 lead. Johnson followed with a block, giving the ball to Blinn. The Lady Bucs added three-straight free throws — Neal, Wynter Jones and Neal again for the 74-69 advantage.

Johnson had a double double to pace Blinn — 13 points and 16 rebounds. Also in double figures scoring were Jones (17), Neal (16) and Singleton (10).

Four Lady Roadunners were in double digit scoring — India McMahon (13), Fry (13), Quinn (12) and Marie Kenembeni (12).

Kenembeni led AC with nine rebounds.

Blinn was 7 of 20 from 3-point (Jones, 3; Elizabeth Walton, 2; Tianna Mathis, 1; Singleton, 1) and 20 of 35 at the free throw line.

Angelina was 4 of 26 from 3-point (McMahon, 1; Amyria Walker, 1; Fry, 1; Shanice Ferguson, 1) and 14 of 25 from the free throw line.

TRINITY VALLEY 71, KILGORE 58

For the 32nd time in their 49-year history, the Lady Cardinals are appearing in the regional championship game. TVCC has a record of 24-7.

Trinity Valley (25-5) actually trailed 48-47 heading into the final period.

The Lady Cardinals then took control, outscoring the Lady Rangers 24-10 to take the victory.

April Edwards led the the Lady Cards with 27 points, followed by Lydie Mwamba with 17.

Perina Lieme led KC (19-13) with 16 points, followed by Nakiyah Allen with 14. Jazmym Sostand had 11 rebounds. Former Tyler Legacy standout Nyla Inmon had nine points, six boards, four assists, two blocks and a steal.

Trinity Valley was 6 of 20 from 3-point (Edwards, 4; Mwamba, 1; Emanji Jenkins , 1) and 11 of 12 from the free throw line.

Kilgore was 4 of 18 fro 3-point (Lieme, 2; Brykayla Hampton, 1; Lucy Henderson, 1) and 6 of 12 from the free throw line.