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An area private school battle, a Tyler Lions’ victory and a matchup between two teams that both entered the weekend with 18 victories highlighted the night session of the opening day of the 70th Annual Wagstaff Holiday Classic on Friday at Wagstaff Gymnasium on the campus of Tyler Junior College.

Grace Community took a 79-64 win over TAPPS Class 4A No. 6 Bishop Gorman to open the session. Tyler High followed with a 67-41 decision against Brownsboro. Tyler HEAT closed the night with a 63-57 victory over TAPPS Class 5A No. 4 Brook Hill.

Separated by less than two miles, Grace and Gorman battled for 32 minutes.

After the game was tied at 27 late in the second quarter, the Cougars outscored the Crusaders 52-37 the rest of the way to take the victory.

Grace led 15-14 after the first quarter, 38-29 at halftime and 59-48 after three quarters.

Daniel Shankle led Grace with 26 points, six rebounds and four assists. Doak Porter had 19 points, four rebounds and three assists. Caden Swaim had 10 points and six rebounds. Jack Crawford had 9 points. Peyton Kelly had 8 points and 10 rebounds, and McCade Stinson had 7 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Ryan Richbourg led Gorman with 15 points. Beau Bender had 13 points and eight rebounds. Jaylon Miles had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Carlin Ifeadi had 5 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Elijah Coppock had 12 points and six rebounds. Brooks Frans scored 4 points, and Jack Coan had 2 ponits and seven rebounds.

Jaishua Brown had 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks to lead the Tyler past Brownsboro.

The score was tied at 12 late in the first quarter when a 3-pointer by Keiland Garvey went down to give the Lions a 15-12 lead after the first quarter The Lions ended the second quarter on a 13-0 run to lead 34-19 after halftime.

Tyler extended its advantage to 55-32 after three quarters.

Garvey had 13 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Other scorers were Damien Yarbrough 9; La’Tavion Golden 6; Geordon Mitchell 5; Cameron Singleton 5; Jasyn Grayson 3; Tayvean McMiller 2; Alec Dewberry 2; and J. Hall 2. Grayson had nine rebounds. Golden had five rebounds, and Mitchell had four steals.

Keaton Delaney led Brownsboro with 15 points and two blocks. Mann Scott had 8 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Other scorers were Amry Parmer 5; Jacob Fulgham 4; Lane Shaw 4; Gabe Hendricks 3; and Logan Epperson 2. Fulgham added nine rebounds and two blocks.

Jet Bell’s 3-pointer with 1:24 remaining broke a 55-55 tie and gave Tyler HEAT the lead for good in a win over Brook Hill.

Brook Hill led 17-12 before 3-pointers by Tyler HEAT’s Coen Starr and Bell gave Tyler HEAT the lead. Brook Hill’s Zac Ryle then scored before two free throws from Aiden Shelton gave Tyler HEAT a 20-19 lead after the first quarter.

Tyler HEAT led 28-22 in the second quarter before the Guard went on a 12-4 spurt to end the half to lead 34-32 at halftime.

Brook Hill built its lead to 48-38 in the third quarter. Tyler HEAT went on a 9-0 run to cut the score to 48-47, but a dunk by Roy Rudzinskas sent the game into the fourth quarter with Brook Hill lokding a 40-47 lead.

The Guard led 54-50 after a Rudzinskas layup. Tyler HEAT got two free throws from Waker Hartman and then a 3-pointer from Hartman with 3:58 on the clock to give Tyler HEAT the 55-54 edge.

Brook Hill tied the score at 55 with 1:59 on the clock on a Beck Langemeier free throw. Bell’s three 35 seconds later gave the lead to Tyler HEAT, who eventually stretched the score to 62-55 with 17 seconds remaining.

Hartman led Tyler HEAT with 24 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Coen Starr, Shelton and Bell all had 8 points. Eli Anderson had 7 points and 11 assists. Kedren Penney scored 5 points, and Trey Madrid added 3 points.

Rudzinskas led Brook Hill with 22 points and nine rebounds. Langemeier had 17 points. Majus Afanasjev had 8 points. Jio Orrico and Holt Robertson each scored 3 points, and Luke McNeel and Ryle each added 2 points.