Tyler Legacy vs. Rockwall

Tyler Legacy dropped its second game of the week, falling to Rockwall, 41-38, in a District 10-6A contest on Friday afternoon inside Tyler Legacy Varsity Gymnasium.

The Lady Raiders entered the week 22-2 overall and 4-0 in district play.

On Tuesday — three days after taking a 49-47 win over crosstown rival Tyler High to win the Tyler ISD Whataburger Holiday Hoops Classic — Legacy dropped a 59-33 decision to Tyler High in the rematch.

On Friday, the Lady Raiders gained a 38-37 lead over Rockwall with 5:00 remaining on a 3-pointer by Madison Farmer, but they went scoreless for the final five minutes, and Zareya Ceasar’s 3-point attempt with 42 seconds left and Holland Pine’s triple try with two seconds on the clock didn’t go down as Rockwall escaped with the district victory.

Rockwall jumped up 6-3 early before a three by DeCaila Bailey tied the score. With Rockwall leading 12-8 near the end of the first quarter, Legacy got a 3-pointer from Ceasar and two free throws by Ceasar to lead 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Rockwall went on an 8-2 spurt to open the second quarter, grabbing a 20-15 advantage before a 3-point play by Ceasar. Legacy eventually tied the score at 21 with a Nichole Baldwin jumper, but a layup from Jade Pursley gave the Lady Jackets a 23-21 advantage at the break.

Senoj Jones scored two quick buckets to start the third quarter with a Rhyanna Robinson floater sandwiched in between to tie the score at 25. Rockwall then went on an 8-0 run, holding Legacy scoreless for more than three minutes to go up 33-25. The Lady Raiders got a bucket by Ceasar and a 3-point play from Jones to cut the score to 33-30 with 2:19 on the clock, and that score held through the end of the third quarter.

With Rockwall leading 35-30, Ceasar connected from downtown and Bailey turned a steal into a layup to tie the score at 35 with 6:11 remaining. Robinson put Rockwall back in front with a layup before Farmer’s go-ahead triple.

A Robinson steal and layup with 3:36 left gave Rockwall a 39-38 lead. Robinson made two free throws with 1:21 to play to stretch the lead to 41-38. Ceasar’s 3-point try was no good with 42 seconds on the clock. With 33 seconds left, Rockwall turned it back over. Ceasar had a runner attempt with 15 seconds to play, and Pine grabbed the offensive rebound for the Lady Raiders, who called a timeout with seven seconds on the clock to try to force overtime. Pine’s attempt was no good, and Aubreyanna Yelverton grabbed her seventh rebound of the game to seal the win for Rockwall.

Robinson led the Lady Jackets with 16 points and four steals. Ayri Johnson and Natalie Barrett each had 7 points, and Barrett had six steals and four assists.

Jones had 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks for Legacy. Ceasar scored 13 points. Other scorers were Bailey 5; Farmer 3; and Baldwin 2.

Legacy (22-4, 4-1) will play at Forney on Tuesday. Rockwall (15-11, 3-1) will host Rockwall-Heath on Tuesday.