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KAUFMAN — The Lady Lions fought back from a double-digit deficit but came up a bucket shy as Tyler fell to the Highland Park Lady Scots 44-42 on Thursday in a Class 5A Division I girls basketball area playoff game at the Lions Den on the Kaufman High School campus.

It was the Lady Lions’ first loss of 2025, snapping a 12-game winning streak as Tyler concluded its season at 31-6. Highland Park improved to 24-12 and advanced to the regional semifinals next week to face either North Mesquite or Killeen Chaparral.

“We just ran out of time,” Tyler Coach Bobby Reynolds said. “In the first half, even though we were in the game, every shot was tough. Credit to Highland Park for good defense.

“We woke up in the second half. We were down by (12) and kept battling back. I was proud of their fight. They gave it everything. I’m extremely proud of the team. They did everything we asked of them. Just disappointed we are not playing next week.”

The Lady Scots led 14-12 after the first quarter and 26-20 at halftime.

Highland Park took a 35-23 lead in the third quarter before the Lady Lions started to rally. Tyler pulled within 35-30 as Bralyah Miller hit two shots and Kalyse Buffin canned a 3-pointer.

In the fourth the Lady Lions kept getting closer and closer as Buffin drained a 3-pointer to bring her team within 42-39 with 1:53 showing.

Tyler had a chance to get closer as Miller stole the ball from HP, but the Lady Lions could not convert.

With 25 seconds remaining, the Lady Scots’ Tyler Corwin hit two free throws to push her team in front, 44-39.

Miller added a 3-pointer with 1 second showing as the Lady Lions trailed 44-42. After a timeout, Highland Park threw a pass near midcourt that Miller stole, but her half-court shot did not find the mark.

Buffin, Tyler’s standout senior who has committed to play for Trinity Valley Community College, and Miller, a junior star, each hit for 15 points.

Also scoring for the Lady Lions were Jer’Miya Rice (6), Ma’Kayla Taylor (4) and LaTajia Hambrick (2).

Buffin added 12 rebounds with Miller grabbing eight boards. Taylor had four.

Hambrick and Rice had three steals each.

Kate Danner led Highland Park with 23 points, including 16 in the first half. She was followed by Ellingon Heis (10) and Corwin (7).

Cate Young, daughter of Texas Rangers general manager and president of baseball operations Chris Young who was in attendance, added four points.

Young had 10 rebounds with Heis and Crowin adding seven and six, respectively.

The Lady Lions took care of the ball with just four turnovers, while Highland Park had 12 miscues.

HP was 6 of 11 at the free throw line, while the Lady Lions were 4 of 8.

From 3-point, Tyler was 4 of 27 while the Lady Scots were 4 of 9.