Pine Tree's Jaeden Williams eyes the basket during Tuesday's February 18; 2025 playoff matchup against Athens at Tyler Junior College's Wagstaff Gymnasium. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

TYLER – Pine Tree dueled with Athens during Tuesday night’s UIL 4A Division I boys basketball bi-district playoff battle at Tyler Junior College’s Wagstaff Gymnasium, and held on late for a hard-fought 55-48 win.

The Pirates will bring an improved 21-12 season record to their upcoming UIL 4A Division I area round playoff matchup against Sulphur Springs later this week, while the Hornets finish the year with a 23-9 mark.

Trevion Nafrady led Pine Tree to victory with 15 points, Decorian Deitz earned 11 points, and Jaeden Williams contributed 10 points.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” Pine Tree boys basketball head coach Brandon Rodgers said of his team’s outing on Tuesday. “[Our players] fought possession by possession, and we found a way to get it done.”

Athens jumped ahead 12-8 in the first quarter because of four points from both Kaden Paul and Emanuel Moore, and two points from Jayvian Taylor and Cody Carter.

The Hornets then received a three-point play from Carter during a 3-2 start to the second quarter to grow its advantage to 15-10 by the 6:46 mark.

But, Pine Tree followed with Nafrady’s four points and Darron Pair’s go-ahead three point shot during a 7-0 run to earn its first lead of the night at 17-15 by the 5:07 mark.

Athens regrouped with Paul’s three-pointer and Julious Brewer’s two free throws to take a 20-17 lead by the 1:53 mark.

But, Pine Tree finished the first half strong with baskets from Williams and Nafrady to earn a 21-20 advantage by halftime.

The Pirates continued their momentum as the second half began because their 13-3 run set up a 34-23 lead by the 3:19 mark of the third quarter. Nafrady heated up with seven points and both Dalan Montgomery and Deitz followed with three points.

Athens didn’t fold because it answered with a 9-4 stretch that cut the gap to 38-32 by the end of the period. It benefitted from Taylor’s four points, Brewer’s three points, and Paul’s two points during the stretch.

The Hornets continued to charge back early in the fourth quarter because they used a 13-8 run to cut the gap to 46-45 by the 3:21 mark.

Pine Tree then pushed back when Deitz knocked down a field goal attempt and made two free throws, and Jordan Taylor split a pair of free throw attempts seven seconds later to take a 51-45 lead by the 36.1 mark.

Athens responded with Jayvian Taylor’s three-ball before Pine Tree finished off the competition with two free throws by Decorian Deitz and Jordan Taylor.

The Hornets received 13 points from Jayvian Taylor, 11 from Brewer, and 10 from Moore in the loss.