Da’Lonna Choice (1) drives to the basket during Monday’s game with Arlington Baptist JV at Wagstaff Gymnasium. (Michel Alfari/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

TJC women’s basketball Coach Trenia Tillis Hoard along with her staff and Apache Ladies were adorned in the festive colors of the holiday season on Monday.

Even the fans and the visiting Arlington Baptist squad got into spirit of things as Tyler Junior College hosted the Ninth Annual “Ugly Christmas Sweater” game at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

After the Apache Ladies warmed up in their yuletide apparel, the team was dazzling on the court, scoring a 96-37 over the Arlington Baptist JV Patriots.

“We look forward to (Ugly Christmas Sweater game) every year,” Tillis Hoard said. “We are styling our Christmas sweaters, taking pictures, and we are getting to see our families before we get to go home.

“I just love Arlington Baptist. She (Coach Skye Roach) does a great job there and she enjoys celebrating it with us.”

As for the game, every Apache Lady who suited up scored with six in double figures.

Clementina Odom led the way with 17 points, followed by Da’Lonna Choice (15), Kamora Jackson (12), Grace Ezebilo (12), Fenishka Bertho (11) and Monica Bottley (10).

Also scoring for TJC were Taler Thornton (9), Brandy Jones (8) and Margaret Ajayi (2).

Ezebilo had a double-double by adding 13 rebounds. She also had four assists, three blocks and two steals.

Choice had six steals with Jones adding six assists while drawing a charge.

Precious Candler led the Patriots with 13 points. She was followed by Aniya Jackson (11), Geramiah Jett (7), Ariella Goren (2), Jade Davis (2) and Landry Mills (2).

Goren and Mills drew charges.

TJC ends 2024 with a record of 6-6. The Apache Ladies have been on the road to Lufkin, Plano, Temple and Perkinston, Mississippi this semester.

“It has been a tough semester for us,” Tillis Hoard said. “We needed a game at home. This was only our third home game. Those kids needed to come home to have a game where they could relax and have a game where they could find themselves.

“We played a really tough preseason schedule and we had a lot of things go on in our team. This was a good opportunity. We are celebrating the holidays, celebrating Christmas and I just felt this was good for our team.”

The Apache Ladies return to play on Thursday, Jan. 2, meeting McLennan Community College in the Evelyn Blaylock Classic in Kilgore. Gametime is 1 p.m. On Jan. 3, TJC meets Odessa at 11 a.m. in Kilgore.

70TH WAGSTAFF HOLIDAY CLASSIC

The 70th Annual Wagstaff Holiday Classic, a high school boys basketball tournament named for legendary coach Floyd Wagstaff, is scheduled once again for after Christmas.

The Classic is slated for Dec. 27 and 28 at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

The scheduled includes:

Dec. 27 — All Saints vs. Henderson, 1 p.m.; Cumberland vs. Whitehouse, 2:15 p.m.; Grace Community vs. Bishop Gorman, 5 p.m.; Tyler vs. Brownsboro, 6:15 p.m.; and Brook Hill vs. Tyler HEAT, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Cumberland vs. Bishop Gorman, 1 p.m.; Henderson vs. Grace Community, 2:30 p.m.; All Saints vs. Tyler HEAT, 5 p.m.; Brownsboro vs. Whtiehouse, 6:15 p.m.; and Brook Hill vs. Tyler, 7:30 p.m.