Tyler Coach Bobby Reynolds talks to his team during a timeout during Monday’s game between the Lady Lions and Haughton at the Lions Den in Tyler. (Phil Hicks/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

In a matchup between Texas and Louisiana on Monday, the Lone Star State came out on top as the Tyler Lady Lions scored a 49-43 win over the Haughton Lady Buccaneers on Monday at the Lions Den.

It was an entertaining basketball game as the contest was between two of the best teams on either side of the state line.

The victory moved Tyler to 20-5, while Haughton, located just east Bossier City, Louisiana, fell to 17-2.

It was the Lady Lions’ fifth game in four days. On Tuesday, Tyler will be back in action, hosting Tyler Legacy at 4:30 p.m.

It will be the second time in four days, the Rose City squads will tangle. On Saturday, the Lady Raiders edged the Lady Lions, 49-47, in the championship of the inaugural Tyler ISD Whataburger Holiday Hoops Classic.

“Each game is a grind,” Tyler Coach Bobby Reynolds said. “Two games on Friday, two games on Saturday, the one each on Monday and Tuesday. Then on the third of January we start back district. We are getting a lot of play in. We will try to give them a day off on New Year’s Day to recuperate. They’re ready for this grind. We have been preparing for it. I’m glad we came away with the victory today.”

The Lady Lions started fast, breaking out to a 32-22 halftime lead thanks in part to their aggressive press which resulted in turnovers that were turned into quick points.

The Lady Bucs got back into the game in the third quarter, outscoring Tyler, 13-9, to pull with 41-35.

After enjoying as much as a 16-point lead, the Lady Lions saw their advantage whittled down to four three times, 41-37 (basketball from Bella Hammond at 7:41 of the fourth), 45-41 (free throws from Skylar Branch at 4:06) and 47-43 (bucket from Sariah Shannon at 2:35).

Twice Kalyse Buffin put the Lady Lions back on top by six and Bralyah Miller had a rebound and putback to give Tyler a 49-43 advantage with 1:40 to go.

Three Lady Lions were in double figures scoring, led by Buffin with 16 points. She was followed by Jer’Miya Rice (12) and Miller (10).

Others scoring for Tyler were LeTajia Hambrick (6), Ma’Kayla Taylor (4) and Bar’Shia Miller (1).

Rice had a double-double by adding 12 rebounds. She also had five steals and two blocks.

Buffin added six boards with five steals and three blocks, while Miller had six steals, four rebounds and three blocks.

Other contributors were Hambrick (7 steals) and Taylor (5 rebounds, 5 steals).

Hammond led the Lady Bucs with 13 points, followed by Branch (11), Shaniya Perkins (7), Shannon (6), Kamyra Turner (4) and Leigh Williams (2). Hammond and Perkins each had seven rebounds and a block each. Turner had four boards.

Haughton returns to play on Friday, hosting Bossier (Louisiana) at 6 p.m.

After Tuesday’s game with the Lady Raiders, THS faces Hallsville in a District 10-5A game on Friday. It is a doubleheader with the Lady Lions playing at 1:15 p.m., followed by the Lions and Bobcats at 2:30 p.m.