Tyler’s Kalyse Buffin (3) puts up a shot against Martin’s Mill on Tuesday at the Lions Den. The Lady Mustangs won over the Lady Lions 59-46. (Jonathan Guzman/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

A cool November night with a basketball non-district doubleheader felt more like games in the middle of a postseason race.

In a tense first game at the Lions Den, Class 2A No. 1 Martin’s Mill, the defending state champion, pulled away from Class 5A No. 25 Tyler for a 59-46 win.

In the nightcap, two old rivals met with the Tyler Lions taking a 59-36 victory over the Longview Lobos.

GAME 1

Two of the top teams in the area tangled and the Lady Mustangs, led by Kara Nixon’s 20, took the win.

Martin’s Mill (3-0) led 30-27 at halftime and gradually built an eight-point advantage, 45-37, as the fourth-quarter began.

The Lady Mustangs then slowed the pace and made their free throws to stretch out their lead.

Bralyah Miller led the Lady Lions (2-2) with 19 points and Kalyse Buffin added 11 points.

Others scoring for Martin’s Mill were Alli Vaughan (13), Ruthie Mein (11), Mckenna Wise (7), Braleigh Miller (5) and Teely Salazar (3).

Nixon and Wise each had six rebounds with Mein adding four boards. Vaughan drew a charrge.

Also scoring for Tyler were Jer’Miya Rice (6), Ja Moore (5), LaTajia Hambrick (3) and Bra’Shia Miller (2).

Bralyah Miller had eight rebounds, followed by MaKayla Taylor (6) and Moore (5). Buffin had seven steals.

The Mustangs hit seven 3-pointers — one each from Whitus, Mein and Wise, along with four by Nixon.

The Lady Lions connected on four treys — one apiece by Buffin, Bralyah Miller, Rice and Moore.

Martin’s Mill connected on 9 of 13 free throw attempts.

Tyler hit on 6 of 7 at the charity stripe.

The Lady Mustangs are scheduled to host Canton at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Lady Lions are competing in the Crandall Tournament this weekend — Friday: 11 a.m. vs. Richland and 5 p.m. vs. Mansfield Summit; and Saturday: 9:30 a.m. vs. Saginaw Eagle Mountain and 3:30 p.m. vs. Hurst L.D. Bell.

GAME 2

The Lions knocked off their former district rival as Jaishua Brown continued his hot start to the season with 21 points. The 6-5 senior forward, who scored 38 points in Tyler’s 69-61 win over Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill on Saturday, added 11 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and two steals.

Jasyn Grayson also had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. He also had three steals.

Tayvean McMiller was also in double figures with 10 points.

Elijah Lloyd and Jeffery Smith led the Lobos with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

The Lions led 27-15 at halftime. Both teams heated up in the third quarter as Tyler took a 43-30 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Others scoring for THS were Keiland Garvey (7) and Cameron Singleton (2).

Garvey added five rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Singleton and Geo Mitchell had two steals each with a block from Damien Yarbrough.

McMiller had two rebounds and also drew a charge.

Also scoring for LHS were Jacorian Stevenson (4), Curtis High (2) and Zach Biggs (1).

Smith, Jayden Tyeskie, Lloyd and Biggs each had four rebounds. Smith, Lloyd and Biggs had two steals each with blocks from Tyeskie and Stevenson.

The Lobos had two 3-pointers (Stevenson, Lloyd).

Brown had three 3-pointers with one trey from Garvey.

Tyler was 3 of 9 at the free throw line. Longview was 14 of 18 at the charity stripe.

Longview (0-1) is scheduled to host Marshall at 4:20 p.m. Saturday.

The Lions (2-0) are slated to take part in the Mavs Fall Classic this weekend in Frisco. Tyler is scheduled to play Grapevine at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Frisco Reedy High School’s auxiliary gym. The Lions will play either Frisco Reedy or Venus in the next round. If Tyler wins, the Lions will play at 6 p.m. Thursday Reedy’s auxiliary gym. If the Lions lose, they will play at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Reedy competition gym.