Robert E. Lee's Erin Brinkley (15) looks for her shot in the lane in the second half of Saturday's game with Longview. (Herb Nygren Jr. | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

His team trailing Longview by three points and less than 15 seconds remaining, Robert E. Lee coach Lloyd Mahaffey wanted a timeout.

He asked it for two times and finally was recognized on his third shout.

Just as Lady Raiders guard Berjae Lewis had squared her shoulders and let loose from downtown.

Swish.

Only it did not count because of the timeout.

REL eventually got a wide-open look for another game-tying 3-pointer, but it hit off the back iron as time expired in a 48-45 loss Saturday afternoon at Lee Varsity Gym.

“I called the timeout because it looked like we were about to lose the ball,” Mahaffey said. “I looked up as (the shot) went in. I told the kids (afterward) that if they want to put that on me, then that is fine.

“We played them two times last year and both (games) came down to a 3-pointer and that is the exact situation here.”

Lee dropped to 6-14 overall and 1-3 in District 12-5A while Longview (17-5) evened its league mark at 2-2.

Lewis led all players with 21 points while Erin Brinkley chipped in nine for the Lady Raiders.

Longview was paced by 19 points from Mikayla Smith and 10 by Ravan Chism.

The Lady Lobos trailed by 10 points entering the fourth period, but were able to rally back and stun Lee in the closing seconds.

And concerning the timeout, Lobos coach Keith Smith empathizes with Mahaffey.

“That’s a tough deal right there because I would’ve probably called the same time out,” Smith said. “It’s just one of those (deals). They still got a good look at the end and we were very fortunate to get out of here with a win.”

Lee trailed 13-12 at the end of the first period, but remained within striking distance of Longview in the second period thanks to free throws by Olivia Eweni and Lewis.

With the score 19-19 and 48 seconds remaining until halftime, DaJah Thompson hit a free throw and got a drive and basket with to give REL a 22-19 lead at the break.

The Lady Raiders have been without three starters for all of district play, but with a chance to even their league mark at stake, REL produced a stellar third period.

Six different players scored as REL turned a 24-23 lead with 6:14 to play into a 39-27 advantage entering the fourth period. Lewis provided four points with Brinkley another four in the 15-4 Lady Raiders surge.

There were eight minutes remaining, however, and the Lady Lobos only needed three of them to pull within a basket, 39-37, after a three-point play from Mikayla Smith.

“I just said, ‘You got to believe right now that you can do it,'” Smith said of the Lady Lobos comeback. “We got baskets out of our press. I think they started believing there at the end and it was a great ball game.”

A 3-pointer by Brinkley pushed Lee back to a five-point lead, 42-37, with 4:36 left to play.

Another 5-0 run capped by a second three-point play by Mikayla Smith tied the game with 2:39 remaining.

Undaunted, Lewis took the ball and delivered a strong drive to the basket, which also ended up being a three-point play for a 45-42 REL lead.

A basket from Longview’s Maci Hopkins pulled to visitors to within a point.

After that it was Longview’s press producing turnovers and Smith knocking down free throws.

Her last one gave Longview a 3-point lead with 17 seconds remaining.

After the 3-pointer that didn’t count, Lee’s was unable to connect on a game-tying shot.

“We just lost focus,” Mahaffey said. “We have not been in this circumstance much this year and we didn’t handle the pressure at the end of the game.

“I was proud of the kids for battling to the end. We just keep working. They understand the circumstances we are in with injuries and I keep telling them we just have to move forward.”

The Lady Raiders next face Mesquite Horn at 7 p.m. Tuesday at John Horn High School in Mesquite. Longview is at home against North Mesquite.

———

Longview 48, Robert E. Lee 45

Longview           13  6  10  19 — 48

Robert E. Lee  12  10  17  6 — 45

LONGVIEW — Keambryia Smith, 1; Mikayla Smith, 19; Yasmine Bradley, 4; Ravan Chism, 10; Maci Hopkins, 6; Kiara Ross, 6; Nyelan Powell, 2.

ROBERT E. LEE — Shreece Pryor, 0; Alex Thorne, 4; DaJah Thompson, 6; Erin Brinkley, 9; Olivia Eweni, 3; Betty Allen, 2; Berjae Lewis, 21.

THREE POINT GOALS — LON: Ross (2), Chism. REL: Brinkley.

RECORDS — Longview 17-5 (2-2); Robert E. Lee 6-14 (1-3).

NEXT UP — North Mesquite at Longview, 7 p.m. Tuesday; Robert E. Lee at Mesquite Horn, 7 p.m. Tuesday.