MARSHALL — Caleb Willis missed a free throw with two seconds left and John Tyler came up a point short, losing in upset fashion to Marshall, 63-62, on the road Tuesday night.
JT trailed by 11 points in the fourth before tying the game at 61 after a steal led to a layup from Fred Ross. Marshall’s Alandric Tutt rushed right back to score with four seconds left.
The Lions drew a foul with two seconds left. Willis hit the first of two but missed the second. JT lost for the first time in two years in District 14-4A after 25 consecutive wins in district play.
JT went 16 for 28 from the line.
“We had our chances but missed layups and free throws,” JT coach Tony Pinson said. “Now (that) the streak is over and some of the pressure is off we can get back to basics.”
Tyus Bowser scored 21 points to lead the Lions, who saw their 21-game win-streak end. JT fell into a tie for first in 14-4A at 11-1 with Jacksonville, a winner over Hallsville on Tuesday.
Marshall entered the game in fifth place and six games behind JT before avenging an earlier 18-point loss to the Lions.
The Lions return home to face Kilgore on Friday. JT ends the regular season on Tuesday at Jacksonville.
“We will be ready Friday night,” Pinson said. “We’ll refocus.”
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District 14-4A Boys
Marshall 63, No. 24 John Tyler 62
John Tyler 14 14 14 20 —62
Marshall 15 14 17 17 —63
JOHN TYLER — Darion Flowers, 4; Greg Ward, 12; Fred Ross, 16; Keaunte Humber, 2; Caleb Willis, 5; Tra’Vion Horn, 2; Tyus Bowser, 21.
MARSHALL — Alandric Tutt, 12; Chris Williams, 4; Chris Brown, 15; T.T. Green, 7; Curtis Evans, 8; K. Jernigan, 3; C. Jernigan, 12; A. Hicks, 2.
RECORDS — John Tyler 22-6 (11-1); Marshall 19-12 (6-6).
NEXT UP — Kilgore at John Tyler, Friday.