LONGVIEW – John Tyler ended a two-game slide with back-to-back wins, beating Buna 70-51 before avenging an earlier loss by defeating Lufkin 51-47 on Wednesday at the Leroy Romines Classic.

Mashaud Moore scored 23 and 24 points in the two games to pace the Lions (6-8), who play Center to finish pool play at 10 a.m. Thursday.

“Moore got back in his scoring groove again,” JT coach Cedeno Clark said. “It was just all around a good team effort.”

John Tyler lost 93-91 to Lufkin in triple overtime on Dec. 16 but turned things around thanks to better play on the defensive end.

“We actually played some defense tonight,” Clark said. “We kind of buckled down and got down to playing some hard-nosed defense.”

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Romines Classic

John Tyler 70, Buna 51

John Tyler 24 16 16 14 – 70

Buna 12 13 11 15 – 51

JOHN TYLER-Damontae Johnson, 2; Gerald Berry Jr., 9; Christerpher Lyles, 9; Kadavion Key, 5; Keldrick Stinnette, 6, Brad Blaylock, 12; Darry Moore, 4; Mashaud Moore, 23.

TEAM 2-A. Cannell, 12; R. Cannell, 10; K. Knox, 9; C. Flores, 13; K. Lewis, 7.

THREE POINT GOALS-JT: Berry (3), Lyles (2). B: A. Cannell (2), R. Cannell, Knox (3), Flores (2).

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John Tyler 51, Lufkin 47

Lufkin 15 14 7 11 – 47

John Tyler 10 18 12 11 – 51

LUFKIN-Courtnee Garcia, 9; Kordell Rodgers, 1; Chris Thompson, 2; KeVonte Hurts, 11; James Jefferson, 2; Kodie Callison, 6; Nick Wilson, 4; Breylon Garcia, 12.

JOHN TYLER-Gerald Berry Jr., 12; Christerpher Lyles, 2; Kadavion Key, 6; Brad Blaylock, 5; Darry Moore, 2; Mashaud Moore, 24.

THREE POINT GOALS-L: Garcia (2). JT: Berry (2), Blaylock.

RECORDS-John Tyler 6-8.

NEXT UP-John Tyler vs. Center, 10 a.m. Thursday, Romines Classic, Longview.