John Tyler senior Martese Christian (1) drives the ball down court while Jacksonville's Travon Lawlor (2) attempts to catchup with him during their District 16-5A game on Tuesday night at the Lions Den. (Haylee Bazil | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Isaac Warren launched a 3-pointer that caromed high off the rim. The John Tyler senior was already trotting back down the court as if he knew it was going in.

Eventually, it did, just as the Lions eventually put away Jacksonville for a 63-52 victory on Tuesday night at the Lions Den.

The girls game prior had a little less drama, with the 11th-ranked Lady Lions cruising to a 73-12 win in the District 16-5A doubleheader.

 

BOYS

Warren’s 3-pointer broke a 15-15 tie to put John Tyler (15-7, 3-1 District 16-5A) up for good with 2:03 left in the first quarter.

The Lions led by 10 at the break and held that margin for most of the second half, though Jacksonville (9-10, 0-3) kept things interesting until the end.

D.D. Hamilton, who scored a game-high 18 for the Indians, made back-to-back 3-point plays to cut his team’s deficit to 54-46 with 3:43 remaining but that’s as close as they came.

John Tyler went 9 for 14 at the line in the fourth quarter (18 for 32 for the game) to close it out.

Ja’Khari Lewis led the Lions with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. Patrick Williams added 13 points and three steals while Bryson Smith chipped in seven points, five steals, two assists, three rebounds and a block.

Before the game a moment of silence was held for John Tyler coach Cedeno Clark’s sister-in-law, Kitina Evans-Robinson, a Douglas Elementary kindergarten teacher who passed away Monday.

Though Clark was still on the sidelines, he turned the reins over to offensive coordinator Paul Balcorta and defensive coordinator James Mosley, as well as assistants Travis Eckels and Dan Gay IV.

“They’ve done an outstanding job,” Clark said of his assistants.

“They always do a great job so that’s why I knew it wouldn’t be a big deal for them to step up and take charge tonight.”

 

GIRLS

Despite the 61-point margin, the Maidens (6-15, 1-4) actually led for the first two minutes.

Not until Ashtyn Beal drove to the basket for two with 5:34 left in the first quarter did the Lady Lions (23-3, 5-0) grab the advantage, but there was little doubt who would win after finishing the period on a 16-0 run.

Sophomore Alyssa Mayfield and freshman Destini Whitehead scored 12 apiece to lead John Tyler while Beal chipped in 10 to go with five steals and four assists.

Mayfield hauled in 10 rebounds while Amia Wickware and Daz Johnson had seven each to help the Lady Lions hold a 35-21 edge on the glass.

Kaleon Grant tallied four steals and four assists for JT, which forced 41 turnovers with 25 steals while committing seven turnovers.

“We have a lot of respect for Jacksonville; the score got out of hand and you hate it like that because (their) best player is out,” JT coach Mike Smith said.

“But you’ve got to play and out of respect for Jacksonville you play and out of respect for the game you play ball. Their kids never quit, they gave all the effort they have, we’re just fortunate to have a lot of good kids.”

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District 16-5A Girls

No. 11 John Tyler 73, Jacksonville 12

Jacksonville 26 2 2 — 12

John Tyler 16 20 15 22 — 73

JACKSONVILLE — Alicia Boykin, 4; Logan Freeman, 0; Lexi Green, 0; Aisha Griffin, 0; Denetria McCullough, 4; Moquesha Robertson, 2; Cayron Christopher, 2. FG: 6-19. FT: 0-0.

JOHN TYLER — Amia Wickware, 9; Kaleon Grant, 4; Alyssa Mayfield, 12; Destini Whitehead, 12; Kaleigh Hackett, 4; Tameal Jones, 5; Ashtyn Beal, 10; Shakendra Tilley, 9; Daz Johnson, 2; Shakala Johnson, 6. FG: 26-75. FT: 15-24.

THREE POINT GOALS — JA (0-8): None. JT (2-10): Jones, Beal.

RECORDS — Jacksonville 6-15 (1-4); John Tyler 23-3 (5-0).

NEXT UP — Lufkin at Jacksonville, 6 p.m. Friday; John Tyler at Lindale, 6 p.m. Friday.

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District 16-5A Boys

John Tyler 63, Jacksonville 52

Jacksonville 16 9 8 19 — 52

John Tyler 20 15 10 18 — 63

JACKSONVILLE — Shawn Ragsdale, 13; Travon Lawlor, 3; Kariem Clayborne, 7; D.D. Hamilton, 18; Demontre Christopher, 1; J’Colby Robinson, 6; Gio Villareal, 0; Jadarius Blake, 4. FG: 19-51. FT: 8-10.

JOHN TYLER — Martese Christian, 5; Bryson Smith, 7; Tavian Teal, 1; Isaac Warren, 5; Patrick Williams, 13; Rodney Bendy, 2; Duntayviun Gross, 2; Carlin Gray, 1; Jacob Owens-Bush, 4; Guquay Miller, 0; Ja’Khari Lewis, 16; J’Michael Jasper, 7. FG: 20-44. FT: 18-32.

THREE POINT GOALS — JA (6-15): Ragsdale, Lawlor, Clayborne (2), Hamilton (2). JT (5-8): Christian, Warren, Williams, Lewis (2).

RECORDS — Jacksonville 9-10 (0-3); John Tyler 15-7 (3-1).

NEXT UP — Lufkin at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m. Friday; John Tyler at Lindale, 7:30 p.m. Friday.