Robert E. Lee's Jordan Davis (12) passes to a teammate whoile being defended by Killeen's Dajuan Jones (2), during the first half of their Bi-District Playoff at Vavarro College Gym. ( Lang White / Correspondent )

CORSICANA — Killeen Ellison turned a one-point game into a 53-44 loss for Robert E. Lee thanks to a closing surge in the final 3:11 of play on Tuesday in their Class 6A bi-district boys basketball playoff game at the Wolens Center on the Navarro College campus.

The Red Raiders (18-10) had pulled to within a point, 37-36, on a tip-in put back by senior Rico Major.

Killeen Ellison (24-7) responded with a 12-2 run highlighted by two one-handed stuffs from 6-9 sophomore post Isiah Jasey.

Jasey also threw down an alley-oop dunk during the run that left REL and head coach Jeff Coleman shaking their head thinking what could’ve been.

“I am not taking anything away from them, but I felt like we were our own worst enemy,” Coleman said about the game’s final minutes. “I felt like we were in control and then rushed a couple shots and followed that with unforced turnovers.

“The guys really played hard and we had our chances to win the ball game. We controlled that ball game, and right there at the end (it got away from us).”

The Eagles advance to the area round to face either Mesquite or Dallas Skyline later this week.

Lee says goodbye to five seniors. One in particular, played arguably his best game of the season. Rico Major scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Eight of Major’s points occurred in the fourth quarter on hustle tip-in plays.

“Rico has played the last couple of ball games really well for us,” Coleman said. “I am really proud of Rico and really glad I had the opportunity to coach him. He’s such a savvy-type player and kept things alive for us.”

Garrett Thibodeaux, a 6-8 senior who has signed with the United States Air Force Academy, scored 12 points to go along with five rebounds and two blocks.

Killeen Ellison controlled the glass with Jasey (10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks), 6-6 Malik Malone (14 points, 10 rebounds) and 6-4 Shaqur Martin (9 rebounds, 5 points).

The Red Raiders led 21-18 at halftime and only trailed by one point, 29-28, entering the fourth.

Eagles junior guard Isaiah Stevenson (finished with 13 points) drilled a 3-pointer to begin the third followed by a dunk from Jasey.

Lee was able to battle back on a basket from Thibodeaux and the hustle effort from Major who scored six straight points for the Red Raider, all on tip-in follows.

But Ellison’s 12-2 run put the game away.

“We’ve got five seniors and I told them (after the third quarter) that we’ve got eight minutes and do you want this to be over with,” Ellison coach Alberto Jones Jr. said. “We got some easy buckets and they kind of hung their head a little bit. But you can’t take anything away from (Lee). They are going to get better every year with coach Coleman.”

Other Lee seniors who played the final game for the Red Raiders Tuesday include Zach Dunn (3 points), Michael Sapp and Tre Caldwell (2 points).

 

Class 6A Bi-District Playoff

Killeen Ellison 53, Robert E. Lee 44

Robert E. Lee 11 10 7 16 — 44

Killeen Ellison 12 6 1124 — 53

ROBERT E. LEE — Rico Major, 14; Zach Hall, 0; Isjuwan Barker, 6; Dexter Green, 0; John Davis, 6; Jogene Aguilar, 0; Jordan Berry, 1; Zach Dunn, 3; Garrett Thibodeaux, 12; Michael Sapp, 0; Tre Caldwell, 2. FG: 19-59. FT: 2-5.

KILLEEN ELLISON — Isaiah Stevenson, 13; Dajuan Jones, 5; Isiah Jasey, 10; Malik Malone, 14; Mike Davis, 6; Shaqur Martin, 5. FG: 19-50. FT: 13-20.

THREE-POINT GOALS—REL (4-11): Dunn, Barker, Davis (2). KE (2-7): Stevenson, Malone.

RECORDS—Robert E. Lee 18-10; Killeen Ellison 24-7.

NEXT UP—Lee season complete; Ellison in area round vs. winner of Dallas Skyline-Mesquite, TBA