CLINT JONES/FREELANCE TJC’S TYLER MILLER, a sophomore from Milwaukee, Wisc., passes the ball back out to a teammate before Kilgore’s Jonathan Milligan (10) and Michael Thomas (14) can trap him during play Thursday at Wagstaff Gym.

 

“Sophomore Night” turned into “Sophomore Day” because of the weather.

Still, the Tyler Junior College basketball programs honored their graduating class between games of a Region XIV doubleheader before a nice afternoon crowd at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

The emotional day was a split decision against Kilgore College with the No. 11 Apache Ladies scoring a 61-39 decision over the Lady Rangers and the Apaches dropping a close 65-59 game to the Rangers.

It was the final regular season game for the Tyler squads. The games were originally scheduled for Wednesday night snow flurries in Tyler forced the move.

Next up is the Region XIV Tournament which has finally found a site. The tourney is scheduled for next week at Jacksonville ISD Gymnasium, located on the old Lon Morris College campus.

The men’s tournament begins on Tuesday with the Apaches either the No. 7 or 8 seed playing most likely Lee College or Jacksonville College.

The women’s tournament begins on Wednesday with the Apache Ladies the No. 2 seed, They will most likely play Jacksonville College at 6 p.m.

 

Women

Before the game TJC coach Trenia Tillis-Jones and assistant coach Precious Ivy honored their sophomores and their families with photos, flowers and balloons.

Players honored were Erica Carson (Overton), Amber Driver (Spring DeKaney HS, Houston), Jade Jones (Cedar Ridge HS, Round Rock), Cassandra Jackson (North Little Rock, Arkansas), Chelsi Watson (Neville HS, Monroe, Louisiana), Jasmine Prophet (Fort Bend Hightower HS, Jackson, Mississippi), Brittny Norris (Dallas Bishop Lynch HS, Forney) and Victoria Kemokai (Fort Bend Bush, Houston).

Manager Shamira Easton (Madison HS, Houston) was also honored.

“I get really attached (to the players). Their literally my babies,” Tillis-Jones said. “They become my children. It’s hard to believe next year some other coach is going to get to have them. … We teach them and help them grow up.

“You wish TJC was a four-year school so you can have them longer.”

The Apache Ladies (26-3, 17-3 Region XIV) started slow, taking just a 22-18 halftime lead.

TJC, after missing its first nine 3-point attempts, connected on 6 of 7 during a stretch in the second half.

Kemokai hit on 4 of 5 long distance shots, while Norris was 2 of 2.

The outburst broke open a tight game.

Kemokai led Tyler with 16 points, while Prophet (12) and Norris (10) were also in double figures.

Jackson led Tyler with 11 rebounds with Prophet and Kemokai adding nine and eight board, respectively.

Jackson also had five assists and five steals.

Imaobong Akpan led the Lady Rangers (7-19, 4-15) with 14 points. Deshawnta Lyday had eight rebounds.

The Lady Rangers have one more game on Saturday at Jacksonville. That will be KC’s final game as only eight teams make the tournament and the Lady Rangers are in 10th place.

 

Men

Before the game, TJC coach Mike Marquis honored his sophomores.

Sophomores are John Paul (St. Lucia), Levi Yancy (White Oak), Dominique Shaw (Lufkin), Faith Pope (Ottumwa, Iowa), Tyler Miller (Milwaukee) and Dale Jones (Waterloo, Iowa).

The Apaches fell behind as much as 16 points and trailed 59-45 with 5:38 to go.

TJC then went on a 12-1 run to pull with 60-57. Miller’s bucket with 1:04 to go got Tyler within that three-point margin.

After two free throws from KC’s Jonathan Milligan the Rangers led 62-57 with 40.9 remaining.

The Apaches (20-9, 10-9) had chances to get closer as they achieved four offensive rebounds on the next possession with Miller putting back a bucket, but he was called for a charge on the play, eliminating any chance of a comeback. Instead of scoring two points and at the free throw line, KC had the ball.

That deflated the crowd and Kilgore (20-8, 12-6) made their free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

“We missed a couple of baskets during that stretch that really would have put some pressure on them,” Marquis said. “I was really proud of our kids. They kept fighting.

“I was really appreciative of the people who came out on a Thursday afternoon for the games.”

Jones led the Apaches with 15 points with Miller (13) and Darryl Stewart (10) also in double figures.

Ikenna Okwarabizie led TJC with eight rebounds with Miller and Jones adding seven and six boards, respectively.

Milligan led KC with 23 points with Bakari Copeland adding 15.

Michael Thomas had nine boards for the Rangers.

KC plays host to Navarro on Saturday. A win by the Rangers should secure a bye for Kilgore as the top two teams in the zone don’t have to play the first day of the tournament.

 

Follow Phil Hicks on Twitter@PhilHicksETFS

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Region XIV Conference

Women

No. 11 Tyler 61, Kilgore 39

KILGORE — Darreion Clark, 10; Destiny Climpton, 2; Imaobong Akpan, 14; Deshawnta Lyday, 6; Adrianna Edwards, 4; Crystal Nero, 3; Robbin Smith, 0; Mariah Hopkins, 0.

TYLER — Jade Jones, 2; Alexundria Sims, 2; Victoria Kemokai, 17; Taudenciah Oluoch, 0; Amber Driver, 4; Brittny Norris, 10; Sandy Jackson, 8; Princess Cole, 4; Jasmine Prophet, 12; Chelsi9 Watson, 2.

THREE POINT GOALS — KC (0-12). TJC (6-16): Kemokia (4), Norris (2).

FREE THROWS — KC 7-10, TJC 5-7.

REBOUNDS — Kilgore 23 (Lyday, 8), Tyler 45 (Jackson, 11).

ASSISTS — Kilgore 9 (Edwards, 5), Tyler 17 (Jackson, 5; Cole, 5).

BLOCKS — Kilgore 1 (Lyday), Tyler 8 (Prophet, 3).

STEALS — Kilgore 11 (Akpan, 3), Tyler 6 (Jackson, 5).

TURNOVERS — Kilgore 15, Tyler 21.

HALFTIME SCORE — Tyler 22-18.

RECORDS — Kilgore 7-19 (4-15), Tyler 26-3 (17-3).

NEXT UP — Kilgore at Jacksonville, 2 p.m. Saturday; Tyler vs. TBA at Region XIV Tournament in Jacksonville, Wednesday.

 

Men

Kilgore 65, Tyler 59

KILGORE — Alassane Kah, 2; Jonathan Milligan, 23; Bakari Copeland, 15; Jaleel Wheeler, 11; Shaq Keith, 8; Michael Thomas, 6; Miles Banks, 0; Myron Chapman, 0.

TYLER — Levi Yancy, 5; Dominique Shaw, 7; Stephen Taylor, 0; Faith Pope, 7; Dale Jones, 15; Tyler Miller, 13; Ronnie Stacy, 0; Darryl Stewart, 10; Ikenna Okwarbizie, 2; John Paul, 0; Jacob Socha, 0.

THREE POINT GOALS — KC (6-14): Milligan (3), Copeland, Wheeler, Keith. TJC (1-7): Jones.

FREE THROWS — KC 17-25, TJC 18-26.

REBOUNDS — Kilgore 34 (Thomas, 9), Tyler 34 (Okwarbizie, 8).

ASSISTS — Kilgore 11 (Wheeler, 4), Tyler 5 (Shaw, 2).

BLOCKS — Kilgore 5 (Thomas, 2), Tyler 8 (Prophet, 3).

STEALS — Kilgore 4 (Keith, 2), Tyler 9 (Shaw, 2; Pope, 2).

TURNOVERS — Kilgore 16, Tyler 10.

HALFTIME SCORE — Kilgore 33-25.

RECORDS — Kilgore 20-8 (12-6), Tyler 20-9 (10-9).

NEXT UP —Navarro at Kilgore, 4 p.m. Saturday; Tyler vs. TBA at Region XIV Tournament in Jacksonville, Tuesday.