Apaches defeat Navarro in mid-week road game

Box Score:  https://www.apacheathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20240124_y8wk.xml?view=boxscore

Phil Hicks/Tyler Morning Telegraph

CORSICANA — There is no "D" in Tyler Junior College, but the Apaches sure know how to play defense.

TJC limited Navarro College to 19 points in the second half and Jermontae Hill made two clutch free throws with 10 seconds remaining as the Apaches defeated the Bulldogs, 52-48, on Wednesday at the K. & Ida Wolens Special Events Center.

The Apaches (14-5, 6-3 Region XIV) took the lead for good in the second half when Darius Woodson hit his third 3-pointer of the game to put his team on top, 40-37, with 11:33 on the clock.

Tyler eventually took a 50-42, but Navarro (11-8, 4-5) hit back-to-back 3-pointers (Evan Smith at 3:00 and Ronnie Harrison at 1:58) to pull within 50-48.

Both teams had chances with NC missing a shot at 1:27 and the Apaches missing two free throws.

The Bulldogs had the ball again and BJ Hooper Jr. blocked a shot and JJ Louden rebounded. The Apaches worked the clock down, missed a shot but Hooper tipped the ball out to Louden at 19.5 seconds. TJC worked the clock around and Hill was fouled.

The 6-7 sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia hit both ends of the one-and-one to put TJC up 52-48 and seal the win.

"I was just thinking that we needed the win and I needed to knocked down these free throws," said Hill, the transfer from Georgia Tech. "I knew if I made the shots we were clear to go and lock in on defense."

For the game, Hill was 6 of 6 from the free throw line with three baskets for 12 points. He also had eight rebounds.

Woodson led the Apaches with 13 points followed by Hooper (8), Sammon Johnson (5), Jonah Nesmith (4), Brandon Walker (4), Hudson Anderson (3), Louden (2) and Jacyn Jones-Taylor (1).

Anderson had nine rebounds with four from Jones-Taylor and three each from Hooper, Johnson, Louden and Walker.

Walker, the 6-6 freshman from Lufkin, had four blocks.

"I was really proud of our kids," TJC Coach Mike Marquis said. "They followed the scouting (report) really well. Navarro threw in a couple of wrinkles. I thought we rebounded as a group pretty well. Really pleased with my bench production. Our starters are good all the time, but our bench is just getting better and better. That depth really helps us. It is a lot of the little things they are doing — the extra pass, the harder cut ... it helps us change the tempo."

The Bulldogs were led by Trae Clayton and Smith with 13 points apiece. They were followed by Harrison (11), Cardell Bailey (5), Mikey West (2), Antoine Lorick (2) and Xavier Zubic (2).

Clayton had eight rebounds and Harrison had six.

TJC was 11 of 18 at the free throw line and 5 of 14 from 3-point (Woodson, 3; Hooper, 1; Johnson, 1).

Navarro was 5 of 8 from the free throw line and 5 of 22 from 3-point (Smith, 3 Clayton, 1; Harrison, 1).

Other Region XIV results: Lee 80, Jacksonville 64; Paris 67, Bossier Parish 63, OT; Coastal Bend 79, Blinn 71; Lamar State-Port Arthur 101, Victoria 92; and Panola 67, Kilgore 60.

Saturday's games include: Kilgore (14-6, 4-5) at Tyler (14-5, 6-3), 4 p.m.; Bossier Parish (9-10, 2-6) at Panola (17-3, 8-1), 4 p.m.; Navarro (11-8, 4-5) at Trinity Valley (16-3, 7-1), 4 p.m.; Lamar State-Port Arthur (11-7, 4-5) at Lee (17-2, 8-1), 4 p.m.; Jacksonville (6-13, 1-8) at Angelina (13-6, 4-4), 4 p.m.; and Blinn (13-6, 4-4) at Victoria (4-14, 1-8), 7:30 p.m.