Apache Ladies get home win over Panola

Box Score:  https://www.apacheathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20240302_12v7.xml?view=boxscore

Phil Hicks-Tyler Morning Telegraph

With Fanta Kone back in the lineup, the Apache Ladies are turning their game up a notch.

Kone dished out seven assists, grabbed seven rebounds, had five steals and scored eight points while four TJC players hit in double figures in an 80-65 win over the Panola Fillies on Saturday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

"Fanta makes a difference," said TJC Coach Trenia Tillis Hoard, whose team improved to 17-12 overall and 8-7 in Region XIV women's basketball. "With her in the lineup we are able to play faster and up-tempo."

Kone, a 5-7 sophomore from the Republic of Mali in West Africa, had missed 13 games due to a meniscus tear and returned to play on Wednesday in Beeville against Coastal Bend.

"We didn't to rush her back," Tillis Hoard said. "She has such a bright future in basketball. ... Our trainers said she was fully ready to return."

Kone helped pick up the pace for the Apache Ladies as they trailed 25-23 after the first quarter. Tyler outscored the Fillies 22-13 in the second period to take a 45-38 halftime lead.

Grace Ezebilo led TJC with 17 points, followed by Kiana Bennett (16), Lillian Jackson (14) and KeleChi Dike (13).

Others scoring for the Apache Ladies were Shalayne Morgan (6) and Frenishka Bertho (6).

Jackson had eight assists with Bertho and Ezebilo grabbing eight rebounds each. Dike and Jackson had three steals apiece.

Dike also drew two charges.

Awa Fane led Panola (13-14, 6-8) with 15 points. She was followed by Ja'Nae Southall (11), Destinee Moore (8),  Taja Stephens (7), Meilin Guo (7), Tre'Anah Coppock (7), Nakaylan Wells (4), Etaria Gibbons (2), Hannah Young (2) and Paige Taylor (2).

Moore had six rebounds with four each from Stephens, Coppock, Young, Guo and Taylor. 

TJC was 2 of 9 at the free throw line and 4 of 8 from 3-point (Bennett, 4).

Panola was 17 of 21 at the free throw line and 6 of 11 from 3-point (Southall, 2; Guo, 2; Stephens, 1; Coppock).

In other games on Saturday: Angelina 85, Coastal Bend 63; and Trinity Valley 67, Kilgore 62.

The Apache Ladies are off on Wednesday before concluding the regular season when they play host to Kilgore College on Saturday, March 9. Tipoff is 2 p.m. TJC will honor their sophomores.

Games scheduled for Wednesday: Blinn (20-8, 10-4) at Kilgore (17-11, 10-4), 5:30 p.m.; Coastal Bend (8-20, 3-11) at Paris (7-20, 3-10), 5:30 p.m.; Angelina (20-9, 12-3) at Panola (13-14, 6-8), 5:30 p.m.; and Jacksonville (2-23, 0-13) at Trinity Valley (21-5, 11-3), 5:30 p.m.