Ponies top Apaches at Wagstaff 53-43

Box Score:  

Phil Hicks-Tyler Morning Telegraph

TJC held Panola nearly 30 points below their average, but the Apaches' shots did not fall down the stretch as the Ponies claimed a 53-43 Region XIV basketball win on Saturday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

"We missed a couple of opportunities when we got some good looks, but the shots didn't fall," said Tyler Junior College Coach Mike Marquis, whose club is 15-14 overall and 7-12 in conference. "We also gave (the Ponies) extra chances when we stopped them but didn't get the rebound, giving them second chances.

The Apaches fell behind 10-0, but continued to battle back until taking their first lead of the game, 38-36, at 7:49 of the second half on two free throws from Dariyus Woodson. However the Carthage team went on a 12-2 run before Woodson was fouled on a 3-point attempt. He swished all three free throws to bring Tyler within 48-43, but the Tribe could get no closer.

The Apaches are off on Wednesday, but return to play on Friday, hosting the Louisiana Knights in a non-conference game. Tipoff is 6 p.m. TJC will honor the sophomores.

"It will be nice to have the bye before the tournament (Region XIV)," Marquis said. "We want to get these nine guys some rest. They have played their hearts out."

Jacyn Jones-Taylor and Brandon Walker led the Apaches with eight points apiece. Others scoring for TJC were Jermontae Hill (7), BJ Hooper Jr. (5), Woodson (5), JJ Louden (4), Hudson Anderson (4) and Jonah Nesmith (2).

Walker had seven rebounds, followed by Louden (5), Anderson (4), Hill (4) and Jones-Taylor (3). 

Jones-Taylor also had three steals.

Three Ponies were in double figures scoring — Jonah Hinton (12), Enel St. Bernard (11) and Yaphet Moundi (10).

Also scoring were Jaiden Lawrence (7), Waqo Tessema (6), Christian Henry (4) and Hugo Mattioli (3).

DJ Wilson had eight rebounds, followed by St. Bernard (6), Moundi (5) and Vianney Salatchoum (4).

St. Bernard had three blocks.

Normally, the Apaches take care of the ball, but had 17 turnovers. Panola had 22 miscues.

TJC was 12 of 15 from the free throw line and 1 of 14 from 3-point (Hill, 1).

Panola was 12 of 20 from the free throw line and 7 of 22 from 3-point (Hinton, 2; Tessema, 2; Mattioli, 1; Henry, 1; Lawrence, 1).

In other games on Saturday: Navarro 107, Bossier Parish 74; Trinity Valley 74, Paris 62; Blinn 86, Jacksonville 72; Angelina 84, Coastal Bend 60; Lee 89, Victoria 61; and Lamar State-Port Arthur 122, Houston CC 64.

Games on Wednesday include: Jacksonville (8-21, 2-16) at Coastal Bend (15-14, 6-12), 5:30 p.m.; Kilgore (21-8, 11-7) at Bossier Parish (12-17, 5-13), 5:30 p.m.; Angelina (19-10, 10-8) at Victoria (6-20, 3-14), 7 p.m.; Lamar State-Port Arthur (13-14, 6-12) at Blinn (22-7, 13-5), 7 p.m.; Lone Star College-Tomball at Lee (25-3, 16-2), 7 p.m.; Navarro (17-11, 10-8) at Paris (16-13, 8-10), 7:30 p.m.; and Trinity Valley (23-6, 14-4) at Panola (24-5, 15-3), 7:30 p.m.

The Region XIV Tournament will then begin on Tuesday, March 12. The tourney will be held at Wagstaff Gymnasium.