Posted: Mar 09, 2024

Apache Ladies top Kilgore on Sophomore day

Box Score: https://www.apacheathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20240309_76d2.xml?view=boxscore

Phil Hicks-Tyler Morning Telegraph

The Apache Ladies were hopeful of getting a boost before the postseason begins next week.

Tyler Junior College did just that by scoring a 78-68 victory over the Kilgore College Lady Rangers on Saturday in a Region XIV women's basketball conference regular season finale at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

Now, both teams get a few days off before the Region XIV Women's Basketball Tournament begins on Wednesday, also at Wagstaff Gymnasium. The Apache Ladies improve to 18-12 overall and 9-7 in conference, while the Lady Rangers go to 18-12 and 11-5.

"We are a different team when (Fanta) Kone is in the game," TJC Coach Trenia Tillis Hoard said of the point guard. "We move the ball better, we space better, we pass the ball better. With Kone in the game, it takes the pressure off KB (Kiana Bennett) and the others."

Indeed as Tillis Hoard said Bennett is more relaxed and it was apparent as she hit 5 of her first 7 3-point attempts and connected on seven for the game. The 5-8 sophomore guard swished 7 of 11 3-point tries, while totaling 23 points.

Kone has returned to the lineup for the last three games (all wins) after missing 12 straight games due to injury.

The sophomore from the Republic of Mali in Western Africa scored 13 points, with six assists and four rebounds.

TJC avenged a 75-62 loss on Feb. 7 in Kilgore.

Four Lady Rangers scored in double figures, led by Nyla Inmon's double double. The sophomore from Tyler scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Inmon also drew a charge.

Other KC players in double figures were BryKayla Hampton (14), Nakiyah Allen (11) and Tylissa Henderson (10).

Also scoring for Kilgore were Perina Lieme (8), Jordan Wright (6) and Erin Love (2).

Henderson added six rebounds and three blocks while Lieme had five boards. Hampton had three steals.

Also scoring for Tyler were KeleChi Dike (11), Feniska Bertho (10), Shalayne Morgan (9), Lillian Jackson (4), Grace Ezebilo (4), Amari Welch (3) and Dacia Bostic (1).

Ezebilo had 10 boards, followed by Bertho (7), Dike (7) and Jackson (6). Dike drew three charges.

TJC was 8 of 13 from 3-point (Bennett, 7; Welch, 1) and 8 of 11 from the free throw line.

KC was 2 of 12 from 3-point (Hampton, 1; Lieme, 1) and 18 of 28 from the free throw line.

The Apache Ladies are the fifth seed in the Region XIV Tournament and will play No. 5 seed Blinn (21-9, 11-5) at 3 p.m. Wednesday a quarterfinals match.

The Lady Rangers are the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 Panola (14-15, 7-9) at 8 p.m. that same night.

Other quarterfinal games on Wednesday have: No. 1 Angelina (21-9, 13-3) meeting No. 8 Coastal Bend (8-22, 3-13) at 1 p.m.; and No. 2 Trinity Valley (23-5, 13-3) taking on No. 7 Paris (9-21, 5-11) at 6 p.m.

The semifinals are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m. Friday with the finals slated for 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16.

The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NJCAA Women's Division I National Tournament that is scheduled for March 26 through April 1 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming.

HONORING SOPHOMORES

After the game, TJC Coach Trenia Tillis Hoard honored the sophomores and presented them with framed photos. Honored were Kiana Bennett (5-8 guard, Shelbyville), Amyia Bowie (5-6 guard, Red Oak), Fanta Kone (5-7 guard, Bamako, Mali), Lillan Jackson (5-11 forward, Little Rock, Arkansas) and Dacia Bostic (5-10 forward, Quitman, Mississippi).