Paris eliminates Apaches in Region 14 tourney
Box Score: https://njcaaregion14.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20240312_c67p.xml
Region 14 Tournament information: https://www.njcaaregion14.com/sports/NJCAA_Region_XIV_Basketball_Tournament_2024
Phil Hicks-Tyler Morning Telegraph
After trailing for most of the game, the Apaches rallied in the second half to take the lead only to suffer heartbreak in the final minute.
In a matter of 10 seconds, TJC went from being up by four to down by one as the Apaches eventually dropped a 55-53 gut-wrenching game to Paris Junior College on Tuesday in the opening game of the Region XIV Basketball Tournament at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
The No. 8 seeded Dragons (18-13) advance to meet No. 1 seed Lee College (26-3) at 1 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals. Tyler JC, the No. 9 seed, ends its season at 16-15.
For TJC, it was a bitter final game.
After trailing 40-30 with 16:13 on the clock, TJC Coach Mike Marquis went to man defense. It paid off as the Apaches went on a 23-9 run to take a 53-49 lead with 2:54 showing as Dariyus Woodson scored inside.
Despite playing good defense and three offensive rebounds during the final 2-plus minutes, the Tribe did not score again, including missing two free throw attempts by JJ Louden with 40.8 seconds showing.
Paris worked the ball down the court where Morris Williams hit a 3-pointer with 30.5 seconds showing that moved the Dragons within 53-52.
On the inbound play, TJC guard BJ Hooper Jr. tried a crossover dribble near the Paris bench Damondre McKnight swipped the ball and quickly scored on a layup to stun the crowd and give the Dragons a 54-53 with 23.9 seconds on the clock.
Tyler called timeout with 17.5 seconds showing to set up a play. After passing the ball around and trying to get it to Woodson, Jacyn Jones-Taylor tried to drive inside put his shot went high off the backboard and Williams rebounded with 1.3 seconds showing.
On the other end, Williams missed the first free throw attempt and tried to miss the second, but the ball went in for a 55-53 lead. The Apaches tried a long pass, but it was intercepted and the Dragons celebrated.
"It was a very physical game as you would expect in a tournament game," Marquis said. "I'm very proud of our guys. They fought back and took the lead. They showed a lot of heart."
PJC Coach Bill Foy added, "It was a physical game. We knew it would be tough because the first two times we played (TJC) they were physical games. Morris Williams came off the bench and hit a big three."
Woodson, the sophomore from Baytown, led TJC with 21 points. He was followed by Jonah Newsmith (8), Jones-Taylor (7), Brandon Walker (6), Hooper (4), Hudson Anderson (4) and Louden (3).
Jones-Taylor had eight rebounds, while Woodson had six.
McKnight led Paris with 18 points, followed by Peyton Gusters (17), Williams (8), Kordrick Turner (8) and Oluwafemi Olaniyan (4).
Caleb Jones had eight boards with seven from Gusters.
TJC was 3 of 17 from 3-point (Woodson, 2; Jones-Taylor, 1) and 18 of 24 from the free throw line.
PJC was 4 of 16 from 3-point (McKnight, 2; Williams, 2) and 21 of 27 from the free throw line.
Tyler had 16 turnovers to 11 by the Dragons.
The men are off on Wednesday as it is Ladies Day. The four quarterfinals matchup — No. 1 Angelina (21-9, 13-3) meeting No. 8 Coastal Bend (8-22, 3-13) at 1 p.m.; No. 4 Blinn (21-9, 11-5) vs. No. 5 TJC (18-12, 9-7), 3 p.m.; No. 2 Trinity Valley (23-5, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Paris (9-21, 5-11), 6 p.m.; and No. 3 Kilgore (18-12, 11-5) vs. Panola (14-15, 7-9), 8 p.m.
Ticket prices for each session will be $8 for adults, $5 for students (must present a student ID) and children under 12, and free for children under 5.
A tournament pass will be available for $40.
A session is two games. The gym will be cleared after each session.
Tournament parking will be in the lots north of the Pat Hartley Field Complex located on the corner of Palmer Avenue and Fifth Street.