College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

The Tyler Junior College basketball teams canceled out Wednesday's losses with an impressive sweep on Saturday.

Responding to the underdog role, the Apache Ladies shot 53 percent from the field and held off No. 10 Blinn, 82-79, at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

In the nightcap, the TJC men delivered head coach Mike Marquis his 400th career victory with a dominating 96-67 triumph over the Buccaneers.

The Apaches, coming off their first loss of the season at No. 9 Paris, returned to their comfort zone at home and gave Blinn a shooting clinic.

TJC (12-1, 6-1 Region XIV) shot 61 percent in the first half, 58 percent for the game, and turned the game into an unexpected rout in the second half.

While Blinn (9-5, 3-4) was making only two of its first 12 shots in the second half, the Apaches were working on a 21-3 run for a 71-44 lead with 10 1/2 minutes left.

The catalyst was 6-4 wing Alan Branch, who poured in three treys and 11 points during the run. The freshman left-hander finished with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He missed on his first 3-point attempt, then made his next five.

"We just got on a string of good play at both ends," said Marquis, who improved his record at TJC to 105-86, and his overall mark to 400-202. "It wasn't a miracle (game plan). We really played well in the second half, especially.

"We went through that string where we just passed the ball so well and guys made shots. If you're making threes, you look a little bit better than you probably are."

Starting point guard Randall Hampton contributed three treys for the Apaches, who made 12 3-pointers as a team out of 23 attempts.

Playing inside and out, Jimmy Butler and Joseph Fulce got back on their games after being held in check at Paris. They combined for 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, and 13 rebounds.

Malcolm Thomas gave TJC five players in double figures as he hit for 16 points, including one tremendous alley-oop dunk from William Kossangue to make it 91-61 with three minutes to play.

"We showed a little resolve today that we didn't show Wednesday," Marquis said. "Playing at home helps a lot."

Blinn started strong and had five 3-pointers in the opening 10 minutes to spark the Bucs to a 23-22 lead. But their offense dried up before halftime, never to return on this day.

The Bucs shot 36 percent in the first half, and 31 percent overall.

The Apache Ladies (13-4, 3-2) played like this was a must-win game, clearly relishing the underdog role against a team that was undefeated in league play.

TJC led from start to finish, shooting 58.3 percent in the first half and 53 percent overall.

"My pregame speech was, 'The shoe is on the other foot.' I told them to think about Southern-Shreveport (La.)," said Tillis-Jones, referring to then-No. 5 TJC's upset loss to Southern Jan. 2. "You're getting ready to play a team that you don't match up well with.

"You're going to either be a dog that cowers in the corner or you're going to come out fighting. And I thought they came out fighting."

The Apache Ladies, who built an early 20-7 lead, beat Blinn despite being dogged by foul trouble. Both of their freshmen point guards fouled out, leaving Brittany Roberson with 11 points and Kelly Stewart with seven.

The rash of fouls added up to Blinn (15-2, 5-1) shooting 39 free throws and making 28, while TJC was 10-of-15.

In the end, the Lady Bucs could not overcome their 38 percent shooting from the field.

TJC finished the game with five double-figure scorers, led by freshman Monica Spearman (12) on 6-of-7 shooting.

"We shot high-percentage shots," said Tillis-Jones. "There were six times in the ballgame that we took bad shots, but we'd been averaging 20 bad shots a game."

After losing to last-place Paris, TJC's win over a first-place team lifted the Apache Ladies' spirits.

"In the long run, it helps us," said Tillis-Jones. "As many people as we can knock off that are above us is going to help us. The Paris game lets us know that the worst team in the conference can beat you if they bring their 'A' game."

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Women

Tyler 82, Blinn 79

BLINN - Jessica Walker, 0; Tilmila Martin, 18; Edricka Thomas, 11; Jasmine Smith, 0; Ursula Hill, 19; Tiss Rocquemore, 0; Shamon Doss, 1; Alexis Green, 10; Terrah Austin, 0; Alisha Williams, 20. FG 23-60 FT 28-39.

TYLER - Chasity Shavers, 10; Kelly Stewart, 7; Brittany Roberson, 11; Monica Spearman, 12; Jessi Goodman, 3; Jasmine King, 4; Yoshica Spears, 11; Sonja Thompson, 4; Brittany Toran, 9; April Murphy, 11. FG 34-64 FT 10-15.

THREE-POINT GOALS - BC: Martin, Hill (4); TJC: Shavers (2), Stewart, Goodman.

HALFTIME SCORE - Tyler 45-36.

TURNOVERS - BC: 21; TJC: 23.

RECORDS - Blinn, 15-2 (5-1); Tyler, 13-4 (3-2).

NEXT UP - Hill at Blinn, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday; Kilgore at Tyler, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Men

Tyler 96, Blinn 67

BLINN - Tyquan Stroman, 1; Jamal Edwards, 9; P.J. Taylor, 2; Michael Johnson, 22; Javonte Clanton, 5; Dale Vanwright, 6; Leslie Jackson, 9; Sean Coleman, 13. FG 22-71 FT 17-24.

TYLER - Tyler Jefferson, 5; Reggie Nelson, 2; William Kossangue, 5; Alan Branch, 19; Randall Hampton, 11; Jamie Vanderbeken, 4; Malcolm Thomas, 16; Chris Williams, 1; Joseph Fulce, 14; Jimmy Butler, 19. FG 32-55 FT 20-30.

THREE-POINT GOALS - BC (6-26): Edwards (2), Vanwright, Coleman (3); TJC (12-23): Branch (5), Hampton (3), Thomas (2), Fulce, Butler.

HALFTIME SCORE - Tyler 44-34.

TURNOVERS - BC: 17; TJC: 19.

RECORDS - Blinn, 9-5 (3-4); Tyler, 12-1 (6-1).

NEXT UP - Lee at Blinn, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Kilgore at Tyler, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

EST. ATT. - 350.

TJC COACH Mike Marquis during the Apaches’ game against Blinn Saturday.
((Staff Photo By Mark Roberts))