High School Sports

By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor

Sometimes basketball players are a bit sluggish the day after Thanksgiving.

However, that wasn't the case during the early games Friday of the 11th Annual Burger King Classic.

The first four games proved to be entertaining as the Tyler Area Basketball Officials conducted the event, which serves as their scholarship fundraiser, at UT Tyler's Herrington Patriot Center.

In one of the more thrilling games of the day, the two heavyweights slugged it out.

At various times, it appeared either team had the game in hand.

Longview (2-1) sent the game into overtime at 54-54 when Brandon Strawn hit a banker with 18 seconds remaining.

In the extra period Skyline (3-0) got the tip and milked the clock down until the final frantic seconds. Cameron Miles, younger brother of C.J. Miles of the Utah Jazz, drove the baseline only to have his shot rejected. However, Miles, who has signed with the University of San Diego, rebounded his miss and hit a reverse layup with 1.3 seconds on the clock for the winner.

Miles and Basil Brown II paced the Raiders with 14 points each.

Clema Holland and Strawn led the Lobos, who are coached by former Robert E. Lee High School great Hosea Lee, with 14 points each.

In the battle of Tyler TAPPS schools, Gorman broke out to an early lead but the Trojans fought back before falling.

Stephen Ray led Gorman (6-0) with 21 points, while Nick Brunson added 12.

Ray had 17 rebounds and four blocks and his teammate Michael Drader added 11 boards.

Walker Eltife paced the Trojans (2-4) with 15 points and Cameron Skief contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Jontrell Boone added 11 rebounds.

In a see-saw game, the Tigers of Clarksville outlasted the Guard of Brook Hill.

DeCarlos Williams led Clarksville (2-1) with 16 points. Demontrae Scales and HB Rosser added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Brook Hill, now under the direction of former longtime Whitehouse coaching great Wally Dawkins, provided a stiff test for the Tigers.

Jeremy Chappelle led the Guard (3-2) with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Andre Huang and Mason Spradlin added 9 and 8 points, respectively.

Courtney Thomas had nine rebounds and three blocks for Brook Hill.

Girls

The Lady Lobos (8-2) used a balanced attack, led by Tiara Davis (18 points) and Saria Hawkins (15 points), and gradually pulled away from the Lady Crusaders.

Gorman (6-1) was led by Kathryn Huber's 11 points.

DeDe Pierce and Abby Weeks each had seven rebounds for the Lady Crusaders.

Davis had 13 rebounds and two blocks, while Britney Colbert added 10 boards.

T.K. GORMAN’S Stephen Ray (right) shoots over the head of All Saints’ Jontrell Boone during their game in the 11th annual Burger King Classic on Friday at the Herrington Patriot Center at UT Tyler.
(Staff Photo By Tom Turner)