Apaches News
Thu, Jan 22, 2009 - [Men's & Women's Basketball]
By JOE BUIE, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph

JACKSONVILLE -- The Tyler Junior College Apaches jumped to No. 9 in the new national poll released hours before Wednesday's game at Lon Morris.
What those pollsters didn't know was that the Apaches would play that night without one of their main cogs, as freshman wing Brad Gay was a game-time scratch with a sprained ankle.
 
That forced head coach Mike Marquis to change his starting five for the first time all season, and it showed as Lon Morris defeated the Apaches 82-61 in a physical Region XIV basketball game at Vivian and Bob Smith Gymnasium.

The Bearcat victory completed a sweep for Lon Morris, which won the women's game 78-71.


Men
"When I saw that (ranking) today I knew what was coming," said Marquis, half-jokingly. "We just passed the ball terribly. Even the ones we were able to catch were bad. I feel bad for the kids because that was the worst passing effort we've had all year."

The Apaches (15-2, 6-2 in Region XIV) committed 26 total turnovers against Lon Morris (16-3, 7-1), and the Bearcats outscored TJC 48-29 in the second half.

Half the game was played from the free throw line as Lon Morris converted 23 of 34 foul shots and TJC 21 of 34.

The difference was from the field, where Lon Morris shot 54 percent (15 of 28) in the second half while TJC was just 7-for-30 (23 percent).

"It was physical and Lon Morris is good," Marquis said. "They played terrific and deserved a lot of credit. They beat a good team."

Byron Maxson, a 6-4 freshman from New Orleans, replaced Gay in the starting lineup and scored nine points.

"Our hope was that Byron wouldn't get in foul trouble, and he did in the first half," said Marquis, referring to Maxson picking up his second foul with 8:12 left in the first half. "We started playing guys out of rhythm. It gave LaBree (Sledge) more looks.

"We had so much difficulty getting the ball to our post players that we really didn't give ourselves a chance to play our game."

Sledge, a 5-10 freshman from Victoria, did his best to keep the Apaches close by making six of his first eight 3-point attempts. Sledge had a game-high 20 points.

Marquis said he wouldn't burn the game tape. The Apaches did win one battle, outrebounding Lon Morris 45-34.

"I think there are some good learning points on the offensive end," Marquis said. "Except for the last five minutes, we did some good things defensively."

There were five lead changes in the first half, and Lon Morris was up 34-32 at the break.

The Bearcats had five players score in double figures. Brian Wanamaker, a 6-3 sophomore from Philadelphia, had a team-high 15 points and went 11-for-12 from the free throw line. Joel Gierbolini, a bulky 6-8 freshman from Puerto Rico, contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Travis Jones nailed three important 3-pointers early in the second half to give Lon Morris a small cushion. However, the Bearcats had only a seven-point lead with 6½ minutes left in the game.


Women
The Lady Bearcats (11-8, 4-4) controlled the second half after TJC led most of the opening half.

The Apache Ladies came out cold after the break and committed four turnovers out of five possessions. Meanwhile, Lon Morris hit the floor focused and reeled off 10 consecutive points to take the lead for good.

The Lady Bearcats took an 11-point advantage with 2ï¾½ minutes to play but things got dicey inside the final minute when TJC scored six straight to get within three with 30 seconds showing.

Lon Morris ended the drama by converting three of its next four free throws to outscore the Apache Ladies, 17-6, from the charity stripe.

Ambra Smith and Breaunna Ellison fueled the attack for Lon Morris as the two sophomores combined for 37 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists.

Smith came up two assists shy of a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

The Apache Ladies (7-14, 2-7), whose two conference wins are over last-place San Jacinto, were led by Ervette Powell's 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Asia Williams and Elisha Bowen chipped in 10 points and six rebounds apiece.

Sophomore Kelly Stewart, who can carry TJC at times with her 3-point shooting, was held to eight points on 3-of-16 shooting.

-- -- --

Women
Lon Morris 78, Tyler 71

TYLER -- Jasmin Thomas, 7; Katelyn Bernsen, 4; Tajan Snowden, 0; Ervette Powell, 17; Monica Spearman, 7; CeMonay Newell, 8; Kelly Stewart, 8; Asia Williams, 10; Elisha Bowen, 10. FG 29-75 FT 6-12.
LON MORRIS -- Christy Willis 7; Adrenia McGowen, 4; Breaunna Ellison, 20; Mardray Wynn, 4; Jasamine Reeves, 2; Ambra Smith, 17; Chrystal Harrison, 11; Sherena Abercrumbia, 13. FG 30-72 FT 17-27.

THREE-POINT GOALS -- TJC (7-24): Thomas, Spearman, Newell (2), Stewart (2), Williams; LMC (1-15): Abercrumbia.
HALFTIME SCORE -- Tyler 37-33.

TURNOVERS -- TJC; 22; LMC: 18.
RECORDS -- Tyler, 7-14 (2-7); Lon Morris, 11-8 (4-4).

NEXT UP -- Blinn at Tyler, 2 p.m. Saturday; Lon Morris at Trinity Valley, 2 p.m. Saturday.

-- -- --

Men
Lon Morris 82, No. 9 Tyler 61
TYLER -- Denzel Jackson, 4; Reggie Nelson, 2; RJ Samuels, 1; Alan Branch, 0; LaBree Sledge, 20; Johnathan Edwards, 5; Byron Maxson, 9; Steven Walker, 1; Brent Barz, 8; Tyler Jefferson, 11; Jatarvis Vandyke, 0. FG 16-60 FT 21-34.
LON MORRIS -- Nayquan Mitchell, 2; Brian Wanamaker, 15; Greg Chiasson, 3; Ridas Pulkauninkas, 4; Benito Santiago Jr., 10; Konner Tucker, 13; Travis Jones, 11; Lance Murphy, 8; Joel Gierbolini, 12; Dominick Walker, 4. FG 27-56 FT 23-34.

THREE-POINT GOALS -- TJC (8-17): Sledge (6), Maxson, Barz; LMC (5-15): Santiago, Tucker, Jones (3).

HALFTIME SCORE -- Lon Morris 34-32.

TURNOVERS -- TJC; 26; LMC: 16.

RECORDS -- Tyler, 15-2 (6-2); Lon Morris, 16-3 (7-1).

NEXT UP -- Lee at Tyler, 4 p.m. Saturday; Lon Morris at Trinity Valley, 4 p.m. Saturday.

EST. ATT. -- 500.