By JOE BUIE, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph

PARIS -- As the tiny gym began filling up for the start of the men's game, the Hunt Center quickly became the Dragon Dungeon for Tyler Junior College. The Apaches were held without a field goal for almost nine minutes at the start of a 69-51 loss to No. 20 Paris on Wednesday night.

 

"They have a great atmosphere and they're in first place for a reason," TJC head coach Mike Marquis said of the Dragons. "This puts them in a good driver's seat to get a bye for the (regional) tournament."

In the opener, the Apache Ladies scored on their first four possessions and never trailed in posting a 55-49 victory -- their 20th win of the season after going 9-21 last year.

The Apaches (15-7, 8-6 Region XIV North) nearly recovered from the miserable start and drew within 15-10 on Kyle Ford's 3-pointer with 10 minutes left in the first half. Paris (21-4, 13-2 North) then outscored TJC 18-7 and led 33-17 at halftime.

At the break, Marquis sounded somewhat encouraged to only be down by 16, considering his team had just shot 21 percent (5-for-24) in the opening 20 minutes while Paris converted 50 percent (14-for-28).

However, the Apaches never made a run in the second half as the Dragons turned three quick turnovers into a 24-point cushion at the 12:40 mark. The Apaches cut the deficit to 16 with 10 minutes to play before allowing seven straight points to slip back down the slope.

"We shot very poorly in the first half and then we tried to do too many things one-on-one," said Marquis, whose team won at Paris last season. "Once we missed a few of our normal shots that we (usually) make, we really tried to force the action. We're not very good when we force the action.

"You can't play a good team on the road and perform that way and expect a very good outcome."

The Dragons scored well in the paint and behind the arc in winning for the 10th time in their last 11 conference games.

Bryce Cartwright, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Compton, Calif., had a game-high 24 points and was 4-for-7 from the 3-point line. Desmond King, a 6-6 sophomore forward from Alexandria, La., contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.

Malcolm Moore was TJC's only consistent scoring threat as the freshman forward tallied 16 points (6 of 8) and six rebounds. Sophomore wing Byron Maxson, guarded tightly in the first half, had eight of his 10 points in the second half.

"They got to play with a lot of hands on, and that made it difficult for us," Marquis said of the Dragons' swarming halfcourt defense. "And then when we got good shots, we missed them."

Sophomore wing Brad Gay, who missed the previous eight games with an injury, scored nine points off the bench against Paris.

The Apache Ladies jumped out to a 10-2 lead and were up 15-7 at the 14:45 mark on 6 of 11 shooting with no turnovers. TJC head coach Trenia Jones was thrilled with the start.

"It was a great start," said Jones, whose team (20-6, 9-5) has a four-game winning streak. "We had kids hitting shots that we didn't expect to that early. I was pleasantly surprised. Our kids are starting to find their niche."

The Apache Ladies added to the quick start by scoring eight straight in a two-minute stretch, which highlighted an 11-2 run for their largest lead of the game at 13 with 5:38 left in the first half. However, the visitors scored only two more points before the break while running up the turnover count.

Paris, meanwhile, closed the half on a modest 8-2 run to make it 28-21 at the intermission.

TJC's largest lead of the second half was 12 (45-33, 49-37), and Paris got as close as four (53-49) with 27 seconds remaining.

After TJC missed a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity, Paris' Randi White failed to convert on a runner at the basket and Britney Joseph rebounded for the Apache Ladies. Newell then converted both free throws in the double bonus for the final score of 55-49.

The home team's efforts at a comeback were thwarted in part by missing 12 free throws, including nine in the second half.

"For playing at Paris, I thought it was a well-played ballgame for my kids," said Jones, who earned a season split with the Lady Dragons.

Newell, a sophomore guard from Chicago, netted a team-high 14 points on 4 of 8 shooting from the 3-point line. Sophomore post Jasmine King and freshman point guard Latika Smith had 10 points apiece. Smith added six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Britney Joseph led TJC with 11 rebounds.

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Women

Tyler 55, Paris 49

TYLER -- Britney Joseph, 4; Jasmine King, 10; Nakia Ollison, 8; Katelyn Bernsen, 0; Ervette Powell, 5; Angie Ramey, 0; CeMonay Newell, 14; Kelly Johnstone, 0; Latika Smith, 10; Elisha Bowen, 4. FG 20-52 FT 8-15.

PARIS -- Parris Price, 5; Britney Gaines, 9; Destiny Smith, 2; Randi White, 2; Meoshi Bradley, 4; LaKrisha Pennon, 2; Taylor Ammons, 15; Sekeya Roberson, 4; Shantel Davis-Jenkins, 2; Briannah Matthews, 4. FG 20-59 FT 7-19.

THREE POINT GOALS -- TJC (7-19): Ollison (2), Powell, Newell (4); PJC (2-11): Price, Gaines.

HALFTIME SCORE -- Tyler 28-21.

TURNOVERS -- TJC: 20; PJC: 18.

RECORDS -- Tyler 20-6 (9-5); Paris 12-12 (7-6).

OTHER SCORES -- Blinn 61, Trinity Valley 55; Angelina 65, Jacksonville 52.

NEXT UP -- Panola at Tyler, 2 p.m. Saturday; Paris at Trinity Valley, 2 p.m. Saturday.

Men

No. 20 Paris 69, Tyler 51

TYLER -- Kyle Ford, 6; Mitch Marquis, 0; Brad Gay, 9; RJ Samuels, 4; Labree Sledge, 3; Johnathan Edwards, 3; Byron Maxson, 10; Kader Tapsoba, 0; Malcolm Moore, 16. FG 20-53 FT 8-13.

PARIS -- Demarkus Wilson, 8; Jeremy Holmes, 0; Tonye Smith, 3; Bryce Cartwright, 24; Generra Varmall, 0; Latay Darden, 0; Derrick Echols, 5; Justynn Hammond, 0; Desmond King, 18; Sedric McBounds, 11. FG 28-66 FT 7-11.

THREE POINT GOALS -- TJC (3-16): Ford (2), Sledge; PJC (6-21): Wilson, Smith, Cartwright (4).

HALFTIME SCORE -- Paris 33-17.

TURNOVERS -- TJC: 22; PJC: 15.

RECORDS -- Tyler 15-7 (8-6); Paris 21-4 (13-2).

OTHER SCORES -- Navarro 74, Kilgore 53; Jacksonville 73, Angelina 66; Lon Morris 76, Lee 70.

NEXT UP -- Panola at Tyler, 4 p.m. Saturday; Paris at Trinity Valley, 4 p.m. Saturday.

EST. ATT. -- 600.

Link to Original Article:  http://tylerpaper.com/article/20100211/SPORTS06/2110329