JACKSONVILLE — By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
In a classic see-saw battle, Tyler Junior College used three free throws in the final 73 seconds to separate themselves from Lon Morris College as the Apache Ladies eeked out a 60-57 Region XIV win over the Lady Bearcats at the Vivian and Bob Smith Events Center Saturday afternoon.
Trailing by four points, 57-53, with 1:48 left to play, things did not look promising for the Lady ‘Cats, but new life was given to the team by way of a 3-pointer (her third rain maker of the game) off the hand of Christy Willis from the right wing that cut the TJC advantage to 57-56 with 1:35 to go.
Twenty seconds later LMC tied the game at 57 when Brenda Adhiambo made the first of two attempts from the free throw line after being fouled by TJC’s Brittney Joseph.
Adhiambo, who did not start the game, led LMC in scoring with 14 points and also in rebounding by hauling down 13 boards (six offensive).
LMC (10-15, 5-7 in Region XIV, stopped TJC (18-6, 7-5) on the Apaches Ladies’ next trip down the court as the Lady ‘Cats regained control of the ball with 16 seconds showing on the scoreboard.
The Lady ‘Cats swiftly advanced the ball up the court with relative ease as the LMC guards got the ball to Diamond Austin out on the wing in front of the LMC bench.
Austin, who was 4-of-6 from the field in the second half at that point, appeared to see an opening in the TJC defense that gave her a clear path for a layup, but uncharacteristically lost the handle on the ball when she made her cut to the rack.
Latika Smith of TJC was in the right spot to pick up the loose ball which then forced the Lady ‘Cats to intentionally foul as a means of trying to regain possession.
With 10.8 seconds left, Smith, who came in off the bench to score 11 points and pull down four rebounds, went to the charity line and sank both of her attempts which gave the Apache Ladies a 59-57 lead.
LMC had one final opportunity to change the outcome, but a steal by TJC’s Jasmine King on LMC’s end of the floor ended the Lady ‘Cats chances at salvaging a victory.
TJC’s final point came with less than two ticks left when Nakia Ollisen made a free throw.
King led all players with 16 points and had six boards, a block and a steal for TJC.
Willis hit in double digits for LMC, scoring 11 points including three shots from long range. She also added seven rebounds and racked up three steals.
LMC will look to get back on the winning track Saturday — the Lady ‘Cats are off Wednesday — when they trek to Kilgore for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
Tyler Junior College 60
Lon Morris College 57 (women)
1 2 -Tot.
TJC 31 29 -60
LMC 33 24 -57
TJC — Brittney Joseph, 8; Jasmine King, 16; Nakia Ollison, 8; Angie Ramey, 4; CeMonay Newell, 5; Kelley Johnstone, 2; Latika Smith, 11; Elisa Bowen, 6.
LMC — Christy Willis, 11; Jessica Jackson, 7; Diamond Austin, 8; Jasmne Reeves, 8; Chrystal Harrison, 9; Brenda Adhiambo, 14.
Three point goals — TJC: Ollison, Newell; LMC: Willis (3); Jackson.
Rebounds — TJC: 36; LMC: 39
Turnovers — TJC: 19; LMC: 27
Records — TJC (18-6, 7-5); LMC (10-15, 5-8)
Next game — Lon Morris at Kilgore, 2 p.m., Saturday.
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