TYLER — The Indians  of Jacksonville were in a familiar place heading into the final quarter of Tuesday's game against John Tyler, as the Tribesmen trailed by a mere point, 38-37.

On a typical night Jacksonville usually saves it best for last and that means victory for the Indians.

But on Tuesday the Indians were not in their normal fourth-frame form and John Tyler made Jacksonville (32-1, 9-1 District 16-4A) pay by claiming a 54-48 win over the Indians before a crowd estimated at over 2,000 in the Lion's Den.

“We didn't make the plays and we didn't make our free throws, particularly in the fourth quarter, like we did when we beat them (John Tyler) the first time that we played,” Jacksonville head coach, Brent Kelley, said. “Don't get me wrong, we wanted to win the game and to finish the (regular) season undefeated.

“Having lost a game now does serve a purpose. It's gets the monkey (of being undefeated) off of our back and that will make it easier for us to focus on doing the things that we need to do to be successful in the playoffs. As far as I am concerned, the game at John Tyler gave us a taste of what the playoffs could be like where you play a top-caliber team in front of a very large crowd away from your gym.”

Dadrian Franklin led Jacksonville in scoring with 12 points, followed closely by Daytron Thompson's 11.

Kedarrius Buckingham added nine and Raybon Riden slipped in eight for the Tribe.

The Lions' Tyus Bowser netted a game-high 16 points.

John Tyler (14-14, 8-2) will take on Mansfield Summit in a bi-district game at a location to be announced.

The Indians will go up against a very familiar foe, the Tigers of Lancaster.

Lancaster eliminated the Indians from post-season play last season by earning a 53-42 win over Jacksonville in an Area Round tilt that took place at Fairfield High School.

Lancaster also got the best of the Tribe in the first round of the state Class 4A football playoffs last November.

The Tigers finished fourth in District 15-4A this season with an overall record of 14-17, 8-6 in district.

“Don't let their record fool you,” Kelley said when talking about the Tigers. “The have a lot of good athletes and they are a fine basketball team.

“We have to approach that game possession by possession and do everything that we can to win each possession..”

Kelley said that the game is tentatively set for 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Eustace High School, time to be announced.