Posted: Mar 08, 2014

Apache Ladies Down Blinn, Clinch NJCAA Berth

Article Courtesy of the Tyler Morning Telegraph

The Tyler Junior College Apache Ladies are known for their high-scoring offense, but it was their defense that stole the show Friday at UT Tyler's Herrington Patriot Center.

The Apache Ladies, ranked No. 11 in the nation, clamped down on No. 12 Blinn in the second half of a Region XIV Basketball Tournament semifinal to register a 95-83 victory and clinch a berth to the national tournament.

TJC (28-4) advances to meet No. 1 Trinity Valley, an 83-74 winner over Jacksonville (17-15) in the other semifinal, in the regional championship at 5:30 p.m. today (ESPN East Texas, 92.1-FM, Tyler)

TVCC (32-1) had already secured a national berth by winning the regular season conference championship. This year, the Region XIV women's league receives two automatic bids.

TJC gets the second bid by virtue of being in the conference title game against TVCC.

With four at-large bids still up for grabs, its possible Blinn (26-6) could get a ticket to nationals, which is March 17-22 in Salina, Kan.

"It feels great," said TJC coach Trenia Tillis-Jones, whose club has won 17 more times this year than last year. "I always say if you go through something (like last season's 11-19 season), if you keep trusting — God's got this going on for a reason. He's preparing you for something.

"Going through everything we went through last year, I kept saying, 'Lord, you've got to show me what you want me to get out of this.' And He showed me, He said, 'Trenia, just appreciate things.' So every game, I appreciate coaching, I appreciate good kids. You appreciate all the little things in 13 years, and at some point and time I forgot to appreciate things."

TJC's last trip to nationals was 2007. The Apache Ladies won the national title in 2000.

Tyler 95, Blinn 83

It was the third meeting between the squads with both teams winning on their home courts in high-scoring affairs (Blinn 106-102 in Brenham and TJC 98-95 in Tyler).

Four Apache Ladies scored in double figures with Shernise Robertson leading the way with 22 points, while Caitlyn Ramirez added 19 points and six rebounds. Brittny Norris contributed 16 points and seven boards and Victoria Kemokai hit for 15.

Fatima Adams led Blinn with 33 points, while Shakera Barnes and Katrina Hayden hit for 14 and 11, respectively.

The Apache Ladies took a 48-45 halftime lead when Kemokai hit an NBA 3-pointer at the buzzer.

That must have sparked TJC as the squad played smothering defense and crisp offense, outscoring the Lady Bucs 47-38 in the second half. The Apache Ladies were up 95-74 with 1:31 to go in the game, but Blinn scored the final nine points.

"We're telling them, defense is what wins ballgames — let your defense be your offense and that's what we did," Tillis-Jones said. "We took care of the basketball in the second half and we turned it up on defense. We had hands in shooters' faces. … I thought our kids did a good job of limiting Blinn to one shot."

Both Tillis-Jones and Blinn coach Jeff Jenkins feel the Lady Bucs should get a trip to the national tournament as well.

"I think we deserve a bid," Jenkins said. "I thought we proved last year, when we went up there and won two games to make the elite eight and ended up losing to Trinity Valley. I thought regardless of who lost tonight — Tyler or us — deserves an at-large bid. They take four of them and we are hopeful we get one."

Trinity Valley 93, Jacksonville 84

Trinity Valley advanced to its 20th regional final in 22 years by holding off the Lady Jaguars.

TVCC broke out to a 54-34 halftime lead, but Jacksonville whittled the huge deficit to six points, 79-73, with 3:24 to go.

However, Leashja Grant popped a jumper and Roddricka Patton, the sophomore from Neches, bombed a 3-pointer and the lead was 84-73 with 2:16 to go.

Adut Bulgak led TVCC with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Patton and Shlonte Allen added 14 points apiece.

Yvonne Maosa led Jacksonville with 23 points, while former Edgewood star Susan Agesen and Devanyar Workman each added 19.

Workman had 10 rebounds.

———

Region XIV Women's

Semifinals

No. 2 Tyler 95, No. 3 Blinn 83

BLINN — Amari Jones, 5; Shunta Nevitt, 3; Fatima Adams, 33; Katrina Hayden, 11; Tierra Tucker, 8; Brianna Luton, 0; Alexus Freeman, 4; Tayler Weiks, 0; Shakera Barnes, 14; Shanequa Gaston, 5.

TYLER — Malena Washington, 7; Shernise Robertson, 22; Victoria Kemokai, 15; Brittny Norris, 16; Bria Emanuel, 5; Blayke Hemmitt, 0; Katelyn Johnson, 2; Amber Driver, 3; Jasmine Prophet, 4; Caitlyn Ramirez, 19; Chelsi Watson, 2.

HALFTIME SCORE — Tyler 48-45.

THREE POINT GOALS — BC: Nevitt, Tucker. TJC: Robertson (2), Kemokai (3), Ramirez.

RECORDS — Blinn 26-6. Tyler 28-7.

Region XIV Women's

Semifinals

No. 1 Trinity Valley 84, No. 5 Jacksonville 73

JACKSONVILLE — Devanyar Workman, 19; Cristina Robinson, 6; Yvonne Maosa, 23; Allison Moore, 2; Susan Agesen, 19; Cecile Makakala, 4; Shahd Abboud, 0; Jamie Lamb, 0; Libia Carmona, 0.

TRINITY VALLEY — Adut Bulgak, 22; Roddricka Patton, 14; Shlonte Allen, 14; Jazmine Spears, 6; Autumn Williams, 11; Julianne Anchling, 0; Kuaneshia Baker, 8; Deborah Meeks, 3; Leashja Grant, 6; Dominique Brooks, 0.

HALFTIME SCORE — Trinity Valley 54-34.

THREE POINT GOALS — JC: Workman, Maosa, Agesen (4). TVCC: Bulgak (2), Patton (4), Williams, Meeks.

RECORDS — Jacksonville 17-15. Trinity Valley 32-1.