Apaches Top Kilgore to Advance to National Championships
Courtesy of Phil Hicks, Tyler Morning Telegraph
JACKSONVILLE — TJC doesn't have to follow the yellow brick road or put on a pair of ruby red slippers. The Apaches have booked their trip to Kansas the old-fashioned way, they earned it.
In a game befitting two old rivals, Tyler Junior College, thanks to key late free throws from all-tournament players Brian Warren and Tajuan Agee, defeated the Kilgore College Rangers 59-56 on Saturday to capture the Region XIV basketball championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
Warren and Agee swished two free throws apiece in the final seconds and Chad Bowie's shot attempt at sending the game into overtime hit the front rim to set off a celebration for the team in the black and gold at John Alexander Gymnasium.
Warren was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament as he played all 40 minutes of the title game and was the game's leading scorer with 20 points. Agee, who added 12 points and seven rebounds, and TiAndre Jackson-Young, who added seven points, were also on the all-tournament team. Kilgore's Bowie (18 points) and Demiere Brown, who had eight points and seven boards, were all-tourney as well.
"I am so proud of the players, my coaching staff, the training staff -- they got Dez (Desmond Balentine, who severely sprained his ankle in the regular season finale) ready and kept the other players healthy," TJC coach Mike Marquis said. "I'm proud to win a tournament that is so rich in tradition in a game that both teams know each other so well and both coaches (KC coach Brian Hoberecht) are extremely close."
Balentine gave the Apaches 20 minutes and hit a key 3-pointer with two seconds left in the first half to give TJC a 36-30 lead.
It was the third win by TJC over the Rangers (19-13) this season.
TJC (26-6) advances to the national tournament for the second time in four years. The tourney begins March 19 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The Apaches led throughout the second half, but KC tied the game at 40-40 before Micah Thomas hit three straight 3-pointers to put the Apaches on top 49-40.
Still, the Rangers would not go away, pulling within 55-54 when Bowie hit one free throw with 46.2 seconds left.
TJC worked the clock down and Warren attempted a 3-pointer that was off the mark and Bowie rebounded. But in his haste to get the ball down the court to an open Davon Newton, the ball went out of bounds.
Warren was then fouled and made both free throws with 13.5 seconds showing to give TJC a 57-54 lead. KC hurried down the court and Bowie's 3-point attempt was off the mark but Newton slammed off the rebound and Kilgore cut the deficit to 57-56 with 5.4 seconds showing.
Agee was fouled on the inbounds pass and the 6-8 sophomore from Chicago calmly made both charity tosses with 3.5 seconds on the clock. Bowie hurried down the court but the shot was short for Kilgore.
NOTES: Gym namesake John Alexander was in attendance for the final, along NFL quarterback Josh McCown, who is waiting to sign with a new team in the coming weeks.
Region XIV Championship
No. 2 Tyler JC 59, No. 9 Kilgore 56
Kilgore 30 26 — 56
Tyler 36 23 — 59
TYLER — Johnson, 0; Warren, 20; Thomas, 9; Luster, 0;Agee, 12; Jackson-Young, 7; Balentine, 5; Sandifer, 3; Bergang, 3.
THREE-POINT GOALS — KC (4 of 17) (Newton, Bowie, Grays 2), TJC (5 of 18) (Thomas 3, Agee, Balentine).
FREE THROWS — KC 12 of 15, TJC 14 of 22.
RECORDS — Kilgore 19-13, TJC 26-6.
March 6-10
John Alexander Gymnasium
Jacksonville
Tuesday (Men's First Round Games)
Game 2 — No. 12 Angelina 73, No. 5 Paris 68
Game 3 — No. 10 Lamar State-Port Arthur 65, Navarro 62, OT
Game 4 — No. 6 Panola 95, No. 11 Coastal Bend 83
Wednesday (Women's Quarterfinals)
Game 6 — No. 4 San Jacinto 56, No. 5 Angelina 50
Game 7 — No. 2 Trinity Valley 64, No. 7 Tyler 49
Game 8 — No. 3 Kilgore 71, No. 6 Blinn 63
Thursday (Men's Quarterfinals)
Game 9 — No. 9 Kilgore 81, No. 1 Trinity Valley 73
Game 10 — No. 4 Blinn 57, No. 12 Angelina 54
Game 11 — No. 2 Tyler 70, No. 10 Lamar State-Port Arthur 63
Game 12 — No. 3 San Jacinto 90, No. 6 Panola 82, OT
Friday (Women's, Men's Semifinals)
Game 13 — Women, No. 4 San Jacinto 73, No. 1 Panola 58
Game 14 — Women, No. 3 Kilgore 64, No. 2 Trinity Valley 55
Game 15 — Men, No. 9 Kilgore 63, No. 4 Blinn 60
Game 16 — Men, No. 2 Tyler 65, No. 3 San Jacinto 64
Saturday (Championships)
Game 17 — Women, No. 4 San Jacinto 66, No. 3 Kilgore 58
Game 18 — Men, No. 2 Tyler 59, No. 9 Kilgore 56