Apaches fall to Barton at NJCAA tournament
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Apaches were greeted with temperatures in the 30s Monday morning and their shooting wasn't much better.
After shooting closer to 50 percent than 30 percent all season, TJC was as cold as a north wind gust across the Kansas wheat fields. Tyler Junior College had a cold-shooting morning, hitting a frigid 30 percent, en route to an 86-63 loss to Barton (Kansas) Community College in the NJCAA Division I National Basketball Tournament at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
"Hats off to Barton and their fans. They came out when a lot of people would still be in bed on a morning like this," TJC coach Mike Marquis said of the 10 a.m. start.
Marquis said his team just didn't shoot well and Barton shot nearly 50 percent at 47.1.
The No. 16 seed Cougars (28-6) advance to play No. 1 Indian Hills (Iowa) at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
TJC, seeded No. 17, ends its season at 26-7.
It did not help matters that point guard Brian Warren twisted his ankle in the first half and guard Desmond Balentine still had the lingering effects from his ankle sprain from two weeks ago.
"Brian has been a great leader for us the last two years," Marquis said. " Brian and Dez have been terrific together. They have been such a key to our success this past two years.
"I'm proud of the five sophomores (Warren, Balentine, TiAndre Jackson-Young, Tajuan Agee, Trenton Sandifer). They helped us win 50 games in two seasons and that is tough to accomplish in our league (Region XIV)."
Warren, a 5-11 point guard from Indianapolis, still hit for 12 points, but he picked up two fouls along with the sprain in the first half. The normal 50 percent shooter was just 4 of 16.
Freshman Micah Thomas led Tyler with 14 points with Cameron Johnson (12) and TiAndre Jackson-Young (10) finishing in double figures.
Kawanise Wilkins led the Cougars with 21 points with Noah Webster adding 18. Barton also hit on 11 of 25 from the 3-point line.
"That was one of our better games of the season," Barton coach Craig Fletchall said. "You never know how a team will react when placed in this situation (tipping off at 10 a.m.)."
The win was extra special for Fletchall, who is a native of Hutchinson and it was also his 300th career victory at the Great Bend, Kansas, school.
Fletchall noted what a treat it is to play at the tournament and also facing a program of the tradition of TJC.
The Apaches pulled within 10 twice in the second half, 60-50 and 62-52, but could get no closer.
The second time, a steal and a 3-pointer and then another steal and a dunk put the Cougars up 67-52.
"That was a key moment if we could have gotten it under 10," Marquis said.
Fletchall added, "That was two key scores because if they get it to six or seven, you never know what happens."
For the game, TJC was 21 of 69 (30.4 percent) from the field. The Apaches were 6 of 21 (28.6 percent) from 3-point land and 15 of 25 (60 percent) from the charity stripe, all far below their season average of 43.7 (field), 34.7 (3-point) and 72.3 (free throw).
"It hurts to lose, but I'm proud of my guys," Marquis said. "We will go back to school and hit the books and do what we are supposed to do."
Rebounding was close with the Cougars grabbing 47 to TJC's 41. Johnson and Tajuan Agee led Tyler with seven each, while Marvin Cannon of Barton had 14. Warren had three assists and two steals. Thomas had four steals.
Tyler had 11 turnovers to Barton's 12.
SMOKE SIGNALS: Two years ago the Hutchinson Sports Arena was renovated so the city could keep the national tournament. It now has air conditioning, heating and extra workout areas. ... Lyle Rishel Post 68 hosts the annual tournament with some 200 American Legion volunteers hosting. ... Before the game, Marquis was presented the Region XIV Coach of the Year award from host Ron Hansen, the team's host from the American Legion. ... Three referees from Texas are calling the tournament -- Reginald Cooper of Post, Thomas Northcutt of Forney and Emmanuel Blueford of Beaumont. ... It was the 17th appearance for TJC at the tournament, tying the school with Three Rivers (Missouri) for the seventh most all-time bids. Vincennes (Indiana) leads with 33 appearances, followed by Moberly (Missouri) (27), College of Southern Idaho (25), San Jacinto (21), Hutchinson (21) and Southeastern (Iowa) (20). ... The only other Texas team joining TJC and San Jac in the top 25 is Midland at 22nd with 10 appearances. ... TJC coaching legend Floyd Wagstaff ranks second in all-time tournament wins at 29-14. Gene Bess of Three Rivers is first at 41-21.... TJC won titles in 1949 (66-64 over Hutchinson) and 1951 (93-75 over Northeast Mississippi). The Apaches finished second in 1960 (73-71 to Parsons, Kansas) and 1961 (79-66 to Pueblo, Colorado).
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NJCAA Division I National Basketball Tournament
Hutchinson Sports Arena
Hutchinson, Kan.
No. 16 Barton (Kansas) 86, No. 17 Tyler 63
Tyler 29 34 -- 63
Barton 43 43 -- 86
TYLER -- Cameron Johnson, 12; Brian Warren, 11; Lukas Bergang, 1; TiAndre Jackson-Young, 10; Trenton Sandifer, 4; Joseph Clark, 0; Isaiah Fontaine, 2; Micah Thomas, 14; Desmond Balentine, 2; Edra Luster, 3; Tajuan Agee, 4.
BARTON -- Kawanise Wilkins, 21; Elijah Ford, 14; Keshon Montague, 11; Akeem White, 4; Noah Webster, 18; Tyrell Andrews, 0; Marvin Cannon, 10; Kannen Haist, 0; Kylan Thomas, 0; Kina Dalyrimple, 6; Roy Broomfield, 2.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- TJC 6 of 21 (Warren, Jackson-Young 2, Thomas 3), BCC 11 of 25 (Wilkins 2,Ford, Montague 3, Webster 3, Dalyrimple 2).
FREE THROWS -- TJC 15 of 25, BCC 11 of 15.
RECORDS -- Tyler 26-7, Barton 28-6.