TJC men win on last-second 3-pointer
Kwinton Hinson knocked down a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining and Eden Ewing had a double-double as Tyler Junior College defeated Highway 31 rival Navarro College, 54-51, on Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
"We ran a good play and Ronnie (Stacy) made a good pass and when it left my hands I knew it was in," said Hinson, a 6-4 freshman guard from Fairmont, North Carolina. "… we are starting to play well. We started off slow (at the beginning of Region XIV) but we are starting to play well together."
Stacy, the Apaches' point guard, led the way with 15 points, while Ewing had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Hinson had 12 points.
It was the Apaches' second straight win as they improve to 14-9 on the season and 6-9 in Region XIV.
The Bulldogs (13-11, 9-5) were led by D'Angelo Hall and Calvin Anderson, who each had 11 points.
It was technically Navarro's second loss on the court in Region XIV play. The Bulldogs had to forfeit three games due to an ineligible player. One of those forfeits was against TJC on Jan. 13.
"I really didn't know if Kwinton would be able to play," TJC coach Mike Marquis said. "He was coming off a badly sprained ankle against Bossier (Parish on Saturday). But then Jaqwan (McCauley) got in foul trouble.
"I was really proud of our defense. We continue to play good defense."
TJC took the lead late in the game when Hinson's pass to Brandon Simmons resulted in a dunk and an Apache lead of 51-49 with 2:10 to go.
Navarro tied the game at 51-51 when Keir Anderson hit two free throws with 1:13 on the clock.
TJC's Darryl Stewart missed a 3-pointer that Hinson rebounded but threw away with 44 seconds remaining.
After that Hinson made a crucial play with 14.5 seconds showing when he stole the ball.
TJC called a timeout with 8.1 seconds showing and Marquis drew up the play.
After NC coach Michael Landers called a timeout, the Bulldogs brought the ball up court only for Stewart to force Anderson into a turnover near midcourt with .6 seconds left.
Aston Francis inbounded the ball to Ewing and the Apaches had the win.
TJC plays host to No. 1 Trinity Valley at 4 p.m. Saturday. The women's teams play at 2 p.m.
In other Region XIV men's games, Trinity Valley downed Panola, 95-75; Kilgore defeated Bossier Parish, 74-48; Lee edged Blinn, 79-77; and Angelina toppled Coastal Bend, 96-73.
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Region XIV Men
Tyler Junior College 54,
Navarro College 51
Navarro 19 32 - 51
Tyler 28 26 - 54
NAVARRO-D'Angelo Hunter, 11; Tyler Whitehead, 9; Keir Anderson, 2; Saint Hilaire, 6; Jamar Martin, 2; Conrad Chambers, 0; My'Quan Gooding, 0; Kaelin Love, 0; Cameron King, 0; Calvin Anderson, 11; Neek Makoro 5; Eric McCallom, 5.
TYLER-Jaqwan McCauley, 2; Darvin Johnson, 0; Kwinton Hinson, 12; TJ Thomas, 5; Ronnie Stacy, 15; Aston Francis, 3; Ajou Deng, 0; Darryl Stewart, 3; Eden Ewing 12, Brandon Simmons, 2.
THREE POINT GOALS-NC: Hunter, Anderson (3), Makoro. TJC: Hinson (2), Francis.
RECORDS-Navarro 13-11 (9-5), Tyler 14-9 (6-9).
NEXT UP-Bossier Parish at Navarro, 4 p.m. Saturday; Trinity Valley at Tyler, 4 p.m. Saturday.