John Tyler Girls Hold Off Whitehouse 46-43 To Remain Unbeaten In District 16-4A

WHITEHOUSE -- It wasn't easy but the John Tyler Lady Lions left Whitehouse with their perfect District 16-4A record intact.

John Tyler led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but had to hold on for dear life to capture a 46-43 victory at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday night.

The Lady Lions (17-8, 4-0) held a lead for all but 28 seconds against Whitehouse (9-10, 1-3) only to see the LadyCats have a chance to tie it with five seconds remaining. But Whitehouse was unable to get a shot away before time expired.

John Tyler's Ashtyn Beal, who finished with a game-high 17 points, sank a pair of free throws to give the Lady Lions a 42-33 lead with 2:28 remaining. But Whitehouse responded with a 7-0 run to pull within two points with 1:14 to go on the strength of baskets from Ashton Ates and Cati Heredia and a 3-pointer from Kelly Keller.

Tameal Jones banked in a layup to give the Lady Lions a 44-40 lead with 50 seconds remaining, but Ates' three-point play pulled Whitehouse to within a point at 44-43 with 38 seconds to play.

Beal connected on a free throw at the other end for a two-point JT lead, and Amia Wickware came away with a huge steal and was fouled with 16 seconds remaining. After Wickare hit 1-of-2 foul shots to increase the John Tyler lead to 46-43, Whitehouse had an errant pass sail out of bounds with 5.7 seconds showing on the clock.

Morgan Downs, however, stole in the inbounds pass but the LadyCats were unable to put up a shot before time expired.

Wickware finished the game with 11 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks for JT. Jones added nine points and six steals in the winning effort.

Whitehouse was led by Brooke Stewart, who finished with 15 points to go with six rebounds and seven steals. Ates added seven points, 13 boards and three steals, while Downs finished with seven points, five rebounds and four assists in defeat.

John Tyler was outrebounded 54-26, but made up for it by forcing Whitehouse into more than 30 turnovers. The LadyCats also struggled at the line, converting just 7 of 24 free-throw attempts.

Both teams are back in action Friday. John Tyler hosts Corsicana, while Whitehouse travels to Lindale.

John Tyler 46, Whitehouse 43

District 16-4A Girls Basketball

At Wildcat Arena, Whitehouse

John Tyler                13    9   10   14   --   46
Whitehouse                6    4   12   21   --   43
JOHN TYLER (17-8, 4-0) -- Ashtyn Beal, 17; Amia Wickware, 11; Tameal Jones, 9; Kayla Webb, 5; Daz Johnson, 2; Jermonique Ward, 2.
WHITEHOUSE (9-10, 1-3) -- Brooke Stewart, 15; Ashton Ates, 7; Morgan Downs, 7; Kelly Keller, 6; Madyson Wilkins, 4; Kaitlyn Anderson, 2; Cati Heredia, 2.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Whitehouse: Keller (2), Downs, Stewart.