John Tyler Keeps It Rolling With 57-47 Win Over Corsicana; Lady Lions Close Regular Season With Rout

TYLER -- After struggling for most of the first half, the John Tyler Lions eventually put it together and pulled away for their fourth straight win.

Tyus Bowser had 17 points, four rebounds and two steals to lead John Tyler to a 57-47 win over Corsicana on Friday night at the Lions Den.

The Lions (12-14, 6-2 in District 16-4A) win avenged an earlier loss to Corsicana (21-9, 3-5) that occurred without four key players who were on official college football recruiting visits.

John Tyler held just a 21-17 lead at halftime, but outscored the Tigers 16-8 in the third quarter to create some breathing room.

"They were in that 1-1-3 zone that we knew they were going to run, and we just shared the ball a lot more in the second half," JT coach Cedeno Clark said. "We picked our spots in the zone and we got some open shots and made some baskets."

Isaac Warren added 12 points and six steals, while Greg Ward registered nine points, four boards and four assists for the Lions.

Jamaal Evans and Mike Lewis had 12 points apiece to spark Corsicana.

The Lions came out firing in the second half with Warren burying back-to-back 3-pointers off assists from Ward, who later added a pair of free throws in an 8-0 run that pushed the Lions' lead to 29-17.

Bowser had consecutive buckets to push JT's lead to 48-30 early in the fourth. The Lions' lead eventually swelled to 19, before the Tigers closed the game on a 13-4 run.

"They're just buying into what we're doing," Clark said. "We're not playing our best basketball, and that's kind of a good thing and a bad thing. We're just trying to play our best basketball at this point in the season."

John Tyler's only other district loss came against 10th-ranked Jacksonville, which the Lions play at home next Tuesday to close out the regular season. But right now, Clark said the focus is on JT's opponent on Friday.

"We're going to take it one game at a time," he said. "We can't worry about Jacksonville, they're on down the road. We're worried about Lindale right now, which is a tough team that we have to prepare against."

Lady Lions Finish Regular Season With Win

Tiaka Lee had 20 points, five rebounds and two steals to lead John Tyler past Corsicana, 56-33, earlier on Tuesday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Tameal Jones added 17 points and three assists for John Tyler (22-10, 7-3), which will face the loser between Friday's game between Red Oak and Mansfield Summit in the first round of the playoffs. The Class 4A Region II bi-district playoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wills Point.

"Since we got beat by Whitehouse a month ago, we've won (six straight) games," John Tyler coach Mike Smith said. "This is the time of year you want to be getting better, and they've done that. After the last time we got beat, they re-dedicated themselves, they've been a lot more determined and played a lot harder. We're going to give them all we have; there are going to be some good teams in the playoffs and we're going to have to play very well."

It was the final home game for three JT seniors -- Lee, Nola Jackson and Quaneshia Johnson.

"You always want to finish your last ballgame at home with a win," Smith said. "Those seniors have done everything great for the Lady Lion program. For them to get to go out with a win was extra special."

Erica Melendez led Corsicana (15-18, 1-9) with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.

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District 16-4A Boys
At Lions Den, Tyler
John Tyler 57, Corsicana 47

Corsicana                    7   10    8   22   --   47
John Tyler                  11   10  16   20   --   57
CORSICANA--Jamaal Evans, 12; Mike Lewis, 12; Dzifa Mallet, 7; Ernest McGhee, 4; Raphael Watts, 3; Tedrick Wilson, 3; Lathan Carter, 2; Alonzo Gipson, 2; Danair Martin, 2.
JOHN TYLER--Tyus Bowser, 17; Isaac Warren, 12; Greg Ward, 9; Jordan Caldwell, 5; Fred Ross, 5; William Vaughn, 3; Darion Flowers, 2; Elliot Hart, 2; Hennessey Lampkin, 2.
RECORDS--Corsicana 21-9 (3-5); John Tyler 12-14 (6-2).

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District 16-4A Girls
At Lions Den, Tyler
John Tyler 56, Corsicana 33

Corsicana                   5   10    6   12   --   33
John Tyler                 12   10   13  21   --   56
CORSICANA--Erica Melendez, 8; Destini Lunsford, 6; Calae Wilson, 5; Alexis Baston, 4; Galinda Davis, 4; Briana Blitz, 2; Shamara Taylor, 2; Tamera White, 2.
JOHN TYLER--Tiaka Lee, 20; Tameal Jones, 17; Amia Wickware, 5; Nola Jackson, 4; Quaneshia Johnson, 4; Ashtyn Beal, 2; DeDe Rouege, 2; Kayla Webb, 2.
RECORDS--Corsicana 15-18 (1-9); John Tyler 22-10 (7-3).