TYLER -- John Tyler's full-court defensive pressure and hot outside shooting helped the Lady Lions roll past crosstown rival Tyler Lee, 80-39, Tuesday afternoon at Tyler Junior College's Wagstaff Gymnasium.

The Lady Lions (3-2) scored the game's first nine points and led 17-6 after the opening quarter thanks to a trio of steals and 3-pointers, which was a common theme throughout. JT registered 22 steals and seven treys for the game.

"Our strength is our quickness," said John Tyler coach Mike Smith. "We're tiny when we line up and get out there, but I'm real pleased with the ball handling. The intense defense that we've been showing lately is what we're trying to get to."

Tyler Lee's Tree Brooks (right) slaps the ball away from John Tyler's Quaneshia Johnson during their game Tuesday. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Tyler Lee's Tree Brooks (right) slaps the ball away from John Tyler's Quaneshia Johnson during their game Tuesday. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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Tiaka Lee led John Tyler with 22 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Quaneshia Johnson added 11 points, Nola Jackson provided 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals and Amia Wickware filled the stat sheet with 10 points, six boards and a team-high five steals.

"I was real proud of the effort," Smith said. "Every time we match up with Lee, everybody's going to give everything they've got. Our kids came ready to play. It's a level of intensity we wish we could carry over to all our ballgames."

DaJah Thompson sparked the Lady Raiders with nine points and seven rebounds. Tree Brooks had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.

Tyler Lee struggled all afternoon on the offensive end, failing to connect from long range and making just 11 of 31 three-throw attempts.

Johnson swished a 3-pointer during JT's 9-0 to begin the game. Johnson and Tameal Jones added another pair of shots from long range to help JT open up an 11-point lead after one.

The Lady Lions then put the game out of reach with a 9-0 run late in the second quarter and led 41-19 after one half, making five of their seven 3-pointers before halftime.

"We really got some good outside shooters," Smith said. "Sometimes you miss those shots, but this time we were making them and we did a good job."

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John Tyler 80, Tyler Lee 39
At TJC's Wagstaff Gymnasium
Tyler Lee              6   13   12    8   --   39
John Tyler           17   24   17   22  --   80
TYLER LEE--DaJah Thompson, 9; Tree Brooks, 8; Dominique Thomas, 8; Erin Brinkley, 6; Emem David, 4; Kelcee Dews, 2; Berjae Lewis, 2.
JOHN TYLER--Tiaka Lee, 22; Nola Jackson, 11; Quaneshia Johnson, 11; Amia Wickware, 10; Tameal Jones, 9; Ashtyn Beal, 8; DeDe Rouge, 5; Keyana Tatum, 3; Kayla Webb, 1.
THREE-POINT GOALS--JT: Lee (3), Johnson (2), Jackson, Jones.
RECORDS--John Tyler 3-2; Tyler Lee 3-7.
NEXT UP--John Tyler at Dallas Skyline, Monday; Tyler vs. Lufkin, Tuesday (at John Tyler).

John Tyler's Ashtyn Beal (10) and Tyler Lee's Erin Brinkley (21) battle for the ball during their game Tuesday in Tyler. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
John Tyler's Ashtyn Beal (10) and Tyler Lee's Erin Brinkley (21) battle for the ball during their game Tuesday in Tyler. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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