John Tyler Lady Lions Take 50-43 Win Over Whitehouse + Clinch District 16-4A Title

TYLER -- John Tyler celebrated Senior Night on Friday, and before the night was through, the Lady Lions were celebrating a District 16-4A championship.

The trio of Amia Wickware, Ashtyn Beal and Tameal Jones carried John Tyler to a 50-43 win over Whitehouse at the Lions Den. That win, coupled with Corsicana's loss to Jacksonville, clinched the league title for the Lady Lions (21-9, 8-1) with one more game remaining in the regular season.

Wickware led John Tyler with 17 points to go with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Beal registered a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and came away with five of the Lady Lions' 15 steals on the night. Jones chipped in with 10 points and three steals.

Whitehouse (11-14, 2-7) was led by Kaitlyn Anderson, who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Ashton Ates, who played through foul trouble all night and did not score in the first half, ended up with seven points and 15 rebounds. Brooke Stewart added nine points in the losing effort.

The first half was defined by spurts. A 12-0 John Tyler run, which included three Wickware baskets, gave the Lady Lions a 14-6 first-quarter lead. But Whitehouse responded by ending the period with a 10-1 run -- on the strength of Anderson and Stewart -- to give the LadyCats a 16-15 lead heading into the second quarter.

Williams driving layup capped a 6-0 Whitehouse run that gave the LadyCats a 23-17 lead early in the second, but John Tyler closed the half on a 11-0 spurt and scored the second half's first six points to build a commanding 34-23 lead. Whitehouse never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

John Tyler ends its regular season Tuesday at Corsicana, while Whitehouse hosts Lindale also on Tuesday.

John Tyler 50, Whitehouse 43

District 16-4A Girls Basketball

At Lions Den, Tyler

Whitehouse               16   7   11   9   --   43
John Tyler                 15  13  10  12   --   50
WHITEHOUSE (11-14, 2-7) -- Kaitlyn Anderson, 10; Brooke Stewart, 9; Ashton Ates, 7; Amanda Dimon, 5; Cati Heredia, 4; Kelly Keller, 4; Madyson Williams, 4.
JOHN TYLER (21-9, 8-1) -- Amia Wickware, 17; Ashtyn Beal, 14; Tameal Jones, 10; Kayla Webb, 6; Kaleigh Hackett, 2; Keyana Tatum, 1.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Whitehouse: Dimon, Keller, Stewart. John Tyler: Beal.