Longview Pulls Away From Tyler Lee Late For 51-37 Victory

LONGVIEW -- To be in sole possession of second place in District 12-5A on Wednesday, the Longview Lobos had to do one thing: beat Tyler Lee on Tuesday.

Behind a 24-point fourth quarter and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, Longview did just that, defeating Tyler Lee, 51-37, at Lobo Coliseum.

Longview (17-12, 7-2) led by three to start the fourth quarter and exploded for 24 points in the final stanza, including a 14-of-20 performance from the free throw line.

The Lobos' Zaycoven Henderson scored the first six points of the fourth, and when Dorian Leonard found Cadell Williams for the bucket in the lane, it capped a 10-0 run and Longview led, 37-26. Henderson had a game-high 15 points and six rebounds. Williams and Jordan Whitaker each had 12 points, and Leonard added seven boards.

"This gives us a little bit of distance between us and Lee," said Longview coach Billy Goffney. "It keeps us in the district championship hunt, so it was definitely big for us. Historically, free throws are something we've struggled with. We put the time in to get it done. It's a testament to guys staying calm and focused. Free throws win or lose ballgames, and they won it for us tonight."

Down 11 with 2:46 remaining, Tyler Lee (18-9, 5-4) made its final push. Taylor Tankersley hit four free throws, and after Longview's Jaleel Bourque hit one of two from the charity stripe, Lee's Caleb Johnston finished strong at the hoop to get Lee within six, 38-32.

Lee never got any closer.

Longview led by as much as 14, opening the game on a 19-5 run that spanned the entire first quarter and almost three minutes of the second. But Lee fought back.

Lee's Luke Derfus drained a three-pointer to start a 10-2 run. After a Jared Williams left-handed layup, Tankersley added a mid-range jumper, then grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled. He sank both free-throws, and Lee trimmed the margin to six, 21-15, heading into halftime.

Tankersley led Tyler Lee with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals. Johnston and Tucker Boyd combined for 12 points, while Boyd tallied four assists and Johnston notched nine boards.

"We want to go into the playoffs playing well, and to beat a good team like Lee definitely does that," Goffney said.

District 12-5A continues Friday when Longview travels to North Mesquite and Lee plays host to Mesquite Horn.