No. 11 John Tyler Girls Turn Up The Pressure + Stay Unbeaten In District With Rout Of Whitehouse

TYLER -- Three games into the District 16-5A season, the 11th-ranked John Tyler Lady Lions appear to have the total package.

Offensively, they have the ability to expose opponents from both beyond the 3-point line and at the rim. And if offenses can't handle John Tyler's intense full-court defensive pressure, opponents are in for long nights.

Whitehouse experienced everything the Lady Lions have to offer Tuesday night, as John Tyler remained unbeaten in league play with a 67-39 rout at the Lions Den.

John Tyler (21-3, 3-0) racked up 21 steals as a team, many of which led to easy transition baskets.

"That's the way we play; we try to pressure everything into our control," said John Tyler coach Mike Smith after his team's 13th consecutive win. "If we can get the game uptempo as early we can and try to get the other team halfway tired, then our pressure hurts."

The Lady Lions knocked down six 3-pointers on the night, including four before halftime, when John Tyler held a 39-20 lead. John Tyler also shared the ball offensively, assisting on 12 of its 24 field goals.

"They shot the ball well," Smith said of his team. "We've good three or four great 3-point shooters, and if they all are on, it's a beautiful thing in my eyes. Their zone gave us some problems as far as penetration, and it gave us a problem as far as not having as many putbacks as we'd like. So, we had to see if we couldn't get hot on the 3-point line or outside shooting. Fortunately, early we did. Later on we weren't as good, but they were in trouble at that point."

Ashtyn Beal led John Tyler with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. The junior guard also added four rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Destini Whitehead came off the bench and scored 16 points to go with three rebounds, two assists and six steals, while Alyssa Mayfield registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Amia Wickware added nine points, 11 rebounds, three assists and six steals, while Tameal Jones finished with nine points, three boards, three assists and six steals.

Whitehouse (13-7, 1-3), which is coached by former John Tyler standout Melanie Lane, was led by Morgan Tauscher, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds and three steals. Kelly Keller added nine points, while Madyson Wilkins chipped in with five points and eight rebounds.

Beal, Mayfield and Whitehead did all the scoring in the first quarter for John Tyler, which held a 16-8 lead after the opening period.

The Lady Lions stretched its lead to 11 points midway through the second, but a 9-0 run pushed the JT advantage to 20 points, 35-15. And Whitehouse never got closer than 19 points the rest of the way.

Both teams resume their seasons Friday night. Whitehouse plays host to Lufkin, while John Tyler travels to Corsicana.

No. 11 John Tyler 67, Whitehouse 39

District 16-5A Girls Basketball
At Lions Den, Tyler

Whitehouse            8    12      8    11    --    39
John Tyler            16    23    13    15    --    67
WHITEHOUSE (13-7, 1-3) -- Morgan Tauscher, 14; Kelly Keller, 9; Madyson Wilkins, 5; Carly Duhon, 4; Renee Dennis, 3; Lexi Gonter, 2; Cati Heredia, 2.
JOHN TYLER (21-3, 3-0) -- Ashtyn Beal, 18; Destini Whitehead, 16; Alyssa Mayfield, 11; Tameal Jones, 9; Amia Wickware, 9; Shakendra Tilley, 4.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Whitehouse: Keller. John Tyler: Beal (3), Wickware (2), Jones.