Wagstaff Holiday Classic: Tyler Lee Pulls Away From Lindale

TYLER -- When Lindale took a lead to start the fourth quarter, the game was still in the air.

Tyler Lee responded to close the gap, however, going on a late run to reclaim the lead in an eventual 61-50 victory at the Wagstaff Holiday Classic on Friday.

After Dillon Heinaman hit a 3-pointer to to give Lindale a 48-45 lead with 6:46 to go, Jaiden Pinson came back to hit a shot to bring the score within one just 10 seconds later. That was the beginning of an 11-0 run for the Red Raiders that saw them take the lead for good.

After Pinson's steal and layup with 1:19 to go to put Lee up 58-50, the game was out of Lindale's control.

"Defensively, it was a different scheme than we normally do," coach Alan Simmons said. "I thought we limited their second chance points. I thought they still got open looks and we got lucky and they didn’t hit some. We played smart down the stretch and hit our free throws, but defense is what really won the game for us.”

Lee limited Lindale's Jacob Koeshall, who scored 22 points against Burleson on Thursday, to just five points. The 3s, which were falling for the Eagles on Thursday, simply weren't Friday.

“We just made sure we were trying to run him off the line," Simmons said. "We didn’t want anybody to set their feet. We knew we had quickness on most of them probably. We were just trying to put it on the floor. They’re great shooters, but if they put it on the floor, it changes their game a little bit.”

The game was close throughout, with teams trading runs. After Lee took a 16-6 lead early in the first, Lindale closed the quarter on a 9-0 run to bring it within one. The Raiders hit several 3s in the second quarter, at one point going 6-for-8. That allowed them to pull away for a brief while, before Lindale stormed back with a run of its own to make it 34-31 at the break.

Simmons said the height and length of 7-footer Cody Collinsworth forced Lee to take more perimeter shots. It was lucky they were falling.

“The hard part is when we get an offensive rebound, (Collinsworth) changed a lot of shots," he said. "We were lucky to get some fouls early and get to the line, but he alters shots. That was our game plan because we were trying to pull him away from the basket. He didn’t come out so those shots were open. We thought he would pop out with us and he didn’t.”

Devin Johnson led Lee with 18 points. Pinson added 11 off the bench. Jamal Jones added eight points and 10 rebounds, while Matt Wade added six and 10. Heinaman and Raymond Jackson tied for the scoring lead for Lindale with nine.

Lee will face Grand Prairie at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Tyler Junior College in the championship game for the Diamond Bracket.

Cumberland Academy falls to Grand Prairie, 53-36

TYLER -- Cumberland Academy couldn't muster the offense to keep up with Grand Prairie, falling 53-36 to the Gophers on Friday in the semifinals of the Wagstaff Holiday Classic.

Caleb Watts led the Knights with 12 points, while Gregory Kennedy finished with four points, nine rebounds and six assists. Cumberland, however, was unable to stop Donald Ghostone, who finished with 21 points to lead all scorers.

Cumberland will conclude Wagstaff play at 3 p.m. Saturday against Jacksonville in classic play.