Tyler Lee Uses Fast Start To Blow Past Whitehouse On First Day Of Wagstaff Holiday Classic

TYLER -- The first day of the Wagstaff Holiday Classic concluded with perhaps Monday's most anticipated matchup, but a lopsided opening quarter sucked all the drama right out of the building.

The Tyler Lee Red Raiders scored 23 first-period points en route to a convincing 68-45 win over Whitehouse at Tyler Junior College's Wagstaff Gymnasium, bringing an end to the first of three, eight-game days at the annual event.

Lee will face Liberty-Eylau, which earned a 58-44 decision over Kilgore earlier in the day, at 7 p.m. Tuesday with the winner advancing to Wednesday's Platinum Bracket championship game. Whitehouse, meanwhile, takes on Palestine at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Whitehouse's Javier Neal drives for a layup during the Wildcats' 68-45 loss to Tyler Lee during Monday's action at the Wagstaff Holiday Classic in Tyler. (Mark Martin, ETSN.fm)

Red Raiders junior guard Jordan Berry finished with a team-high 13 points, which included three 3-pointers -- all coming in Lee's dominant first quarter, which ended with the Red Raiders holding a 23-7 lead.

Lee 6-8 senior forward Garrett Thibodeaux, an Air Force signee, added 12 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Red Raiders, who defeated Whitehouse for the second time this month.

Isjuwan Barker had eight points, six assists -- five in the first quarter -- and two steals in the winning effort. Rico Major chipped in with eight points, while Zach Hall added seven points and five assists as well.

Whitehouse struggled to find a rhythm all night long, failing to produce a scorer in double digits. Ryan Walls led the Wildcats with nine points on three 3-pointers, Mason House had seven points and four rebounds, while Trent Williams and Isiah Clark finished with six points apiece in the loss.

Lee took control with a 14-1 run to end the first quarter. Barker began the spurt with a basket off an assist from Berry, before Barker returned the favor by assisting on Berry's next three shots -- two 3's and a driving layup, which pushed Lee's lead to 19-6.

Barker assisted Thibodeaux underneath the basket, then Berry nailed a jumper to finish off the quarter for the Red Raiders, who led by as much 20 in the first half.

Lindale Pulls Away From Brook Hill

The Lindale Eagles used an 8-0 run to begin the fourth quarter, which helped them pull away for a 61-57 win over Bullard Brook Hill.

Lindale will face All Saints at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday with the winner advancing to Wednesday's Platinum Bracket championship game. Brook Hill meets Kilgore at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Dietrich Fry had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Laettner Greenhill added 14 points, three boards and two steals to lead Lindale's attack. Jordan Gray chipped in with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

Brook Hill was led in defeat by Grant Hanks, who finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Alex Hale had 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Chase McDermott registered 13 points and four rebounds for the Guard.

With the game even at 37-37 to begin the fourth, Lindale rattled off eight consecutive points in a little more than a minute to take control. De Jackson, Terrell Cooper, Gray and Fry each had buckets during the crucial stretch for the Eagles, whose lead remained at least five points until the closing seconds.

All Saints Too Much For Palestine

Tyler All Saints senior Aston Francis had the hot shooting touch, leading the Trojans to an easy 72-57 win over Palestine earlier on Monday.

Francis finished with 32 points, which included four 3-pointers, to go along with seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. The 6-0 guard had 24 points by halftime, and at one point in the second quarter, scored 12 consecutive points for the Trojans.

Jaired Maddox added 13 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists, while Sean Phillips and Clayton Smith chipped in with 10 points apiece in the winning effort.

Palestine had three players reach double figures in scoring. Gee Clark led the way with 13 points to go with three rebounds and three steals. Vay Davis added 12 points and four boards, while Kevin Parish finished with 11 points, two assists and two steals in the losing cause.

The Wildcats closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run to trim the All Saints lead to 18-13, but the Trojans took complete control by outscoring Palestine, 24-6, in the second quarter for a 42-19 halftime advantage.

Tyler Lee's Zach Hall puts up a floating jump shot during the Red Raiders' 68-45 win over Whitehouse during Monday's action at the Wagstaff Holiday Classic in Tyler. (Mark Martin, ETSN.fm)

Wagstaff Holiday Classic

MONDAY'S FEATURED BOX SCORES

Tyler Lee 68, Whitehouse 45

Whitehouse 7 12 10 16 -- 45
Tyler Lee 23 12 19 14 -- 68
WHITEHOUSE -- Ryan Walls, 9; Mason House, 7; Isiah Clark, 6; Trent Williams, 6; Landry Mayo, 5; Ashton Melton, 4; Javier Neal, 4; Dominique Hollie, 3; Collin Bullard, 1.
TYLER LEE -- Jordan Berry, 13; Garrett Thibodeaux, 12; Isjuwan Barker, 8; Rico Major, 8; Zach Hall, 7; John Davis, 5; Jogene Aguilar, 4; Tra Caldwell, 4; Thomas Nance, 4; Jordan Devers, 3.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Whitehouse: Walls (3), Mayo, Williams. Tyler Lee: Berry (3), Barker, Devers.

Lindale 61, Bullard Brook Hill 57

Brook Hill 7 17 13 20 -- 57
Lindale 13 17 7 24 -- 61
BROOK HILL -- Grant Hanks, 19; Alex Hale, 14; Chase McDermott, 13; Phillip Kitt, 8; Colton Adams, 3.
LINDALE -- Dietrich Fry, 14; Laettner Greenhill, 14; Jordan Gray, 9; Terrell Cooper, 8; Kale Ridge, 6; Kolton Pierce, 4; Garrett Sir Louis, 4; De Jackson, 2.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Brook Hill: Kitt (2), Adams, Hale, Hanks. Lindale: Greenhill (3), Fry (2), Gray.

Tyler All Saints 72, Palestine 57

Palestine 13 6 19 19 -- 57
Tyler All Saints 18 24 16 14 -- 72
PALESTINE -- Gee Clark, 13; Vay Davis, 12; Kevin Parish, 11; Keelan Yarbrough, 7; Dakendrick McMorris, 5; Kobe Brown, 4; Devonte Mims, 3; Forrester Polk, 2.
ALL SAINTS -- Aston Francis, 32; Jaired Maddox, 13; Sean Phillips, 10; Clayton Smith, 10; Luke Lee, 4; Matthew Brunson, 2; Chris Williams, 1.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Palestine: Clark, Parish, Yarbrough. All Saints: Francis (4), Phillips, Smith.

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Wagstaff Holiday Classic

Monday-Wednesday
At Tyler JC's Wagstaff Gymnasium

MONDAY'S RESULTS

Game 1 -- Van 65, Tyler King's Academy 29
Game 2 -- Brownsboro 83, Athens 82 (OT)
Game 3 -- Bullard 50, Tyler Bishop Gorman 42
Game 4 -- Chapel Hill 57, Tyler Grace 54
Game 5 -- Liberty-Eylau 58, Kilgore 44
Game 6 -- Tyler All Saints 72, Palestine 57
Game 7 -- Lindale 61, Bullard Brook Hill 57
Game 8 -- Tyler Lee 68, Whitehouse 45

TUESDAY'S GAMES

Game 9 (Apache Bracket) -- Bullard vs. Brownsboro, 8 a.m.
Game 10 (Apache Bracket) -- Tyler Grace vs. Tyler King's Academy, 9:30 a.m.
Game 11 (Gold Bracket) -- Chapel Hill vs. Tyler Bishop Gorman, 11 a.m.
Game 12 (Gold Bracket) -- Van vs. Athens, 12:30 p.m.
Game 13 (Diamond Bracket) -- Bullard Brook Hill vs. Kilgore, 2 p.m.
Game 14 (Diamond Bracket) -- Whitehouse vs. Palestine, 5:30 p.m.
Game 15 (Platinum Bracket) -- Tyler Lee vs. Liberty-Eylau, 7 p.m.
Game 16 (Platinum Bracket) -- Tyler All Saints vs. Lindale, 8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY'S GAMES

Game 17 (Apache Bracket consolation) -- Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser, 9 a.m.
Game 18 (Gold Bracket consolation) -- Game 11 loser vs. Game 12 loser, 10:30 a.m.
Game 19 (Diamond Bracket consolation) -- Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 loser, noon
Game 20 (Platinum Bracket consolation) -- Game 15 loser vs. Game 16 loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 21 (Apache Bracket championship) -- Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 22 (Gold Bracket championship) -- Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 23 (Diamond Bracket championship) -- Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 7 p.m.
Game 24 (Platinum Bracket championship) -- Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 8:30 p.m.