Box Score BY MIKE MONTFORT
TYLER -- It happened again Saturday.
Navarro and Tyler have played games decided by two possessions or less 8 of the last 9 times they've met. The total eight-game differential between the clubs: 24 points. Four games were decided by two points, and another one, by three. The Apaches have won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
TJC emerged from Saturday's Region XIV war with a 54-49 win over Navarro, sending the Bulldogs to their third consecutive conference loss of six points or less. The frustrated Bulldogs that began as the NJCAA's Preseason No. 11 team now find themselves spiraling into the second division -- three games behind unbeaten, league-leading Blinn.
The Apaches, which won their third straight, got key play from Scottie Turner, Enoch Fatade and Cody Collingsworth down the stretch to hold off an NC team that shot only 28 percent from the floor, including 2-of-10 beyond the arc.
Turner finished with 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, but tallied 12 of his points during the second half.
Collinsworth had five points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. All three blocks occurred during the final seven minutes of play.
TJC led 45-39 midway through the second half before
Drue Drinnon knocked down a three, and
Brian Washington scored inside to cut the score to 45-44.
Turner then scored five straight points for TJC to make the score 50-44 with 6:59 to play. That's when Collinsworth blocked three straight shots in the next minute.
Navarro later got two free throws from Drinnon and a layup by
Jules Moor to cut the score to 50-48.
NC next will host the Paris Dragons in a 7 pm Wednesday Region XIV conference game on Lewis Orr Court at Wolens Special Events Center.
Paris, coached for a second term by Bill Foy, comes to Corsicana in a two-game tailspin that includes losses to Kilgore and Blinn.
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SCORE BY HALVES:
NAVARRO..................30.....19 -- 49
TYLER.......................29.....25 -- 54
TYLER (54):
REBOUNDS: NC -- 41 (11 / 30). Mawein 10, Washington 10, Doumbia 6, Moor 5, Drinnon 3, Manuel 2, Harrison 2, Egbuta 2, Abraham 1.
ASSISTS: NC -- 11. Drinnon 3, Abraham 2, Washington 2, Mawein 2, Harrison 1, Egbuta 1.
STEALS: NC -- 9. Harrison 3, Mawein 2, Washington 1, Drinnon 1, Abraham 1, Manuel 1.
BLOCKED SHOTS: NC -- 4. Washington 2, Doumbia 2.
TOTAL FOULS: NC -- 14
FOUL OUT: NC -- None.
SATURDAY'S JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
REGION XIV (Conference Games)
Lamar State-Port Arthur 81, Victoria 72
Bossier Parish 77, Coastal Bend 73
Tyler 54, Navarro 49
Blinn 79, Paris 68
Kilgore 74, Panola 67
TVCC 100, Jacksonville 77
REGION V (Non-Conference Games)
Temple 139, Our Lady Of The Lake JV 86
DFW Prep at Hill, 1 pm
Collin 118, Texas Wesleyan JV 65
Howard 78, Weatherford 69
Garden City CC, Ks., 86, Clarendon 81
Grayson 124, Tribulation Prep 55
Frank Phillips 91, CT Prep 86
NMMI v Ranger at Odessa -- Cancelled
First games of the season for Temple and Howard....First win for new Temple head coach Clifton Ellis.....Chapparal Classic at Midland was scheduled for the weekend, but cancelled.
REGION XIV STANDINGS
After Games January 30
Team...................W-L
Blinn.....................4-0
Kilgore..................3-1
Panola...................3-1
TVCC.....................3-1
Tyler......................3-1
Paris......................2-2
BPCC.....................2-2
Lamar State............2-2
Navarro..................1-3
Victoria...................1-3
Coastal Bend...........0-4
Jacksonville.............0-4
