Wells’ 3-pointer helps TJC escape, 88-85
BY MIKE MONTFORT
Shahada Wells scored a game-high 34 points — including the game-winning three-pointer with :02.3 left — to rally unbeaten, sixth-ranked Tyler to an 88-85 Region XIV victory over Navarro.
Coach Grant McMillan’s Bulldogs rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit (55-39, 17:11) to wrestle the lead from the Apaches (68-67, 7:12), Navarro opened up as much as a four-point lead (74-70, 5:29).
East Zone-leading Tyler’s 16th consecutive win and eighth in league play snapped a three-game Navarro winning streak and put the Bulldogs into a three-way tie for fourth place with Panola and Bossier Parish.
The game marked the sixth consecutive Navarro-TJC contest determined by two possessions or less, and seventh in the last eight.
Wells, a sophomore guard from Amarillo, recorded his fourth 30-plus scoring game in Tyler’s five conference games since returning from the holiday break. Wells, who entered averaging 8.4 points, now has games of 36 against Angelina, 32 against Coastal Bend, 35 against Jacksonville and 34 against Navarro — all since January 3.
Wells scored the first eight points of the second half as TJC expanded a 43-37 lead into a 14-point gap. In addition to hitting the game-winning shot, he was credited with a controversial, game-tying bucket (85-85) on a basket interference ruling with 0:46.3 remaining.
German Kasanzi piloted Navarro’s comeback with 23 total points — featuring a barrage of seven three-pointers.
The Bulldogs, after an open date Wednesday, travel to Paris for a 4 pm Saturday, Jan. 25 against the Dragons at The Hunt Center. Navarro basketball’s next home game will be Jan. 29 when Kilgore comes to the Wolens SEC.
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SCORE BY HALVES
Tyler………43….45 — 88
Navarro…..37…48 — 85
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TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
Conference Games | Saturday, January 18
REGION XIV
Tyler 88, Navarro 85
Kilgore 87, Panola 73
Bossier Parish 83, Paris 79
Blinn 97, Jacksonville 83
Lamar State-Port Arthur 105, Victoria 57
Lee 82, Coastal Bend 64
REGION V NTJCAC
Ranger 74, Hill 51
Weatherford 98, Grayson 78
Collin 94, Southwestern Christian 66