The Tyler Lady Lions completed their run through District 15-5A basketball with a big Senior Night win on Tuesday at the Lions Den.
Sophomore Bralyah Miller had a double double, while senior A’Niya Hartsfield and junior Kalyse Buffin were also in double figures scoring as the Lady Lions defeated Texas High, 70-45, to finish league play at 14-0.
“This accomplishment is by far one of the best moments I’ve had, but we are not done,” said Tyler first-year Coach Bobby Reynolds, whose club won its 20th consecutive game to improve to 28-9 on the season. “Our team is hungry. We are peaking at the right time. We are so excited about going into the state playoffs.”
The Lady Lions, who honored seniors A’Niya Hartsfield (President of the National Honor Society, vice-president of Student Council, currently No. 1 in her class) and Samora Hines (National Honor Society, Student Council, ranked in the top 10% of her class) before the game, will now meet District 16-5A fourth-place finisher Lufkin next week in bi-district.
Reynolds, whose club is ranked No. 11 in the state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association, said Tyler and Lufkin will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at Cushing High School.
Texas High (16-10) finishes in a tie for third in the district with Whitehouse (23-10) at 9-5, but the Ladycats, who lost to Hallsville 42-33, swept the Lady Tigers to win the tiebreaker for third and will play New Caney Porter in bi-district. Thus, Texas High is fourth and will play Huntsville in bi-district. Longview, which defeated Mount Pleasant 45-42, is scheduled to meet Nacogdoches in bi-district.
Miller hit for 24 points, including five 3-pointers, while grabbing 12 rebounds.
Hartsfield and Buffin each scored 10 points with Buffin getting eight rebounds and Hartsfield seven boards. Also, Hartsfield had three steals and Buffin had a block.
Others scoring for the Lady Lions were LaTajia Hambrick (6), Jer’Miya Rice (6), Bra’Shia Miller (6), Ma’Kayla Taylor (6) and Amori Gee (2).
Hambrick connected on two 3-pointers with one each from Hartsfield and Rice.
Taylor added six rebounds with Hambrick grabbing five.
Taryne Stiger, 5-10 sophomore, led the Lady Tigers (16-10, 9-5) with 27 points. She also had seven rebounds.
Others scoring for Texas High were Ke’Aria Antwine (7), Alyssa Porter (5), Anasia Wilcox (4) and Sereniti Collins (2).
Porter had seven rebounds.
The Lady Lions were 9 of 15 at the free throw line and 9 of 26 from 3-point.
The Lady Tigers were 9 of 21 at the free throw line and 6 of 18 from 3-point.