Tyler Junior College led for the majority of Wednesday night's showdown between top 5 teams in the nation, including by 11 points with 7:54 to play.

However, Tiya Douglas caught fire from long range, and No. 4 Trinity Valley used a 15-0 run to rally for a 74-70 win over No. 5 TJC at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

"They had a few more weapons of mass destruction than we did," TJC head coach Trenia Tillis Hoard said. "They're a great ball club. They're one of the best Trinity Valley teams we've seen in a long time, because they've got size, they've got strength, and they've got kids that are going to flat out do it. I felt like our kids gave them a good shot and played them a good game."

Trinity Valley led TJC in three important categories — offensive rebounds, free-throw shooting and turnovers.

Trinity Valley had 19 offensive rebounds — eight by 6-5 freshman Taiyanna Jackson — to 14 for the Apache Ladies. The Lady Cardinals were 17 of 21 from the charity stripe, while TJC was 7 of 14 on free throws. TJC attempted just two free throws in the first half, and Trinity Valley was 10 of 11 at the line in the first 20 minutes. Trinity Valley turned the ball over 17 times. TJC had 23 turnovers — 13 in the second half.

Despite those disadvantages, the Apache Ladies controlled the scoreboard for much of the night.

A big factor in TJC jumping ahead was five first-half 3-pointers. TVCC was 0 of 5 from downtown in the first half.

The Lady Cardinals' first triple came from Douglas with 5:08 left in the third quarter. She had four more in the decisive fourth-quarter run for Trinity Valley.

"We know that she can flat out shoot," Tillis Hoard said. "She wasn't hitting at the beginning, but when it was time to take over and hit the big shots, she did it. That was the big difference."

"She's been a big contribution to this team from the 3-point line," Trinity Valley head coach Precious Ivy said. "I kept saying it's going to fall. I just had to keep her with the confidence. Shooters know that every shot is their shot, and you're only as good as your last shot. Once you see one go through, then the next one can go. She was just shooting off of pure confidence."

Up 55-51 going into the fourth quarter, the Apache Ladies opened on a 7-0 run. Felmas Koranga scored two quick baskets, and then Nyla Hemingway connected from deep to put TJC up 62-51 with less than eight minutes to play.

Curtessia Dean scored inside for the Lady Cardinals, and Douglas followed with two straight triples. Jackson then turned a steal into a reverse layup. Douglas then gave the Lady Cardinals their first led of the contest with her fourth 3-pointer of the night.

Mekayla Furman scored on a drive to put the score at 66-62 with 3:34 to play.

Trinity Valley got the lead up to 71-63 with another triple by Douglas with 1:42 on the clock.

Frankazia Boyd answered with a three of her own to cut the score to 71-66. Te'Aire Hambrick then had a steal and layup to make the score 71-68 with 1:09 remaining.

An intentional foul was called on the Apache Ladies with 33 seconds left, but Dean missed both free throws.

Hemingway then stole the inbound pass and got the ball to Kharisman Brown for a layup to make the score 71-70 with 25 seconds remaining.

Furman made two free throws with 11 seconds left as TJC had just one foul and the Lady Cardinals were able to burn 14 seconds off the clock as the Apache Ladies had to commit four more fouls to put the Lady Cardinals into the bonus.

Hambrick attempted a three for the tie with five seconds remaining, but the shot didn't fall.

Asia Strong went to the line for the Lady Cardinals with 2.1 seconds to play. She missed both free throws, but a lane violation was called on the second attempt. She then made her bonus effort to seal the victory.

"We're the No. 4 team in the country, and they're the No. 5 team in the country, so we knew it was going to be a dogfight to the end," Ivy said. "I've been here before on the opposite side, so I know the rivalry and the tension. Coming here and getting a road win is big for my team."

Wednesday was just Ivy's fourth game as the head coach of the Lady Cardinals. Gerald Ewing resigned from his position on Jan. 10. Trinity Valley is 4-0 under Ivy, who was a longtime assistant for Tillis Hoard at TJC. Ivy was recently an assistant coach at Houston Baptist before joining Trinity Valley this season.

"I love this place," Ivy said. "This is where it all started. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to come and learn under Coach Hoard. I also learned some things at my last job, and I definitely learned before Coach Ewing before I left. I just have to give honor to God, because I'm blessed to be in a good opportunity."

TJC jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead and then 15-6. Trinity Valley ended the first quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the score to 17-14.

TJC built its lead to 39-28 at halftime thanks to an 8-0 run in the second quarter and a 7-2 run to end the half.

The Apache Ladies were up 49-38 with 5:37 left in the third, but Douglas' first three helped the Lady Cardinals come back to cut the score to 55-51 at the end of the quarter.

Jackson led Trinity Valley (19-1, 8-0) with 17 points, 19 rebounds, six steals and three blocks. Dean scored 16 points. Douglas had 15 points, and Strong added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Koranga led TJC with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Hambrick and Niya McGuire had 13 points each. Brown dished out 11 assists.

(Story courtesy of Brandon Ogden/Tyler Morning Telegraph)