By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Bossier Parish Community College snapped a three-game losing skid with a come-from-behind 75-72 Region XIV basketball win over Tyler Junior College at the Billy Montgomery Gym Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers survived a hectic finish after trailing the Apaches by as much as 14 points 52-38 early in the second half and by 62-50 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
BPCC caught up to the Apaches in the final five minutes and led 75-72 after a pair of John Awoke free throws with 13 seconds left in the game. The Cavaliers’ Jayden Battle came up with a steal at mid-court but couldn’t convert on a dunk with seven seconds left. Jahlil Bethea retrieved the miss for Bossier Parish and was fouled with three seconds to go. Bethea missed both free throws leaving the door open for Tyler, but Sammon Johnson’s 30-foot 3-point make was ruled too late, going in after the horn sounded.
The Cavs used a 12-2 run culminated by an Awoke shot from beyond the arc to pull within 64-62 with 5:29 left in the game.
Tyler was able to maintain a lead until another Awoke 3-pointer from the corner gave BPCC a 71-70 lead with 1:23 remaining. After a Tyler free throw tied the game 71-71, Bethea gave the Cavs the lead for good 73-71 with a twisting layup in the lane with 42 seconds left. Tyler’s Hudson Anderson made one of two free throws with 15 seconds left to pull TJC within 73-72 before Awoke’s two freebies accounted for the final points.
Awoke and Nicholas Kaigler both had big second halves to lead Bossier Parish (9-12, 3-7). Awoke scored 13 of his game-high 19 points and Kaigler 13 of his 17. X-Zaevion Barnett carried the load in the first half with 11 of his 14 points coming in the first 20 minutes.
Demondre Hill led five Apaches in double figures with 13 points. Tyler (14-7, 6-5) got 12 points from Jonah Nesmith, JJ Louiden had 11 and both Johnson and Dariyus Woodson scored 10.
Bossier Parish is on the road Saturday against seventh-ranked Trinity Valley (17-4, 8-2) who fell to Kilgore 99-83 Wednesday night.
Contact Lee at lee.hiller51@gmail.com