The Teague Lions had a couple of close games but survived with wins over Rice and Hearne to move into the third round of the Region III playoffs.
The Lions faced the Rice Bulldogs on Tuesday night at Corsicana High School and opened up a big lead and had to hang on in the final seconds.
Teague got a three pointer from Mychal Shed and another from Kaigne Pillette (left) and built a 10-3 lead and forced Rice to call a timeout.
Tyrese Heard scored on a pair of fast break baskets and Donovynn Smith added a three pointer for a 20 point period and doubled the score from Rice and Teague led 20-10 after one.
The Lions opened up a 17 point lead with scores from Heard, Keshawn Rice and Shed.
They hit five of their first seven from the field and held a commanding lead.
At the mid-point of the second period, Rice leading scorer Tre Jessie hit a three pointer and was held to nine first half points and the Lions maintained a double digit lead at 37-21.
Rice hit their first four shots from the field and they took the Lions out of their game and doubled the score in the third period and cut eight points off the lead.
Jessie scored seven in the period and they cut the Teague lead to 45-37.
The Bulldogs continued their hot second half shooting (11-22) and took the lead with just over two minutes to play.
Heard scored the last nine points of the game, including hitting the game winner with 2.3 seconds remaining in the game and the held off the Rice Bulldogs 58-56.
Heard scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Shed added 11 but the Bulldogs held Keshawn Rice to only eight on the night. Jessie scored 30 to lead all scorers.
The Lions next opponent was the Hearne Eagles and the game was set for The Highlands on the campus of McLennan Community College.
The pace of the game became up tempo from the opening tip and no team opened a lead larger than four in the first half.
Teague hit four of their first six from the field with Pillette on a three pointer and a short jumper. He added three more scores in the first period with 11 points.
Hearne held off the surging Lions with a three pointer by Cedrion Golden and six points by Javareyon Bailey. Hearne led 20-19 at the end of one.
Teague kept the intense pace and took the lead a couple of times in the second period. Heard scored twice and Shed hit a three pointer from the top of the key.
Bailey scored six point and the Eagles regained the lead. Teague led 34-30 but an 8-0 run put the Eagles on top 38-34 at the half.
The Lions began with a hot start to open the second half. They hit seven of their first nine shots and 10-19 for the period.
Rice began to heat up with ten in the third period and the Lions took the lead in the third. Heard scored twice and held off a rally and the Lions clung to a 56-55 lead.
Heard and Rice stopped any run that Hearne put up in the fourth period. Bailey finished with 24 points but the Lions hit four of five free throws.
Rice added eight points and finished with 21 for the game. Teague won the game 74-68 and will advance to the Region III quarterfinal.
Teague advances to take on the top-ranked Jarrell Cougars on Tuesday night at University High School in Waco. Game time is set for a 7:00 p.m. start.
FIGHTING FOR THE REBOUND is Teague Lion’s Tayvis Coleman. (above)
(Photos by Melissa Lee)
