TYLER -- The John Tyler Lions struggled for much of the season's first month, trying to make due without the services of a few key components who were still involved in the football playoffs.

Football season may have ended a week shorter than some had hoped, but it appears the basketball season has just begun for the Lions, who went 3-0 this weekend at the Wagstaff Holiday Classic behind the stellar play of senior post Tyus Bowser, a star defensive end for the football team.

Bowser recorded his third double-double in as many nights with 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Lions to 61-39 victory over Terrell on Saturday evening in Apache Bracket competition.

Terrell actually led 29-26 at halftime, but JT went on the attack in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 21-4 to take a 47-33 lead into the fourth. The Lions went on runs of 11-0 and 16-0 in the second half to put an exclamation point on a dominant weekend for JT, which won its three games in the tournament by an average of 18.7 points.

Bowser had a huge imprint on all three victories, averaging 23 points per game over the three-day event.

Keaunte Humber added 11 points and three boards for the Lions.

Terrell was led by Montravious Davis, who had 18 points -- all in the second half. The Tigers managed just 10 second-half points as a team.

John Tyler (6-11) returns to action Friday at Dallas Madison before opening District 16-4A play at Nacogdoches on Jan. 11.

Patrick Mahomes Leads Whitehouse to Rout of Bullard

Junior guard Patrick Mahomes scored a game-high 29 points and added seven rebounds and four steals in Whitehouse's 75-57 win over Bullard on Saturday.

Whitehouse went 2-1 over the weekend, its only loss coming to North Forney on Friday. Bullard, meanwhile, went winless with losses to Lindale, John Tyler and Whitehouse.

Bullard's Scott Lowrie goes up for a shot with Whitehouse's Ryan Cheatham in close pursuit during their game Saturday at the Wagstaff Holiday Classic in Tyler. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Bullard's Scott Lowrie goes up for a shot with Whitehouse's Ryan Cheatham in close pursuit during their game Saturday at the Wagstaff Holiday Classic in Tyler. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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Spencer Shaw added 15 points, three rebounds and three steals for Whitehouse, while point guard Jake Parker did a little bit of everything with six points, 10 boards, four assists and three blocks.

Whitehouse broke open a tight game with a big second quarter. The Wildcats went on a 14-4 run to begin the period, thanks to 10 points from Mahomes that pushed Whitehouse's lead to 29-17.

The Wildcats then closed the half on a 10-2 spurt to build a 13-point halftime lead. Mahomes had two more buckets and Chris Kunzman added a pair of his own during the stretch.

Bullard was led by Scott Lowrie's 20 points. Teammate Corbin Howard added 11 in the losing effort.

Whitehouse returns to action Friday at Hallsville, while Bullard returns to District 16-3A action Friday at Gladewater.

North Forney Finishes Wagstaff Strong With Defeat of Lindale

Roy Neugent had 15 points and five rebounds to lead the North Forney Falcons to a 50-40 win over Lindale on Saturday.

North Forney, after dropping its tourney opener to John Tyler on Thursday, finished with back-to-back wins over area powers Whitehouse and Lindale.

Michael Woods added nine points, five boards and four steals for the Falcons. Alec Harris added eight points and four rebounds in the win.

Lindale was led by Mason Terry, who finished with nine points and three steals. Brian Boaz added five points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks.

The Eagles return to the hardwood Thursday at home against Mount Pleasant.

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Wagstaff Holiday Classic
Apache Bracket
Saturday's Boxes

North Forney 50, Lindale 40
North Forney 10 17 12 11 -- 50
Lindale 7 9 14 10 -- 40
NORTH FORNEY--Roy Neugent, 15; Michael Woods, 9; Alec Harris, 8; Hunter Hartley, 6; Armani Watts, 6; Breylon Jordan, 3; Jabari Ottun, 3.
LINDALE--Mason Terry, 9; Court Brown, 8; Austin Drawbound, 7; Garrett Sir Louis, 6; Brian Boaz, 5; Jacob Capo, 3; Dakota Heinaman, 2.

John Tyler 61, Terrell 39
Terrell 15 14 4 6 -- 39
John Tyler 14 12 21 14 -- 61
TERRELL--Montravious Davis, 18; Quincy Jackson, 6; Emmann Lewis, 6; Chris Jones, 5; Keyante Harris, 2; Sylvester Williams, 2.
JOHN TYLER--Tyus Bowser, 19; Keaunte Humber, 11; Isaac Warren, 9; Jordan Caldwell, 8; Jacob Owens-Bush, 4; William Vaughn, 4; Rodney Bendy, 2; J'Michael Jasper, 2; Hennessey Lampkin, 2.

Whitehouse 75, Bullard 57
Bullard 13 13 16 15 -- 57
Whitehouse 15 24 17 19 -- 75
BULLARD--Scott Lowrie, 20; Corbin Howard, 11; Landen Beckham, 10; Chandler Clark, 6; Kyler Whatley, 5; Jeff Ortiz, 3; Hunter Landrum, 2.
WHITEHOUSE--Patrick Mahomes, 29; Spencer Shaw, 15; Ryan Cheatham, 8; Jaylon Dews, 6; Chris Kunzman, 6; Jake Parker, 6; Coleman Patterson, 3; Ty Stickley, 2.

Bullard's Corbin Howard heads toward the basket against Whitehouse on Saturday in Tyler. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Bullard's Corbin Howard heads toward the basket against Whitehouse on Saturday in Tyler. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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Wagstaff Holiday Classic
Thursday-Saturday
Apache Bracket

Thursday's Games
Game 5 -- Whitehouse 69, Terrell 53
Game 6 -- John Tyler 77, North Forney 65
Game 7 -- Lindale 50, Bullard 40
Friday's Games
Game 12 -- Lindale 40, Terrell 35
Game 13 -- North Forney 74, Whitehouse 65
Game 14 -- John Tyler 71, Bullard 49
Saturday's Games
Game 18 -- North Forney 50, Lindale 40
Game 19 -- John Tyler 61, Terrell 39
Game 20 -- Whitehouse 75, Bullard 57

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