19 Jan Wells’ 3-pointer helps TJC escape, 88-85

BY MIKE MONTFORT Shahada Wells scored a game-high 34 points -- including the game-winning three-pointer with :02.3 left -- to rally unbeaten, sixth-ranked Tyler to an 88-85 Region XIV victory over Navarro. Coach Grant McMillan's Bulldogs rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit (55-39, 17:11) to wrestle the lead from the Apaches (68-67, 7:12), Navarro opened up as much as a four-point lead (74-70, 5:29). East Zone-leading Tyler's 16th consecutive win and eighth in league play snapped a three-game Navarro winning streak and put the Bulldogs into a three-way tie for fourth place with Panola and Bossier Parish. The game marked the sixth consecutive Navarro-TJC contest determined by two possessions or less, and seventh in the last eight. Wells, a sophomore guard from Amarillo, recorded his fourth 30-plus scoring game in Tyler's five conference games since returning from the holiday break. Wells, who entered averaging 8.4 points, now has games of 36 against Angelina, 32 against Coastal Bend, 35 against Jacksonville and 34 against Navarro -- all since January 3. Wells scored the first eight points of the second half as TJC expanded a 43-37 lead into a 14-point gap. In addition to hitting the game-winning shot, he was credited with a controversial, game-tying bucket (85-85) on...