LUFKIN. As the fourth quarter got tense, the Tyler Lions stepped up.

Ashad Walker, with a half-court shot on the half-time buzzer, scored 21 points and threw a key last-minute steal as the Lions beat the Humble Kingwood Park Panthers 50-40 in a Class 5A basketball game on Tuesday. at the Panther Activity Center.

Tyler (21-10) advances to the close round to face Lancaster later this week. The Panthers finish the season 16-19.

Tyler led 42-40 and Tank Brooks found Montrell Wade under the basket and Lyons led 44-40 in 2:05.

Walker then forced a pass at the 1:16 mark that went to Marquette Martin, who passed Walker for a dunk and a 46–40 lead.

Walker also had nine rebounds, with Derrick McFall, Marquette Martin and Wade taking five boards each.

Martin, Walker, Jaishua Brown, McFall and Brooks each had two interceptions.

Tyler’s other goals came from Brown (8), McFall (7), Martin (5), Wade (5) and Brooks (4).

Brad Garcia led the Panthers with 12 points, all of which came in the second half. He hit three trebles in a row before Walker hit a fourth try that resulted in him being dunked on the other end.

Trent Beringham and Jayden Henderson added 10 points each. Henderson had five boards.

Tyler was 4 of 9 from the 3-point line (Walker, 2; Martin, 1; Brown, 1) and 9 of 16 on free throws.

The Panthers were 4 of 12 (Garcia, 3; Burningham, 1) and Kingwood Park was 4 of 10 at the free throw line.

The Lions got stronger before the break. After Burningham converted two free throws with 2.2 seconds on the clock, McFall passed the ball to Walker, who dribbled one, leveled his shot and hit a siren three to give Tyler a 24–16 lead.

The Panthers took a 10–3 lead before the Lions scored 13 in a row for a 16–10 lead.

Tyler held Kingwood Park scoreless from 3:51 in the first quarter to 2:53 in the second when Jaden Henderson hit from close range.

The Lions took an 11–10 lead when Brown hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.