HEWITT — The Temple Tem-Cat freshman basketball team faced a double-dose of adversity on Tuesday night, battling both a tough Midway squad and persistent foul trouble. While a resilient second-half surge brought them within striking distance, the Tem-Cats ultimately fell to the Pantherettes 34-28.
The loss moves Temple to 13-4 overall and 2-1 in District 12-6A play.
Game Recap
Foul Trouble Stalls Momentum
The contest began as a defensive stalemate, with both teams locked in a 6-6 deadlock after the first quarter. However, the game shifted dramatically early in the second frame.
Star point guard Kyleigh Juarez, who entered the game on a hot streak after scoring over 20 points in each of her last two outings, was whistled for her third personal foul with 6:31 remaining in the half. With the leading scorer sidelined on the bench to avoid further trouble, the Tem-Cat offense struggled to find its rhythm. Midway capitalized on her absence, outscoring Temple 13-2 to take a 19-8 lead into the locker room.
The Juarez-Led Surge
Juarez returned to the floor for the third quarter and immediately sparked a Temple rally. Behind her leadership and a suffocating defense that held Midway to just five points in the period, the Tem-Cats clawed back with a 12-5 run. The surge effectively cut the Midway lead to just four points heading into the final eight minutes.
The Final Stand
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle of wills. Temple continued to pressure the Pantherettes, but the comeback effort took a major hit when Juarez was whistled for her fifth and final foul with 2:18 remaining in the game. Without their floor general, the Tem-Cats couldn't quite bridge the gap, as Midway edged Temple 10-8 in the final frame to secure the victory.
Stat Leaders
The Tem-Cats were led by a balanced scoring effort from the starting rotation:
Catherine Dunklin: 9 points
Hayden Williams: 9 points
Sha'Khyria Freeman: 8 points
Kyleigh Juarez: 2 points
Coach’s Perspective
Despite the result, Coach Taylor Sims praised the mental toughness her team showed on the road.
"I was very proud of how we continued to fight and never gave up during times of adversity throughout the game with the foul trouble plaguing us for most of the game," said Coach Sims. "I'm just glad we get to return to action at home the next two games and look forward to getting back in the win column."
Score by Quarters
1st: Temple - 6, Midway - 6
2nd: Temple - 2, Midway - 13
Halftime: Temple 8, Midway - 19
3rd: Temple - 12, Midway - 5
4th: Temple 8. Midway - 10
Final: Temple - 28, Midway - 34
Up Next:
The Tem-Cats look to regain their momentum as they return to Wildcat Gym for a two-game homestand. They will host Harker Heights this Friday, January 9, at 5:00 PM, followed by a matchup with Killeen on Tuesday, January 13.
