KILLEEN, Texas — In a game defined by gritty defense and hard-fought possessions, the Temple freshman girls' basketball team dropped a narrow 29-25 decision to Killeen Shoemaker on Friday night. The loss moves the Tem-Cats to 15-4 overall and 4-2 in District 12-6A play.

Tight From the Tip

The tone for the evening was set early, as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm against aggressive defensive schemes. The first quarter ended in a 6-6 deadlock, with neither side able to gain an early advantage.

The defensive pressure intensified in the second frame, where the two teams combined for only six total points. Shoemaker managed to take a slight 10-8 lead into the halftime break, holding Temple to just two points in the quarter.

Juarez Leads the Charge

Despite the low-scoring nature of the contest, Temple's Kyleigh Juarez put on a stellar individual performance. Juarez accounted for nearly three-quarters of the team's total offense, racking up a game-high 18 points.

The second half remained a see-saw affair. After both teams traded 8 points in the third quarter, the Tem-Cats entered the final period trailing by two. While the offense found more life in the fourth, Shoemaker’s 11-point final frame was just enough to stave off the Temple comeback.

Temple Scoring Summary:

Kyleigh Juarez: 18 points
Hayden Williams: 3 points
Catherine Dunklin: 2 points
Deonnie Jones: 2 points

The Tem-Cats will have a chance to regroup quickly before returning to action. Temple will head back out on the road on Tuesday, January 20, to take on the Bryan Vikings. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM.