TEMPLE, TX — It was a heavyweight bout at Wildcat Gym on Tuesday evening, but a fourth-quarter scoring blitz allowed the Harker Heights Knights to escape with a 70-63 victory over the Temple Wildcat junior varsity squad.

Despite a back-and-forth affair that saw Temple leading at multiple intervals, the Knights’ 22-point explosion in the final frame proved to be the difference maker.

Game Recap

The Wildcats came out of the gate with high intensity, fueled by a dominant opening quarter from Devonte McClennon and Landon Walker. McClennon found his rhythm early, dropping 9 points in the first period, while Walker added 7 to give Temple an 18-16 lead.

The momentum shifted slightly in the second quarter as Harker Heights began to find their range. However, Temple’s Brycen Thomas kept the Wildcats within striking distance, scoring 9 of the team’s 13 points in the frame. Heights took a narrow 33-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Temple reclaimed the advantage in the third, outscoring the Knights 18-15 to take a one-point lead into the final stretch. The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the visitors. While Thomas (7 points) and McClennon (5 points) continued to fight down the stretch, the Knights’ transition game allowed them to pull away late.

Wildcat Scoring Summary

Temple showed a balanced offensive effort with two players leading the charge:

Devonte McClennon: 18 points
Brycen Thomas: 16 points
Landon Walker: 7 points
Dashawn Liggons: 6 points
Brody Baxter: 6 points
Bryson Williams: 6 points
D’Andre Green: 2 points
Lealon Harris: 2 points

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will look to bounce back and defend their home court once again following the break. Temple is set to host Killeen High at Wildcat Gym on Tuesday, January 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM.