HARKER HEIGHTS, TX – The Temple freshman Tem-Cat basketball team didn’t let a tough loss linger. Following a narrow defeat to Midway last Friday, the Tem-Cats responded with a statement victory on Tuesday evening, dismantling the Harker Heights Lady Knights 49-15.

From the opening tip, Temple’s defense was suffocating. The Tem-Cats pitched a shutout in the first quarter, racing out to an 11-0 lead. They continued to pour it on in the second frame, outscoring the Lady Knights 16-5 to take a commanding 27-5 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Sharp-Shooting From the Perimeter

The story of the night was Temple’s efficiency from long range. The Tem-Cats knocked down seven 3-pointers, with six different players connecting from beyond the arc. This balanced attack kept the Heights defense on its heels throughout the contest.

"Tonight as a team we came out and shot the ball very well," said Coach Taylor Sims. "Like I tell them all the time: You aren't going to make every shot, but you aren't going to miss every shot either, so just go out there and shoot the ball with confidence!"

Scoring Breakdown

Nine different Tem-Cats found their way into the scoring column, showcasing the team's depth. Kyleigh Juarez led the offensive charge with 14 points, followed by Sha'Kyhria Freeman, who also reached double digits
with 10.

Kyleigh Juarez: 14 points
Sha'Kyhria Freeman: 10 points
Hayden Williams: 6 points
Catherine Dunklin: 4 points
Ma'Kayla Pendleton: 4 points
Saniya Brunson: 3 points
Cristina Garza: 3 points
Bailey Culbreath: 1 point

The Tem-Cats maintained their intensity in the second half, outscoring Heights 13-7 in the third and closing out the game with a 9-3 run in the fourth quarter.

Looking Ahead

With the win, Temple improves its impressive season record to 18-5 overall and moves to 7-3 in District 12-6A play.

The Tem-Cats will look to carry this momentum into the new year. Their next challenge comes on January 6, when they travel to face Killeen High. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM.