The Temple Wildcat junior varsity basketball team engaged in a physical, back-and-forth District 12-6A clash on Friday night, ultimately falling to the Killeen Kangaroos 60-57 at Wildcat Gym. Despite a spirited second-half comeback fueled by a dominant performance from Devonte McClennon, the Wildcats couldn't quite hurdle the Kangaroos in the final minutes.
A Slow Start and a Strong Response
The opening frame belonged to Killeen, as the Kangaroos jumped out to a 15-7 lead. Temple’s early offense was paced by Darrius Love-Brown, who accounted for 4 points in the quarter, but the Wildcats struggled to find a rhythm against Killeen’s pressure.
The script flipped in the second quarter.
Temple’s defense tightened, and the offense ignited for 21 points. Dashawn Liggons and Landon Walker led the charge, contributing 5 points apiece in the period. By halftime, the Wildcats had clawed back to within two, trailing 30-28.
McClennon Takes Charge
The third quarter saw Devonte McClennon take over. McClennon put on a shooting clinic, draining two 3-pointers and racking up 10 points in the frame. His scoring outburst kept the Wildcats within striking distance, though Killeen managed to hang onto a slim 45-42 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
The fourth quarter was a pure stalemate, with both teams trading buckets to the tune of 15 points each. McClennon added another 5 points to his team-high total, while Landon Walker remained a consistent threat late in the game. However, the early deficit proved just too much to overcome, as the Kangaroos held on for the three-point victory.
Box Score Breakdown
Scoring by Quarter:
Temple: 7 | 21 | 14 | 15 — 57
Killeen: 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 — 60
Wildcat Stat Leaders:
Devonte McClennon: 18 points (including two 3-pointers)
Landon Walker: 11 points
Dashawn Liggons: 7 points
Brycen Thomas: 6 points
Darrius Love-Brown: 4 points
Brody Baxter: 3 points
D’Andre Green, Lealon Harris, & Bryson Williams: 2 points each
Up Next
The Wildcats will look to bounce back and get back in the win column as they hit the road. Temple travels to take on Killeen Shoemaker on Tuesday, February 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
