TC’s women squad squandered a last-minute lead and fell 79-76 to the Highlassies, then the TC men were overwhelmed from the beginning in a 99-82 loss to the Highlanders.
Tonight, however, Temple’s teams get an opportunity to avenge those setbacks against MCC and earn a pair of crucial wins in Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play in their home finales.
Coach Kim Sebek’s third-place Lady Leopards (16-8 overall, 9-3 in conference) will battle the co-leader Highlassies (19-6, 10-2) at 5:30 p.m. at TC Gym, to be followed by the duel between coach Kirby Johnson’s third-place Leopards (20-7, 6-5) and the second-place Highlanders (22-4, 8-2).
TC MEN
Having suffered a 73-69 loss to Hill in Hillsboro on Monday, the Leopards don’t take a great deal of momentum into their rematch with perennial rival McLennan.
Of course, the Highlanders — ranked No. 20 in the NJCAA Division I poll — also are hurting some after their 114-107, double-overtime loss to Weatherford on Monday — MCC’s first home defeat under second-year coach Kevin Gill.
But even though the Leopards get the Highlanders at their place tonight, Johnson knows Temple likely will have to play much better than it did at MCC and at Hill to emerge with a victory.
“We just have to play better defensively and have a better start,” said Johnson, whose team incurred early deficits of 7-0 and 26-11 at MCC. “We had such a poor start, and they dictated what we could do and had the game the way they wanted it.”
Johnson added that TC must get more scoring and consistency from its guards — third-year sophomores Walter Herriott and Tee Jay Void and freshmen Dekyron Nicks and Tyrone Bazy.
At Hill, a squad they ripped 116-91 on Jan. 19, the Leopards had five possessions trailing by two points with less than a minute left but missed two shots and four free throws, and made a turnover.
“We just played bad,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to take, because Hill didn’t play any better than it did here. We just didn’t shoot well.”
After tonight, TC will complete the regular season with road games against Ranger on Saturday and Weatherford a week from Saturday. If the Leopards win out, it’s possible that they could gain the NTJCAC’s No. 2 seed for the NJCAA Region V Tournament behind third-ranked Collin County (25-1, 11-0).
“We’re still in third by ourselves,” Johnson said, “so that’s not too far-fetched of a scenario.”
