Then, someone put a lid on Temple’s basket.
The Tem-Cats (9-7) went nearly 10 minutes without making a field goal as Temple fell to Harker Heights 44-39 at Wildcat Gym in the district opener for both teams.
“Offensively, in this district you can’t go through a spurt where you just go dead,” Tem-Cats coach Don Layton said. “I’ll give Harker Heights credit for that. They were really pressuring our guards. We just waited too late to start scoring.”
Added Knights coach Lisa Hess, whose team overcame a 12-point deficit: “I think we picked up our defense and I told them in the second half that we had to be more aggressive. We came out and were a lot more aggressive.”
Senior forward Kaetlyn Murdoch led Temple with scored 16 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots.
After Murdoch hit a jumper to give Temple a 27-20 lead with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter, the Tem-Cats went cold from the floor and watched their lead slip away.
Led by Marisa Brown, Heights (9-6) went on a 15-0 run during the next five minutes to take a 35-27 lead with 6:06 left in the fourth. Brown scored six of her eight points during that stretch.
Shantae Hewins’ bucket with 1:12 remaining pulled Temple to within 37-36. It was the Tem-Cats’ first field goal since Murdoch’s jumper midway through the third and ended a shooting drought that lasted nine minutes, 58 seconds.
Rashawndira Johnson converted two free throws to give the Knights a 39-36 lead with 56.5 seconds left.
After Temple missed two free throws, Shaquitta Martin broke the press and scored on a layup for a 41-36 lead. Johnson added another free throw and Martin converted two more as Heights sealed the victory.
“I feel like our bench was deeper than they were,” Hess said, whose team ended Copperas Cove’s seven-game winning streak last Friday.
“Our subs came in and applied constant ball pressure. It was a good win. I think we kept our composure and it was a total team effort.”
Despite the loss, Layton was pleased with his team’s ability to slow down the Knights’ attack.
Heights scored 68 points in handing Cove its second loss of the season. All six of the Knights’ losses have been to ranked 5A and 4A teams.
“I’m proud of our effort,” Layton said. “Our girls knew we had to make it a half-court game. I think we slowed them down enough with them pressing us.
“When you look at a tight game like that and you realize you missed 12 free throws, that can’t happen.”
Temple shot 11-for-41 from the field and 16-for-28 from the free-throw line.
Johnson led Heights with 12 points and Martin had 10.
Temple will battle rival Belton (6-10, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Gym, while the Knights will host Killeen Shoemaker.
“As a group, I’m really pleased with the effort,” Layton said. “I’m not pleased with the outcome. We sort of let one get away, but we’ll regroup and try to correct the problems we had.
“Unfortunately, district started and this game counts. We have approximately one day to lick our wounds and it won’t be any easier to go to Belton and play there. I’m proud of our girls. Tomorrow the moment is over. We have to start prepping for Belton. That’s district ball for you.”
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
