Yet, Temple managed to scratch and claw its way back from a nine-point deficit to a nine-point lead in the fourth. But without the help of those key players, the Tem-Cats didn’t execute down the stretch and fell to the Lady Grey Wolves 43-41 in another close finish between these two district foes.
When first-year coach Tamarah Sanders was asked if she was frustrated that Temple (8-7) was outscored 15-4 to end the game, she replied, “I’m not very frustrated at all. They played hard. That’s all you can ask.”
Loryn Goodwin has mononucleosis but should return for Friday’s district home opener against College Station A&M Consolidated at 7 p.m. at Wildcat Gym. Johnson missed the game for personal issues, according to Sanders.
Despite their absences and giving away a 37-28 lead, the Tem-Cats had two shots to tie or take the lead in the final minute.
Temple trailed 43-41 with 26 seconds left when Ashley Caldero missed a 3-pointer, and the Tem-Cats were called for an intentional foul against Adrienne Davis. She missed two free throws and, after another foul, two more to give Temple one final chance.
With only 2.6 seconds remaining and the Tem-Cats inbounding from just inside halfcourt, Jourdan Truesdale’s pass was stolen by Kiara Rawls, who ran out the clock for the victory.
It was the third straight close win for the Lady Grey Wolves (6-11) over Temple. Last season, Shoemaker edged the Tem-Cats 35-31, then won 58-57 in overtime in a game that essentially kept Temple out of the playoffs. Once again on Tuesday, the Lady Grey Wolves made the plays when they counted the most.
“That’s something we haven’t been doing,” Shoemaker coach Shauna Showers said. “We’ve been getting beaten by 20-30 points (this season). What we did tonight was not typical of what we did in the past, which is good. That’s what we’ve been practicing, is just competing and doing the little things right. They came out tonight and they had a different attitude and a different vibe.”
After committing nine turnovers on their first 10 possessions, the Lady Grey Wolves settled down and held a 23-16 by halftime.
Then, Temple turned it around in the third quarter.
Destiny Bell made a 3, Alisha Mosley hit a jumper and Maya Williams scored five straight points to give the Tem-Cats a 26-25 lead with 5:02 left in the third. Temple held Shoemaker to 2-for-17 shooting in the quarter and Bell’s free throws eventually gave the Tem-Cats a 37-28 lead with six minutes remaining in the fourth.
“We just played with a little more heart,” said Sanders, whose team had 32 turnovers. “They played like they wanted to win.”
Despite shooting just 8-for-33 from the foul line and committing 30 turnovers, Shoemaker staged another comeback.
Two Rawls free throws followed by baskets from Shavaugh Brathwaite, Jasmine Dill and a basket and two free throws by LaFaydra Collins completed a 10-0 run with 2:59 to go to give the Lady Grey Wolves a 38-37 lead.
Shantae Hewins (game-high 15 points) gave Temple its final lead at 39-38 before Collins and Davis made key baskets.
Whereas the Tem-Cats lacked effort and energy in a loss to Waco last week, that wasn’t the case Tuesday. Temple fought throughout but was unable steal the district opener.
Said Sanders: “I’m just looking for them every time they step on the floor to know they can win a game and not feel like they’re always the underdog, because they’re not."
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
