Temple (9-16, 3-7 District 12-5A) trailed 46-40 to start the fourth quarter and pulled to within four points but were unable to get any closer.
“We had some opportunities, but they made some plays,” first-year Wildcats coach Tim Thomas said. “You play a team like that on the road, you have to be tougher.
“They just stepped up and made the plays. Whether it was a tough drive, an offensive rebound, they did the things that teams with a lot of experience that are tough and are on the top of the district do."
Ellison’s win, combined with Killeen Shoemaker’s 49-37 win over Belton, clinched a playoff berth for the Eagles (23-4, 8-2).
Temple’s Erik Valdez led all scorers with 21 points.
The Wildcats play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at No. 9 Bryan.
GIRLS
Belton 55, Killeen Shoemaker 48
KILLEEN - Belton’s Emily Bartek poured in 16 points and the Lady Tigers shut down Killeen Shoemaker’s Adrienne Davis in the second half en route to a 55-48 victory Tuesday night.
Belton (14-18, 4-8 District 12-5A) trailed 38-37 before outscoring Shoemaker 18-10 in the fourth quarter.
Amber Peters added 12 points for the Lady Tigers, who held Davis to only four second-half points after she scored 13 in the first half.
“We played with more intensity in the second half and made sure we always knew where Davis was,” Belton coach Randy Bell said. “And Emily hit some big baskets for us."
