HOUSTON — Port Arthur Memorial seemed to be in control for much of the game and got 23 points from Jakeira Ford on Thursday in beating Spring Westfield 55-39 in the first round of the Aldine ISD Invitational.

The victory moves Memorial (1-2) into a 7 p.m. meeting with Cypress Lakes tonight at the Campbell Center, where Thursday’s game was played.

Ford, who had 24 Tuesday in a loss to Brazosport, connected on 10 of 18 shots from the field and made 1 of 2 three-point shots. She also totaled 11 rebounds (four on the offensive glass), three assists and two steals in nearly 20 minutes of action.

Autumn Jones was the only other Memorial player in double figures with 10 points. Victoria Brown and Channel Hamilton each had seven points; Brown shot 4 for 4 from the foul line.

Memorial was up 11-6 through one period, 31-17 at halftime and 41-26 through three.

A win tonight will put Memorial in a Saturday morning semifinal for the right to play in the Saturday night championship.

Nederland 43, Bridge City 38

NEDERLAND — After being shut out in the third quarter, Nederland won what was essentially a game-deciding fourth quarter Thursday in their second game of the Lady Bulldog Classic.

Christine Porterfield fired three made three-point baskets and led the Lady Bulldogs (1-5) with 24 points. Makaela Sattler, who had four three-point makes against Dayton earlier in the day, canned a couple against Bridge City for her six points, while Paris Borel added six points.

Nederland was ahead 31-20 before Bridge City easily won the third quarter 11-0 to even the game.

Ashley Beam had 15 points and Kassidy Wilbur scored 12 for the Lady Cardinals.

Earlier Thursday, Dayton beat Nederland 60-30 behind Tayelin Grays’ 25 points. Sattler’s 12 points all came on treys.

Other scores in the Classic on Thursday: Goose Creek Memorial 84, Beaumont Kelly 16; Dayton 54, Bridge City 33; Evadale 30, Orangefield 28; GCM 55, Liberty 37; Lumberton 56, Buna 26; Evadale 31, Vidor 20; Liberty 36, Kelly 16; Buna 50, West Orange-Stark 28; and Vidor 31, Orangefield 30.

Today’s tournament schedule (all games at the Dome): Game 1, Vidor vs. WO-S, 8 a.m.; Game 2, Liberty-Bridge City, 9:15 a.m.; Game 3, Buna-Orangefield, 1 p.m.; Game 4, Nederland-Kelly, 2:15 p.m.; Dayton vs. first game winner, 10:30 a.m.; Evadale vs. second game winner, 11:45 a.m.; GCM vs. Buna-Orangefield winner, 3:30 p.m.; and Lumberton vs. fourth game winner, 4:45 p.m. Losers of games 2 and 4 will play at 6 p.m. and losers of games 1 and 3 will play at 8.

Hamshire-Fannett 55, Port Neches-Groves 23

SARATOGA — In the West Hardin tournament, Destiny Post scored 11 points and Brooke Ramirez had five for the Lady Indians, who fell to 0-2.

Hannah Jones pulled down 10 rebounds for PN-G, which will play Hardin at 11 a.m. today.

BOYS

Nederland 64, Brazosport 63, OT

PORTER — Nederland needed every one of Jase Miguez’s 32 points. Especially the last two.

Miguez took an inbound pass in the half-court set and floated in a two-point basket at the buzzer, giving the Bulldogs the narrow victory in the New Caney ISD tournament at Porter High. The game was even at 56 at regulation.

Kevin Howard nearly achieved a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points, and Darrell Jones chalked up 11 for the Bulldogs (1-1), who will play Dayton at 9 this morning and Cane Creek at 3 this afternoon.

Brazosport led 33-31 at halftime.