Lady Titans storm back, draw Central

Published 8:31 pm Friday, December 4, 2015

The News staff report

BEAUMONT — Defense was on display, and Port Arthur Memorial displayed plenty of it.

The Lady Titans recorded 14 steals and came up with a big second half Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Young Men’s Business League/South Texas Shootout with a 57-43 win over Harker Heights in McDonald Gym.

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The prize now for Memorial (5-5), which picked up first-round victory over West Hardin by forfeit, is a rematch with Beaumont Central this morning at 8. Central blew out Memorial 79-43 in Beaumont on Nov. 24.

The Lady Titans struggled out of the gate against Central then, but not so much against the Lady Knights. Jakeira Ford played all 32 minutes, scoring 19 minutes, dishing out four assists and swiping three to lead Memorial. She was one rebounds shy of a double-double.

Channel Babineaux led the defensive charge, though. She had four steals to go with 11 points.

Autumn Jones and Kennedi Lofton each added eight for Memorial.

The Memorial-Central winner will play in the championship game at 4:30 p.m. today in the Montagne Center. The loser will play for third place at 12:30 p.m. today in Montagne.

In boys action, Memorial advanced to the consolation final of the South Texas Shootout after Pro-Vision Academy of Houston pulled out. The Titans (3-4) will play Sharpstown at 2 p.m. today in McDonald.

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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