Brand new start: Titans hold off Indians for first win
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, December 7, 2016
- Keriana Portalis of Memorial drives past Holly Jones of PNG to the basket in the first quarter Tuesday night. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
The News staff report
PORT NECHES — The overall record no longer matters to Port Arthur Memorial, but the Titans must feel some relief to finally win their first game in girls basketball this season.
Memorial led by 10 points in the final 2 minutes and kept Port Neches-Groves from completing the comeback Tuesday night to take a 40-38 victory in the District 22-5A opener for both teams.
The Indians (4-7, 0-1) were fouled on a three-point shot late in the game and converted all three free throws to begin the rally. Tessah Miller canned a three in the final seconds to cut the deficit down to two, but the Titans managed to run out the clock by not inbounding the ball.
Julia Sion scored seven of her game-high 16 points for the Titans (1-12, 1-0)in the fourth quarter. Dakayla Miller added seven points in the win.
PNG took a 9-4 lead after one quarter, but Memorial evened the score at 15 apiece at halftime. Memorial took a 30-26 lead into the fourth.
Free-throw shooting may have hurt the Indians, who made 12 of 24 from the line. The Titans struggled worse, converting only 6 of 18.
Taylor Johnson had 10 points and Khloe Droddy eight to lead the Indians, who’ll compete in the Silsbee tournament Thursday through Saturday. Memorial will host Livingston next Tuesday.
