The News staff report and The Orange Leader

BEAUMONT — When Port Arthur Memorial defeated Ozen earlier this season, coach Kenneth Coleman said it was a win the Titans needed.

But they really had to have this one.

Thailan Wesley scored 20 points, and Memorial exhibited a standout effort Friday night in picking up a 66-57 win at Central, handing the Jaguars their first loss in District 22-5A this season. The win also ties Memorial (20-5, 8-1) with Central (17-8, 8-1) for first place in the district.

Darion Chatman finished with 17 points and Reao Keller threw in 10 points for the Titans, who lost to Central 64-62 in Port Arthur on Jan. 4. A week later, Memorial pulled out a 68-67 win over Ozen, ending a three-game skid to the Panthers.

Jakobe Dill scored 19 to lead Central. Kason Harrison added 12 and Jaylon Williams 10.

Memorial will host Lumberton on Tuesday and visit Ozen next Friday.

NEDERLAND 61, LUMBERTON 45

LUMBERTON — The Bulldogs nearly finished with two double-doubles on the road Friday night, but picked up another victory to inch closer to a playoff berth.

Darrell Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Howard finished with 17 points and nine boards for Nederland (22-8, 5-4 in 22-5A). Logan Foster had nine points and Reid Garrett eight for the Bulldogs.

The loss pushed Lumberton (7-17, 2-7) three games behind Nederland for fourth place in 22-5A. Nederland hosts Ozen on Tuesday.

OZEN 80, PNG 34

PORT NECHES — Courtland Pender brought a hot hand with him to The Reservation.

Ozen’s standout guard hit five of his seven three-point baskets in the first quarter and finished with 29 points as the Panthers (17-7, 7-2) routed the Indians (6-17, 2-7). Pender finished his scoring in the third quarter, when he had 12 points, including the other two three-pointers.

All 11 Ozen players in the scorebook scored at least four points. Derrian Jones was the closest to being the second Panther in double figures with eight points.

Ozen led 29-7 after one period and 44-12 at halftime.

Hunter Curtis had nine points and Haden Wiggins eight for the Indians, who finished with three treys. The Panthers totaled nine.

PNG visits Vidor on Tuesday.

ORANGEFIELD 69, HAMSHIRE-FANNETT 46

ORANGEFIELD — The Orangefield Bobcats snared their first District 22-4A win of the season Friday night as they blew past the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns 69-46 at Bobcat Gym.

Four Bobcats scored in double figures as Orangefield improved to 9-13 overall and 1-4 in 22-4A play.

Payton Lathrop and Wesley Frillou led the Bobcats with 14 points apiece while Caleb Kress and Alex Catt chimed in with 13 apiece.

Lathrop had eight rebounds for the Bobcats. Kress had seven boards while Blake Bradley had seven and Catt six.

LCM 64, WOS 59 (3 OT)

WEST ORANGE — In what was a wild affair, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears went on the road and snagged sole possession of second-place in the District 22-4A race by taking down West Orange-Stark 64-59 in an amazing triple overtime game at Mustang Gym.

Both teams went at it all night on both ends of the floor. Each team had shots to win it at the end of regulation and the first two overtimes but each squad got it done with some defensive stops.

However, it was the Bears (18-11, 4-1) that had the answers in the third session as guards Ayson Simmons and Braden Bridges played huge.

WOS guard K.J. Miller put the Mustangs (8-11, 3-2) up 55-53 with a nice drive. Simmons promptly answered on the other end with a slashing drive as well to tie it. Simmons would eventually nail 3 of 4 free throws and Bridges sank four straight charity shots as the Bears were able to hang on for the victory.

LCM forced a couple WOS turnovers down the stretch and survived a Jay’Len Mathews’ three-pointer that got WOS to within 60-59.

The game was tied at 53-53 entering the third overtime as neither team could score in the final 1:28 of the second extra session.

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Also Friday, Orangefield beat Hamshire-Fannett 69-46 and Silsbee routed Bridge City 94-60.

GIRLS HOOPS

ORANGEFIELD 54 HAMSHIRE-FANNETT 41

FANNETT — The Orangefield Lady Bobcats maintained second-place in the District 22-4A race with a 54-41 road win over the Hamshire-Fannett Lady Longhorns on Friday night.

Faith Fregia led the Lady Bobcats (5-2 in district) with 17 points and had six boards.

Post Cameron Choate had nine points and snared 15 rebounds while Emmi Lummus added seven points, five rebounds and four steals.

The Lady Bobcats will host first-place Silsbee Tuesday.

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Also Friday, LCM beat West Orange-Stark 52-36.

BOYS SOCCER

PA MEMORIAL 2, LIVINGSTON 1

In Port Arthur, Robert Guzman accounted for both of Memorial’s goals in the team’s first win of the season.

Guzman got Memorial (1-6, 1-0 in 22-5A) on the board with 29 minutes left on a penalty kick. Livingston (0-1 in 22-5A) tied it up 2 minutes later, but Guzman — the Titans’ Man of the Match — took a throw-in from Ismael Gomez and scored with 15:28 remaining.

Memorial outshot Livingston 14-6. Saul Ayon made six saves in the win.

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Also Friday, Bob Hope (3-3-1) beat Cleveland 2-1 for its fourth straight unbeaten result and third straight win.

GIRLS SOCCER

PNG 14, OZEN 0

PORT NECHES — Eleven different PNG players entered the scoring column as they issued a big shutout over Ozen in the District 22-5A opener.

Camryn Prosen, Breeana Riggs and Elizabeth Bolyard each scored two goals for the Indians (8-0-1, 1-0). Other scorers were Kinsey Bigham, Kacie Wallace, Hailey Loupe, Kaylee Landry, Mia Delgadillo, Grace Reed, Libbie LeJeune and Grace Seymour.

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Also Friday, 4A state runner-up Jasper blanked Bob Hope 10-0, ending a three-game winning streak for the Eagles.