The News staff reports and The Orange Leader

NEDERLAND — Malia Nicolasora might be remembered more for her defense than her offense.

Nicolasora made seven steals to go with a team-high 16 points, and Nederland opened its girls basketball season with a 26-19 over Kelly on Tuesday night.

Nederland (1-0) also was strong on the glass thanks to Da’Reyale Jones’ nine rebounds and Nicolasora’s seven. Both are seniors.
Jones added two points in the win.

Nederland will play at Orangefield on Friday. Kelly is 0-2, following a season-opening loss at home to Port Arthur Memorial.

Baytown Sterling 54, Memorial 39
In Port Arthur, Julia Sion shot 80 percent from the floor Tuesday, but the Titans (1-1) suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of their former District 21-6A rivals.

Sion had eight points, making 4 of 5 from the floor. Vern’Nequa Davis led Memorial with nine points, and Emily McElroy had seven.

Memorial was coming off a 40-24 win at Kelly on Saturday. Sion had 11 points, and and Daicha Kimble nearly came up with a double-double, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds.

PNG 35, LCM 25 (MONDAY)
LITTLE CYPRESS — It was a tough shooting outing for the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Lady Bears as they opened up their 2017-18 campaign with a 35-25 defeat at the hands of the Port Neches-Groves Lady Indians Monday night in the first official basketball game at the new Bear Cave.

Jacie Miller led the Lady Bears (0-1) as she collected a double-double, scoring 10 points while snagging 15 rebounds. All 10 of her points came in the second half as she looked to ignite a spark.

Mollee Priddy led the Lady Indians (1-0) with 12 points, six of them coming in the second quarter in which the Lady Indians went on a 11-2 spurt after leading 7-4 at the end of the first quarter.

PNG post Harlee Barnwell also had a double-double as she had 10 points and collected 15 rebounds.

The Lady Bears finished with a 46-41 rebounding edge.