In just 2½ minutes, Julia Sion pulled Port Arthur Memorial from a 20-16 deficit to a 25-22 lead over Port Neches-Groves.

“We just have to play hard and basically try to win,” Sion said.

PNG never led after Sion scored nine of her game-high 19 points during that crucial stretch, and Memorial started District 22-5A play with a 53-45 win Tuesday night at home.

“I think it helped,” Titans coach Kevin Henry said. “We were moving a little slow on defense, but then again, we changed up the lineup and combinations, and we were able to get to our spots a little better.”

Memorial (3-8, 1-0 in 22-5A) went on an 8-0 run the final 4 minutes to all but put the game out of reach after PNG (7-6, 0-1) climbed from a 36-28 deficit to within 40-38. Two free throws by Vern’Niqua Davis with 2:08 left gave Memorial the biggest lead of the night at 48-38.

The Indians, for a moment, were close to earning a signature win under first-year head coach Kara Skinner. They led by as much as 8-4 and were last ahead 20-19 with less than 3 minutes to go.

“I think they’re making phenomenal progress right now,” Skinner said. “I don’t think anyone expects anything from this team, and to come in here and lose by only [eight], to me that says it all.”

Sion had 11 points in that turnaround second quarter for the Titans, who led 28-24 at halftime. The 6-foot-1 junior began to take over in the low post after PNG’s Harlee Barnwell and Mollee Priddy did some earlier damage with putbacks and short-range makes.

“She helps with her long wingspan,” Henry said of Sion, a third-year varsity player. “She brings a lot with her length. We don’t have too much size like that.”

Barnwell scored six of her 13 points in the first quarter. Priddy had six of her 11 in the second.

Neither team had led by more than four points until Jackie Gibbs’ second-chance shot gave the Titans a 30-24 lead. Her drive to the basket with 33 seconds left made it a 38-31 lead going into the fourth.

Back-to-back field goals by PNG cut into the margin and, after Kerianna Portalis knocked down a jumper, Priddy sank a three-pointer to pull PNG within 40-38. Memorial then made 9 of 15 free throws down the stretch and held PNG scoreless for almost 2½ minutes.

“Just a breakdown on defense,” Skinner said. “I mean, one thing we were really trying to do is take away their fast break, and we didn’t do that. We had a mental lapse on defense, and it cost us.”

Davis finished with eight points and Portalis seven in the win. Chelsea Carrillo added eight for PNG.

The game was Memorial’s third at home in a two-week span. The Titans will take a one-week break before resuming their season at Livingston, while PNG hosts Tarkington on Friday.

“If we keep going and continue to play hard and continue to have good teamwork, we can go far,” Sion said.

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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews