The Port Neches-Groves Indians were slow to get started against the Jasper Bulldogs, and though they came back strong in the second half they couldn’t catch up, falling 55-40 Tuesday.

“In the first half we did not execute our game plan and fell behind as a result,” PNG head coach Kara Skinner said. “The seniors really stepped up at the half to close the gap to seven points, but we simply couldn’t recover.”

The Indians (1-1) scored 16 points in the third period and 10 in the fourth but that couldn’t overcome an 18-point deficit from the first half, especially after the Bulldogs (2-0) added 23 to their total in the second.

Mollie Priddy led PNG with 14 points. She also had eight rebounds and four deflections.

Maylin Stampley made 13 points, three rebounds and two assists for PNG. Brittney Brevell added six points to along with eight rebounds and a steal, and Paxton Shults netted four points, three rebounds and two deflections in the defeat.

Shabralyn Watson was Jasper’s top scorer with 11 points, followed by Asia Mitchell with 10, Jakalya Brown with nine and Kinley Shumake with eight.

The Indians will get another chance to face Jasper in the Lumberton Tip Off Classic this weekend. Their first game in the tournament will be Thursday at noon against Lumberton.

Baytown Sterling 62
Memorial 28

The Raiders (2-0) kept up the pressure against the Lady Titans (0-2) on Tuesday in Port Arthur, scoring 15 points or more each period.

Precious Johnson led the Sterling squad with 17 points. Maya Flax was the top Lady Titan scorer with 8.

Memorial’s next game will be at the Conroe tournament today through Saturday.