BEAUMONT — It took a lot for the Port Arthur Memorial Lady Titans to hold off the Beaumont West Brook Lady Bruins Tuesday night.
It took a real lot.
Memorial defeated West Brook 53-47 to open District 21-6A play. The Lady Titans (1-0) got 22 points and seven rebounds from UTEP signee Jakeira Ford and nine points from both Channel Babineaux and Autumn Jones.
West Brook (0-1) helped Memorial out by shooting 5-for-28 from the free throw line. Memorial shot only 12 free throws and hit eight from the charity stripe.
The game started out like it would be a runaway for the Lady Titans who jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead in the first.
Ford had the first seven points for Memorial and Victoria Brown drained a trey to open the eight-point gap.
Memorial led 17-9 after the first period and then went up 21-9 after baskets from Ford and Jones to open the second.
West Brook quickly went on a 15-2 run to take a 24-23 lead.
Memorial did not lead again until early in the third when Ford opened with a free throw and then a basket as the Lady Titans went up 31-29.
The Lady Titans remained on top, 43-35, to start the fourth and the Lady Bruins were never able to capture the lead again.
West Brook got to within 46-41 before Ford connected for one at the charity stripe and Babineaux drained a huge three to make it 51-41.
The Lady Bruins made it a four-point game again with another 6-0 run but West Brook would not score again.
Jones hit two free throws down the stretch to make the final score.
Serenity Williams had 14 points for West Brook and teammate Maya Culpepper finished with 10 and Tamia Edwards finished with nine points.
The Lady Bruins outrebounded the Lady Titans 31-29 but also had 24 turnovers. Memorial had 15 turnovers in the game.
Memorial is back at Titans Gym on Friday to face North Shore.