On Feb. 3, the Yorktown Kitty Kats faced the Port Aransas Lady Marlins, falling 46–34. The loss moved Yorktown to 8–3 in district play and 20–11 overall.
Gracie Stehling won the opening tip, and the Kitty Kats struck first when Paige DeLeon finished an inbound play. Stehling later added a free throw to make it 3–4. With five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Palyn Koopmann cut to the basket for a score, trimming the deficit to 5–6. After falling behind 5–8, Koopmann attacked the basket again, scoring while being fouled and completing the three-point play to tie the game at 8–8 with 3:09 left in the quarter. Yorktown trailed 12–8 at the end of the first period.
The Kats struggled offensively in the second quarter, going scoreless until 3:06 remained in the half when Cayleigh Good recorded a put-back after a missed shot to make it 10–14. Stehling followed with a drop-step basket off an assist from Trinity Flores, cutting the score to 12–17. Koopmann then found Flores for a threepointer, pulling Yorktown within three at 15–18. Koopmann added a free throw in the final minute, but the Lady Marlins carried a 24– 16 halftime lead.
Yorktown’s offense came alive in the third quarter, sparked by Koopmann. She opened the half with two long-range threepointers and then completed another three-point play after being fouled on a layup, bringing the Kats within three at 25–28. With two minutes remaining, Stehling scored on a put-back to make it 27–28. Moments later, Stehling set a screen that allowed Koopmann to score, cutting the deficit to 29–32 with about 45 seconds left in the quarter.
Port Aransas responded with a late surge, hitting a three-pointer and adding another basket to extend the lead to 37–29. The Lady Marlins continued their run into the fourth quarter, pushing the score to 44– 29 before Stehling ended the stretch with a free throw. Koopmann followed with a free throw and a rebound put-back to make it 33–44. Paige DeLeon closed out Yorktown’s scoring with a free throw.
Despite the late effort, the Kitty Kats were unable to overcome the Marlins’ run, falling 46–34.
