The Yorktown Kitty Kat Varsity basketball team played five games this past week, winning two. On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the Kitty Kats traveled to Tilden to take on the McMullen County Cowgirls, ranked #17 in the TABC Class A polls. Yorktown jumped out to an early lead, but the Cowgirls bounced back to take a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter before extending their lead to 3325 at halftime. In the second half, the Kitty Kats were able to cut the lead to 35-34, but that was as close as they got, as McMullen County showed why they are ranked and pulled away for a 53-42 win. Senior Nina Villarreal and freshman Palyn Koopmann led the Kitty Kats with 10 points each. Koopmann had her first career double-double, as she also pulled down 10 rebounds. Seniors Laynie Boyd and Sydnie Krueger had six rebounds apiece. The JV Kitty Kats defeated McMullen County’s JV, 24-14, for another win.
On December 5 7, 2024, Yorktown competed in the Karnes City Invitational Tournament, an eight team-tournament consisting of two pools. Pool A was Falls City, Pettus, Skidmore-Tynan and Freshman Palyn Koopmann was selected to the All-Tournament team at the Karnes City Tournament.
Yorktown. Pool B was Karnes City, Kenedy, Poteet and Woodsboro. For their first game, the Kitty Kats faced the Pettus Lady Eagles, a district opponent. Yorktown came out very sluggish and trailed 24-18 with 4 minutesleftinthethird quarter, when they outscored, 6-1, to trail 25-24 heading into the fourth quarter. In the final period, the Kitty Kats turned up their defensive intensity and used their speed to go on a 20-2 run to win the game, 44-27. Sophomore Gracie Stehling led Yorktown with 12 points. Boyd had eight steals. Krueger and Koopmann both had six rebounds.
In their second game, Yorktown faced another opponent, the Skidmore- Tynan Lady Cats. This game was a mirror of the first game, except the story was flipped. The Kitty Kats jumped out to an early lead and led 16-13 at halftime. In the second half, Skidmore-Tynan outscored Yorktown, 25-5, to take the 38-21 win. Koopmann led the Kitty Kats with nine points, while Krueger had eight points to go with six rebounds. In the final game of pool play, Yorktown played the Falls City Lady Beavers in a defensive contest. Neither team could take control of the game; however, the Lady Beavers came out on top, 24-19. Villarreal had eight points to go along with five rebounds.
Yorktown finished in 3rd place in Pool A and faced off against the host-team Karnes City Lady Badgers, who finished 3rd in Pool B. The Kitty Kats jumped out to an 8-0 lead and led 21-8 at halftime. Karnes City staged a small comeback and cut the lead to 30-23 at the end of the third. However, in the fourth quarter, Yorktown outscored the Lady Badgers, 21-4, for the 51-27 win. Boyd led all scorers with 19 points, while Koopmann added 13 points to go along with seven assists. Krueger had an allaround game with six points, nine rebounds and 10 steals. Koopmann was named to the All-District Tournament.
This week, Yorktown (9-5) begins play in District 31-2A, opening at Woodsboro on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, before hosting Three Rivers on Friday, December 13, 2024.
