TEMPLE, TX — It was a tale of two halves at Mustang Gym on Thursday night. Despite a gritty performance and a lead heading into the final frame, the Travis Science Academy 7th Grade A basketball team fell to River Valley Middle School with a final score of 40-26.

The Lady Mustangs showcased intense defensive pressure and balanced scoring for three quarters, but a dominant 14-point shutout by River Valley in the fourth period ultimately decided the contest.

Game Breakdown

The Lady Mustangs started the night with high energy, edging out a 6-5 lead in the first quarter. While River Valley found their rhythm in the second to take a slim lead into halftime, Travis roared back in the third. Outscoring the visitors 13-9 in that frame, the Lady Mustangs appeared to have the momentum heading into the finish.

However, the shots stopped falling for the home team in the fourth quarter. River Valley capitalized on the drought, putting up 14 unanswered points to pull away for the victory.

Top Performers

The Lady Mustangs' defense was a bright spot, racking up steals and forcing turnovers throughout the night.

Kayla Deluze: Led the team with 9 points and matched a team-high with 6 steals.
Mya McFarland: Followed closely with 7 points, 6 steals, and 2 rebounds.
Ashlynn Day: Contributed 6 points in the paint.
Jasmine Gray: Tallied 3 points, 3 steals, and 3 rebounds.
Akyiah Howard: Added 1 point from the free-throw line.

Looking Ahead

The Lady Mustangs will look to bounce back and find a full four-quarter rhythm as they head out on the road.

Next Game: Thursday, January 22
Opponent: Midway Middle School
Tip-off: 5:30 PM