Lady Marlins second to one in Classic
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Chase is on Lady Marlins Whitney Williams, left and Elaine Franco give chase to a Lampasas ball handler.

The Port Aransas High School Lady Marlins varsity took second place in the Marlin Classic tournament, winning three of the four games they played Nov. 16-18.

"I feel very positive about (the tournament)," said Coach Randy Henderson. "I think we could have played better in some spots. I think we could have played better against Lampasas. But, overall, I'm very pleased."

The Lady Badgers of Lampasas High School nabbed first place in the tournament, winning all four of their games. Lampasas High School is much bigger than PAHS, playing in division 4A.

Lady Marlins Lia Phillips and Whitney Williams won all-tourney trophies for their outstanding play. Teammate Kathy Ashley was the only Port Aransas player to place in either the 3-Point or Free Throw contest, and she triumphed over seven other girls to win the 3-Point Contest.

The Lady Marlins began the tournament with a 66-45 win over Banquete.

"We pretty much jumped out early in the first quarter," Henderson said. "We like to do that whenever we can." Banquete never came close to catching up with the Marlins after that first quarter.

Trophy time The Lady Marlin varsity gathered for a team picture with their second place trophy from the 2006 Marlin Classic. They are, standing from left, Alyssa Crawford, Katelin Dupnik, Sarah Pate, Whitney Williams, Katie Coeckelenbergh, Hannah Jones and Meredith Berry. Center from left, are Mary Teller,Kathy Ashley and Elaine Franco. In front from left are Leah Matthews and Lia Phillips.

Next came the Lady Marlins' only loss in the tournament. Lampasas beat Port Aransas 44-36.

"They were a good team," Henderson said. "But I felt we could have played a little bit better. We had our chances to take the lead."

Next, the Lady Marlins whipped Poolville, 60-37.

"Poolville didn't shoot the ball well," Henderson said. "I like to think it's because we played good defense."

In the last game of the girls' side of the tournament, the Lady Marlins beat McMullen County High School 67-35.

"Our win over McMullen County can be described as a total team effort," Henderson said. "Every player on our roster contributed to this win.

Takin' it in Lady Marlin Leah Matthews drives the ball into scoring territory with teammate Katelin Dupnik close behind in the Classic game with McMullen.

"I am very proud of our players because of their unselfishness and team-first attitudes," Henderson said. "We have some important games coming up, so I am counting on these attitudes to remain positive."
Port Aransas         66
Banquete 45
Points: Liz Dupnik, 1; Kathy Ashley, 5 (one
3-pointer); Sarah Pate, 3; Lia Phillips, 9 (one
3-pointer); Mary Teller, 7 (one 3-pointer);
Whitney Williams, 34; Hannah Jones, 1; Katie
Coeckelenbergh, 4; Katelin Dupnik, 2.
Offensive rebounds: Teller, 2; Williams, 6;
Coeckelenbergh, 2; Jones, 1.
Defensive rebounds: Dupnik, 3; Leah Matthews,
        2; Ashley, 3; Phillips, 2; Teller, 1; Franco,
1; Williams, 5; Coeckelenbergh, 3.
Assists: Ashley, 2; Phillips, 4; Alyssa Crawford,
      1; Teller, 3; Franco, 2; Williams, 3;
Coeckelenbergh, 2.
Steals: Matthews, 1; Ashley, 3; Sarah Pate,
1; Phillips, 4; Teller, 1; Franco, 2; Williams, 7;
Jones, 1; Coeckelenbergh, 5; K. Dupnik, 1.
Port Aransas         36
Lampasas             44
Points: Ashley, 2; Phillips, 8 (two 3-pointers);
Williams, 25; Coeckelenbergh, 1.
Offensive rebounds: Ashley, 1; Phillips, 1;
Williams, 3; Coeckelenbergh, 2.
Defensive rebounds: Ashley, 2; Phillips, 1;
Franco, 2; Williams, 4; K. Dupnik, 1.
Assists: Ashley, 1; Phillips, 3; Teller, 1; Franco,
4; Williams, 1; Coeckelenbergh, 2.
Steals: Ashley, 1; Phillip, 2; Franco, 2; Williams,
      7.
Port Aransas         60
Poolville               37
Points: Williams, 35; Teller, 2; Coeckelenbergh,
        4; Phillips, 9; Ashley, 5; Jones, 2; Berry,
1; K. Dupnik, 2.
Assists: Williams, 3; Matthews, 1; Teller, 4;
Phillips, 1; Franco, 6; Pate, 1.
Defensive rebounds: Williams, 9; Matthews,
1; Teller, 1; Coeckelenbergh, 3; Phillips, 2;
Ashley, 3; Franco, 4; Crawford, 2; Jones, 2;
K. Dupnik, 1.
Offensive rebounds: Williams, 6; Coeckelenbergh,
        1; Phillips, 1; Franco, 1; Meredith Berry,
2; K. Dupnik, 1.
Steals: Williams, 2; Teller, 1; Coeckelenbergh,
        1; Phillips, 1; Ashley, 1; Franco, 2; K.
Dupnik, 1.
Port Aransas         67
McMullen Co.         35

Points: Williams, 33; Phillips, 5; Ashley, 11; Franco, 3; Crawford, 4; Pate, 3; Jones, 1; Berry, 3; K. Dupnik, 4.

Assists: Williams, 4; Matthews, 1; Teller, 1; Coeckelenbergh, 1; Phillips, 6; Franco, 3; Crawford, 2; Pate, 1; Berry, 1; K. Dupnik, 2.

Defensive rebounds: Williams, 9; Matthews, 1; Teller, 2; Coeckelenbergh, 2; Franco, 2; Crawford, 3; Pate, 2; Jones, 2; Berry, 2; K. Dupnik, 3.

Offensive rebounds: Williams, 8; Teller, 4; Phillips, 2; Ashley, 1; Franco, 3; Crawford, 1; Jones, 1; K. Dupnik, 1.

Steals: Williams, 2; Matthews, 1; Coeckelenbergh, 2; Phillips, 3; Ashley, 1; Franco, 3; Pate, 1; K. Dupnik, 2.