Port Aransas High School Lady Marlin varsity players (wearing blue jerseys) make their grand entrance on their home basketball court by first exchanging high fives with members of the Lady Marlins JV squad on homecoming night, Friday, Jan. 7. That’s Chelsea Perez in front, followed by Tarryn Murray. STAFF PHOTO BY BEV GILBREATH The Lady Marlins knew they could score on transitions. It just took them a little time to get it started, said coach Stephanie Cowen.

Indeed, the ladies kicked off their district run this season and sweetened a homecoming game with a win against Kenedy, defeating the Lady Leopards 54-29 on a game partially built around transitions – the change of possession of the ball.

The ladies started with a 13-7 advantage at the end of the first period, and Cowen said she made some changes after that.

“Early in the second period, we changed defenses, and it put us on a quick run. A steal turned into a transition basket,” she said.

That took the ladies to a rather commanding 31-10 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

They never let up, outscoring

Kenedy in each of the two following periods.

“Tarryn Murray had a great night shooting the ball, and Savannah Ortiz once again had a big defensive night,” Cowen reported.

“We still have moments when we are stagnant, but we are working to get through that,” she added. “Late in the last two ballgames we usually have had different line-ups in to work on it.”

With the Kenedy win, the Lady Marlins are 1-0 in district play.

“With the district like it is this year, winning home games will be key for us, so I am pleased with the outcome and effort tonight,” Cowen said.

Murray, the leading scorer, nailed 23 points – a bit more than half the Lady Marlins’ total score. Ortiz was the other double-digit shooter, putting in 10.

Kelsey Ortiz hit seven, Chelsea Perez put in six, Kalani Balcom hit five, Anna Roberson put in two and Samantha Richardson got one free throw.

Scoring by Quarters