Fast action Port Aransas High School Lady Marlins JV player Kellie Owens puts pressure on an Odem player during a game on Saturday, Nov. 12. STAFF PHOTO BY BEV GILBREATH The Lady Marlins got through a tough game against the Odem Lady Owls on Saturday, Nov. 12, said coach Stephanie Cowen, returning home on the winning end of a 35-26 varsity game and a 23- 10 junior varsity contest.

“It was a good game to have before the Marlin Classic, because it gets us ready for the speed and aggressive play that we typically see in the tournament,” Cowen said.

(That tournament starts today, Thursday, Nov. 17, in Doyle Marek Gym. See the related story in this issue for a preview.)

Cowen said she was happy with the team’s third-quarter performance as they came back from the halftime break and “did a much better job of rebounding and attacking the rim.”

Anna Roberson came up with some big shots to open the score up, Cowen said, and the team got a “big lift” from Brenna Martin, who entered the game and played great defense.

“With each game, we will get better at making the right decisions at the end of the game, but until we take better care of the basketball, we will continue to put ourselves in close games,” Cowen said.

Roberson and Madison Ray led the scoring for the Lady Marlins, each picking up 12 points. Roberson had 13 rebounds and Ray picked seven off the boards as well as stealing the ball three times.

Samantha Richardson had six points, Devan Murray hit three and Savannah Ortiz put in two. Martin was notable for collecting seven rebounds, Cowen said .

Jordan Morris, with 10, was the only junior varsity player in double digits as the younger Lady Marlins had more trouble controlling the game in the first half. They were down 8-4 at the end of the first period and 10-6 at halftime, but came back to outscore the Lady Owls 10-4 in the third period and 7-5 in the final period to pull out the 23-19 victory.

Kellie Owens put in seven points for Port Aransas, Carlie Munoz hit three, Emily Roberson put in two and Chase Hagedorn got one point.