By Tony Adams, Temple College

The Temple College athletic program experienced a light week as we near the Christmas break.

There was just one game in the program this week. While volleyball is in the offseason, women's basketball is on break until Jan. 2, and baseball and softball are less than six weeks away from first pitch, the men's basketball completed the 2024 half of their 2024-2025 campaign.

Here is the recap of the short week that was in Temple College athletics:

Sundown: Men's hoops dominate Cedar Valley, 116-84

The Temple College men's basketball team had a Thursday schedule change that took them from playing from the friendly hardwood of Kirby Johnson Court to Lancaster for a road tussle against Dallas College Cedar Valley.

The Leopards ensured the game was put away early, as TC blocked out the Suns for a 116-84 win.

Josh Telfort provided an early scoring eclipse that had the Suns looking for daylight that could not equal. His 20 first-half points were a huge contributor in Temple's 48-36 lead by the conclusion of the first half.

Temple's early hot shooting allowed head coach Dr. Cliff Ellis the opportunity to flex the bench.

And flex, they did. Temple outscored Cedar Valley in the second half, 68-48.

The Leopards shot 54.4% (43-of-79) from the field, a blistering 43.2% (16-of-37) from beyond the three-point arc and a solid 77.8% (14-of-18) from the free-throw line. TC out rebounded Cedar Valley 38-24, which included 12-2 in offensive zone.

Telfort led six, double-digit scoring Leopards with 34 points and 11 rebounds. Rasaun Collier and Anthony Cook added 14 points apiece, Jason Ward and Logan Myers scored 11 each, and Jaymes Brown-Peterson chipped in ten.

Thirteen of 14 players reached the scoring column, and all 14 hit the scoresheet in some statistical category.

Next up for the men...

The Leopards will take a two-week break before a road trip to Beeville to take on Coastal Bend College.

The Leopards Athletic Report will take a pause of its own

With all our Leopards resting, our next Leopards Athletic Report will be published on Dec. 30.

We will preview men's basketball's three-game week, women's basketball's return to action on Jan. 2, and our first look at Leopards baseball and softball in their upcoming 2025 spring campaigns.

From everyone here at Temple College athletics, have a Merry Christmas, safe travels to wherever you are heading, and looking forward to bringing you more Leopard Athletics Reports in 2025.