The Temple College Leopards Athletics program celebrated the start of the spring semester with four basketball games and the continuation from preseason training at the Danny Scott Athletic Complex.
Here is a lookback at the week in Leopard Athletics:
Take two: Men's basketball storm from double-digit deficits twice, earn share of NTJCAC lead
The Temple College men's basketball team went into the week with a three-game winning streak and a 2-0 mark in North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play.
On Wednesday, the Leopards hosted Grayson College at Kirby Johnson Court.
Temple fought off a 14-point lead early in the first half and held a late Viking rally to defeat Grayson, 74-66.
Josh Telfort led the Leopards with 22 points, while Jonty Kells added 14 points, and Camren Roper chipped in nine.
The Leopards trailed 24-10 ten minutes into the game before using the next 20 minutes to build a 48-18 stretch to grab a 16-point lead.
Grayson closed the margin to eight, but the Leopards held the Vikings off at the horn.
The Leopards finished the week in Hillsboro as they took on Hill College at Bob Bullock Gymnasium.
The Rebels built an 11-point lead halfway into the second half before mounting a late rally which was capped off by a jumper by Roper with two seconds left, and a 6-1 overtime to earn the Leopards a 90-85 win.
The teams played evenly through the first half, as the Leopards held a 46-43 lead the at half.
The Rebels opened the second half at a 23-9 clip to take an 11-point lead with 10:35 to play in regulation.
Jaymes Brown-Peterson scored 14 points down the stretch, and Roper's field goal with two seconds in regulation tied the contest at 84-84. Rasuan Collier stole the inbound pass and put up a shot to win the game. The shot pulled up short, and the game was forced into an overtime session.
Brown-Peterson's assist during Joel Brown's basket helped give the Leopards the lead they would not relinquish with 2:54 left in the game. Brown-Peterson finished the game with 26 points.
The Leopards finished the week 15-5 overall, 4-0 in conference play, and are in first place ahead of McLennan.
Next up for the Leopards
Temple will host the Weatherford College Coyotes on Wednesday at 7 pm and will travel to Terrell to take on Southwestern Christian College on Saturday at 4 pm.
The bounce-back: TC women's basketball rebounds from tough loss with big road win
The Temple College women's basketball team came into the week with an 11-5 mark overall and were in the middle of the NTJCAC pack with a 1-1 record.
On Wednesday, the Leopards hosted the Grayson Vikings to continue conference play.
TC opened a seven-point halftime lead before Grayson's full-court pressure created problems for the Leopards, as the Vikings' 29-8 third quarter was the difference in a 72-63 loss.
Mychal White led the Leopards with 17 points. Jaylice Rosario added 15, and Imani McCray contributed 13 points.
The Leopards completed the week with a road trip to Hillsboro on Saturday, as they took on the Hill College Rebels at Bob Bullock Gymnasium.
Temple pulled away from the Rebels in the second quarter and raced to an 81-47 win.
The Leopards received balanced scoring in the first quarter from Rosario, White, Janiya Davis, and Biva Bird as Temple led at the end of the first quarter, 19-15.
The balanced scoring continued in the second quarter, as Temple's 20-4 run in the period gave the Leopards a 20-point lead at the half, 44-24.
Temple widened their lead in the third quarter and finished the afternoon with a 34-point win.
Davis scored 17 points to lead the Leopards. Rosario and White each scored 14.
The Leopards limited the Rebels to 12 field goals in the game, four in the first half.
Temple finished the week with a 12-6 overall record, and a 2-2 conference record. They are tied for third with Weatherford College and Cisco College.
Next up for women's basketball
The Leopards continue conference play with a pivotal matchup on Wednesday at 5 pm against Weatherford. Temple will travel to Terrell to take on Southwestern Christian College on Saturday at 2 pm.
Baseball prepared for season against Blinn College
The Temple College Leopards baseball team is in their final preparations for this week's season opener against Blinn College at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham.
Temple went 32-23 overall and 15-17 in NTJCAC play last season. The Leopards hit .272 with 37 home runs, 303 runs batted in, and had an on-base percentage of .416.
TC had an earned run average of 5.16, had 11 shutouts (fifth nationally), struck out 367, and walked 229.
The Leopards first home doubleheader will be against Odessa College on Jan. 31.
Softball continues preparations for season-opener on Jan. 29
The Temple College Leopards softball team season will start on Jan. 29 at Kilgore College.
Following a Jan. 31 doubleheader at Blinn College in Brenham, the Leopards will have their first home doubleheader Feb. 2 against Clarendon College.
The Leopards finished in third place in the NJCAA Division I World Series last year. Temple finished 53-13 overall, 25-7 in conference play, hit .399 with 88 home runs and 528 runs batted in, and had an on-base percentage of .476.
TC's 3.08 earned run average ranked 24th nationally and 15 shutouts ranked 8th in the nation.