SKIDMORE — A strong first period performance led the way for the Lady Cat varsity basketball squad to roll to a 46-35 victory over the visiting Mathis Lady Pirates on Friday night.

“It was great to see us play a good game against Mathis. We had a bad game and lost to them the first time so we wanted to beat them at our place,” said head coach Joseph Grimes III.

“The girls did a great job on both sides of the ball to earn the win.”

Everything clicked for the Skidmore-Tynan ladies in the first quarter. The defense led to Mathis turnovers and the S-T transition offense took advantage of the Pirate miscues to lead by nine, 13-4, at the period’s end.

The two teams played evenly the rest of the way, only two points separating the clubs through the next three quarters. It was 22-13 at the half with the Lady Cats maintaining their lead of nine. It was a 31-21 game heading into the final stanza as the S-T girls hit for nine third quarter points and the Lady Pirates recorded eight.

Mathis pulled close, but a quick S-T run over the final few minutes preserved the win, as the Lady Cats hit for 15 fourth quarter tallies and the Lady Pirates added 14.

The Lady Cats stand at 7-6 in district play with their season finale on Tuesday night in George West.

Mari Martinez recorded a game-high 19 points for the Lady Cats. Courtney Leonard followed with 11 markers. Amber Hughlett, Neomi Garza and Andrea Leal all tallied four. Khelsey Corrigan and Erica Navarez both contributed two points.