Leopards Athletics Report (Nov. 4-10)

By Tony Adams, Temple College

To say that last week’s action in Temple College was exciting was an understatement.

A court was dedicated and the three teams in regular season play all won games, including a historic one for the volleyball program.

Let us get right to it with this week’s Leopards Athletics Report.

Volleyball wins their final regular season game, locks up third playoff seed.

After a road loss mid-week to North Central Texas College, the Temple College volleyball team saw its playoff scenario boil down to a final game: a must-win against Vernon College, a team that had already locked up the second seed in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC).

Stellar play by the Leopards created advantages that Vernon was not able to recover from as Temple swept Chaps in three games, by scores of 25-18, 25-17, and 25-15.

The Leopards logged 53 digs, 39 kills, 38 assists, nine aces, and six blocks, to go with an impressive 30.2% kill rate on 96 attacks.

Courtnee Morgan led the team in kills with 12, Jordyn Carpenter delivered eight, and Lexi Manning and Mia Dunaway each had seven. Libby Flores added 31 assists and 13 digs, and Pauline Gonzales added seven.

After winning five of their final six regular season games, the Leopards clinched a regular season mark of 16-15 overall, 9-5 for third place in the NTJCAC and a trip to Region V Tournament for the first time since 2012.

Next up for Leopards volleyball

A well-earned trip to the double-elimination Region V Tournament is on deck for the Leopards at the Cahoon Armory Gymnasium in Roswell, New Mexico.

The Leopards will begin play at 1 p.m. on Thursday as they will take on No. 10 Odessa College (24-7 overall, 12-2 conference), the Western Junior College Athletic Conference second seed and winners of their final five regular season games.

With a win, Temple would take on the winner of No. 3 New Mexico Military Institute and Ranger College/NCTC on Friday at 9 a.m. A loss would drop the Leopards into an elimination game against the loser of NMMI-Ranger/NCTC.

It is official: New gymnasium hardwood named Kirby Johnson Court

If you have been watching the volleyball broadcasts on the Temple College PlaySight page this season, there are Kirby Johnson signatures on both sides of the new gymnasium floor. The coach’s signature and court designs were completed by QHF Sports this summer.

Between 1987-2020, Johnson led the Temple College men’s basketball team. His teams combined to score over 100,000 points in 1,019 games coached for an average of 101 points per game, qualified for regional tournaments 29 times, won 20 or more games in 25 seasons, and his 1994-1995 holds the NJCAA scoring record for points in a game with 173.

On Saturday, the Kirby Johnson Court naming was made official with a dedication ceremony in front of family, friends, fellow coaches, and former players, which included current head coach Dr. Clifton Ellis. Ellis played for Johnson from 1995-97.

“He was coach, he drove the van, he was a referee during practice, he was the mediator, and he would tell you that he was the team psychologist as well,” Ellis said with a laugh, adding that Johnson made an incredible impact on the players he coached. “For us as former players, there is not a major decision that we make in our life that we do not somehow think to ourselves, ‘What would Coach Johnson do in this situation. Seeing him able to get his name here on the court signifies what an impact he made.”

But wait! That is not all! 

Dr. Christy Ponce, President of Temple College, and members of the Board of Trustees presented a proclamation thanking Johnson for his investment in countless students on the court and in the classroom.

Ponce also had another surprise for Johnson and the attendees.

“Today, Nov. 2, 2024, in addition to the naming of the Kirby Johnson Court, we are happy to announce that Coach Kirby Johnson is officially inducted into the NJCAA Athletics Hall of Fame,” Ponce told the crowd.

Congratulations to Coach Kirby Johnson on the court and the Hall of Fame honors!

Inspirational win: Temple College men’s hold off Fort Cavazos

Feeling the euphoria from the Kirby Johnson Court dedication, the Temple College men’s basketball team began its 2024-2025 season on Saturday against the Fort Cavazos Phantom Warriors.

The Leopards bounced back from an early nine-point deficit with a 32-16 run to finish the first half and held off a late Warrior rush to defeat Fort Cavazos, 85-78.

Fort Cavazos led at the first media break, 10-5, and extended the advantage to nine points, 17-8, with 11:41 to play in the first half.

The Leopards went on a 13-3 run over the next 3:30 to take a 21-20 lead. TC extended the run to 32-16 to finish half, as the Leopards led at the half, 40-33.

The Warriors had the margin to within five points before the Leopards stretched the lead to 16 points with 7:42 to play.

Over the next six minutes, Fort Cavazos narrowed the deficit to five points before the Leopards hit a pair of free throws to put the game out of reach.

The Leopards shot 12-of-20 (60%) from the free throw line and hit eight three-pointers.

Rasuan Collier led all scorers with 19 points, which included a pair of three-pointers, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Logan Myers added 18, 12 points on three-pointers. Josh Telfort chipped in 15 points, having shot 5-of-9 from the free throw stripe. Jason Ward contributed 12 points, and Storm Gilchrist poured in 11.

Next up for the Leopards

The men will have a pair of games this week, as they play on the road at Kilgore College on Tuesday night and return for a Saturday game against Navarro College at 4 p.m. on Kirby Johnson Court.

Quick jump: Women’s basketball begins season with a rout

The Temple College women’s basketball team began its 2024-2025 season with a road trip to Hawkins to take on NAIA’s Jarvis Christian University.

The Leopards drained 15 three-pointers on route to a 104-48 win over the Bulldogs.

Tournament time in Tyler

The Leopards will start their week with a matchup against Coastal Bend College on Kirby Johnson Court on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

The team will travel to Tyler for a weekend tournament at the Herb Richardson Classic at Wagstaff Gym.

The Leopards will play Kilgore College on Friday at 5 p.m., and will take on Tyler Junior College on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Seasons complete: Baseball, softball fall seasons end

The end of October signaled the end of the fall seasons for the Temple College baseball and softball seasons.

Fall baseball completed with a matchup against Blinn College last week, and fall softball concluded with an exhibition at Southwestern University in Georgetown.

The teams will start up again in January to begin the spring season.