HARLINGEN — Harlingen’s Sami Quilantan had a huge day, scoring 16 points and grabbing the Tournament MVP Award as she led the Lady Cardinals to a convincing 57-38 victory over Hondo on in the championship game of the Dr. Keillor Classic on Saturday afternoon at Harlingen South.
After the game, Harlingen head coach Ashley Moncivaiz stressed two key points that guided her team.
“Teamwork and effort. They had a lot of heart and they just played together,” said Moncivaiz. “You could just tell they had that intensity right when that buzzer started.”
Coming into the game, Hondo looked like the favorites to win the tournament. Handing losses to San Benito, Harlingen South and Edinburg Economedes the Lady Owls looked poised to hoist this year’s title trophy.
However, Harlingen had the same ambitions.
Defeating Lyford, McAllen Memorial and Los Fresnos on their path to the finals, the Lady Cardinals knew they would get a chance.
From the opening whistle Harlingen jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead prompting Hondo coach D.J. Denton to call a timeout and make some adjustments.
The Lady Owls came back from the timeout and quickly responded tying things up at 6-6 behind a free throw from Tyler Barnes to finish the first period down just 10-8.
However, that would be the last time Hondo would come close.
The Lady Cards regrouped and outscored the Lady Owls 23-9 in the second period to go into halftime with a 33-17 lead.
Knowing that Hondo had come from behind in every game this tournament, the Lady Cards were determined not to just sit on the lead.
“I told them don’t have a let down. The way we started the game we need to finish the same way,” said Moncivaiz. “We needed to keep the pressure. Other teams that were ahead (at the half) didn’t come out with the same intensity.
“With us I told them to come out with that same momentum and keep going.”
The Hondo traveling contingency kept waiting for a comeback that never came as Harlingen increased the lead 54-27 to end the third.
While Quilantan led Harlingen with 16 points, teammates Marissa Gasca assisted with 12 and Kayla Perez netted eight points.
Both Perez and Gasca also received All-Tournament player honors as did Hondo’s Candace Carroll and Tyler Barnes.
“Sami is one of those players who will throw herself on the floor and hustle and do what ever she needs to do for the team,” said Moncivaiz.
“Kayla Perez is one of those guards that I have to keep her in their all the time because she sets the tone of the game and keeps everybody on the same page.”
Other All-Tournament honors went out to Lyford’s Rebekah Perez, Los Fresnos’ Emily Pena, Economedes’ Emily Suarez and St. Josephs Valeria Tapia.
Keillor bracket
GIRLS
Friday’s games
Edinburg Economedes 45, Brownsville Rivera 29
Harlingen JV 40, Harlingen South JV 18
Los Fresnos 49, PSJA 32
Brownsville St. Joseph 49, La Joya Palmview 36
McAllen Memorial 46, Donna North 13
Hondo 53, San Benito 39
Harlingen 63, Lyford 43
Harlingen South vs. bye
Ecoomedes def. St. Joseph
Los Fresnos def. Harlingen JV
Harlingen def. McAllen Memorial
Hondo 71, Harlingen South 61
Palmview def. Rivera
PSJA def. South JV
Lyford def. Donna North
Harlingen South 57, San Benito 49
Saturday’s games
McAllen Memorial def. Harlingen JV
St. Joseph def. Harlingen South
Lyford def. PSJA
Palmview def. San Benito
Harlingen South def. Harlingen JV
PSJA vs. San Benito
Guranteed games
Rivera vs. South JV, NR
South JV vs. Donna North, NR
Rivera vs. Donna North, NR
Semifinals
Harlingen def. Los Fresnos
Hondo def. Economedes
Consolation final
Lyford def. Palmview
Fifth place
St. Jospeh def. McAllen Memorial
Third place
Economedes def. Los Fresnos
Championship
Harlingen 57, Hondo 38