BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO RGVSPORTS
McALLEN — Ebony Johnson and the Lady Mustangs used a hot-shooting second half to overcome a dominating performance by La Joya‘s Ashley Olivarez and edge the Lady Coyotes 48-47 Saturday afternoon at Memorial.
Johnson scored 14 of her 17 points after half – and with Memorial hanging on to teetering 2-point lead with just seven seconds left in the game Johnson stuffed Olivarez at the basket, grabbed the loose ball and was fouled
The 6-foot-2 junior post then swished two free throws to give the Lady Mustangs a 48-44 advantage with seven seconds left, and it was barely enough. La Joya inbounded and Karina Casanova promptly hit a 3 as the buzzer sounded for the final score.
The come-from-behind victory propelled the Lady Mustangs to 3-0 in District 30-6A and 12-8 overall. La Joya dropped to 1-2 and 11-12 respectively.
“We came out more focused in the second half,” said Memorial Coach Clarisse Arredondo. “Ebony got hot. They kept their composure.”
Arredondo said she was happy with how her team didn’t wilt under pressure and wasn’t discouraged despite playing from behind most of the game. In fact, Memorial didn’t take its first lead until early in the fourth quarter on Sarah Smith’s bucket to go up 42-40.
The Lady Mustangs would never relinquish the lead after that as Smith followed with another basket, and Memorial slowed down the game and burned clock until near the very end. Memorial’s crisp passing and solid defense also proved the difference in second half.
“At halftime we talked about defense and who wanted it more,” said Johnson who had eight rebounds, and also hit two 3s in the fourth quarter. “It’s (long distance shooting) been there, but I’ve gotten more confident shooting them now.”
Good thing because Johnson was the only Lady Mustang to score in double figures, although she had plenty of help from freshman guard Tani Talamantez (9 points) and Valeria Trevino (8 points) Kailey Caldwell (6 points).
And while Memorial walked away with the W, La Joya had its chances. Olivarez nearly willed the Lady Coyotes to win with her 29 points (career high) and nine rebounds. The 5-foot-10 post scored on a variety of inside moves and put backs using good footwork and positioning. But in the end couldn’t get the last shot over Johnson as she had on previous possessions.
“We let it get away,” said La Joya Coach Rene Zamora. “The game could have gone either way. A couple of turnovers here and there because of inexperience and players on vacation.”
Zamora added that he expects his team to be in the thick of the district race with “go-to” senior post Olivarez. “If she can keep playing like that, and we get some of our players back, we’ll be right there.
Cassanova added 10 points for the Lady Coyotes.