BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — In a basketball game, every team makes a run.
It was no different during Friday night’s District 31-5A girls basketball play-in when Edinburg Vela topped Roma 54-49 to secure a postseason berth at Sharyland High.
Each team had a run during the fourth quarter. Vela produced a 9-4 power push to go ahead 46-38 with five minutes left in the game, with six points coming from junior point guard Jaida Muhammad.
Then it was Roma’s turn. Down 46-41, the Lady Gladiators unleashed an8-3 run that tied the game at 49 with 1:27 remaining — and they did it mostly with Muhammad on the bench after fouling out.
But the Lady SaberCats had one last bit of a run in them, scoring the game’s last five points. Vela hosts Mercedes at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday for a Class 5A bi-district matchup.
There were plenty of nerves in this one, and the play was sloppy, but gritty.
Unforced errors, technical fouls and turnovers were symptoms of the chippy contest. The fourth quarter was just like the rest of game — close throughout, with Vela playing just well enough to stay ahead.
Vela coach Lottie Zarate said she knew Roma would come to play and test her squad, but without Muhammad for the last four minutes of the game, matters were more imposing.
“Losing her, our point guard, to fouls, it was the first time this season,” Zarate said. “We lost her at the beginning of the season due to injury. So, bottom line, I told the girls, we didn’t have Jaida for 20 games. Did we win without her? Yes, we did. So we can win tonight.”
And they did. But fortunately for Vela, Muhammad, who finished with a game-high 19 points, and Julissa Cuellar (16 points) gave the Lady SaberCats a significant cushion late in the fourth quarter.
“I just kept encouraging them, and I was telling them you have got to believe, and if you believe, we will win,” the junior point guard said. “I am super-duper proud to be teammates with them because they are so encouraging and positive.”
And tough, too. Vela was able to overcome 20 turnovers and Roma’s press defense. Brianne Mata also added eight key points for Vela.
Roma had its share of success and was led by Krissynthia Rocha’s 17 points. Samantha Alanis added 11 and Diamond Ramirez 10.