By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Though it had already clinched a playoff berth, McAllen Rowe entered Friday’s game against La Joya Palmview with a sense of urgency.
The Warriors needed to win to solidify their position as the second-place team in District 30-6A with only a handful of games remaining. Doing so would keep Palmview in third place, while avoiding any coin-flip scenario with Palmview, should both teams wind up with the same district records at the end of the regular season.
For now, at least, it appears like Rowe will be able to avoid those what-ifs following its 78-67 win on the road, thanks in part to a season-high 34 points from Daniel Sotuyo.
The junior guard buried five 3-pointers, and scored 10 of his team’s 20 points during the third quarter — a pivotal stretch in the Warriors’ win Friday. Trailing 41-33 at halftime, Rowe (22-10, 7-2 in district) rallied to outscore the Lobos 45-26 in the second half to sweep the season series.
“Daniel came to play. I think all of us came to play, as far as offense was concerned in the first half,” Rowe coach Jose Luis Yebra said. “We gave up too many points in the first half. That’s what I told them. We came to play offensively, but we left our defense at home. Second half we adjusted and played harder defense.”
The difference was Rowe’s defense approach. Switching from zone to man-to-man, the Warriors were able to close in on Jacob Salinas, the Valley’s second-leading scorer (20.9 points per game). The Lobos point guard put up 16 points alone during the second quarter but put only one two points in the third, after Rowe settled into its set and double-teamed Salinas, times.
Though an outlet pass to Palmview’s Ever Perez early in the fourth quarter cut to deficit to 55-53, Rowe’s Alex Keith (17 points) came off a screen and buried a 3-pointer before Reagan Witten drained another 3 to push Rowe’s lead back up 63-55.
“They had more guys hit shots,” said Palmview coach Andy Saenz, whose team dropped to 17-14, 5-4 in district. “They have some personnel where they get hot, and it’s not just one guy. They have three or four guys who could shoot it.”
Palmview, for its part, had capable scorers, as well. Salinas finished with a team-high 25 points, and Armando Alaniz poured in 17 points, including 11 during the opening quarter.
Sotuyo, though, caught fire at a critical juncture in the game, as the Warriors’ defense was in sync with their offensive productivity.
“Just playing my game, you know,” Sotuyo said. “I knew I had to be relaxed. I knew they were going to get ready for me, and I just played my most relaxed game that I’ve probably played all season.”
“Coach had been telling us all week we have to play like a playoff team. Playoffs are near. So that’s why this was a great win for us.”