By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Rivera started strong, but turnovers played a factor against Weslaco High.
The Lady Raiders trailed by just three points after matching baskets with the District 31-6A champions for a quarter but committed too many turnovers after that, and the Lady Panthers took advantage during their 59-40 bi-district playoff victory Monday at Rivera.
“We just turned the ball over,” Rivera coach Willie Brown said. “If we don’t turn the ball over, we had a shot. Other than that, we played them toe-to-toe.”
Darcy Cardenas led the way with 23 points for Rivera, including 14 after halftime. The senior added a pair of rebounds and two steals, but she failed to extend her final basketball season with the Lady Raiders.
“I can’t be any prouder of (Darcy Cardenas),” Brown said. “I don’t know how many (points) she had, but she had a bunch. She comes to play every night.”
Rivera started strong during the first quarter. Weslaco High started the game on a 6-0 run with four points from Jazlynn Muniz. The Lady Raiders responded with back-to-back 3s from Ulyssa Alvarado and Gisel Hinojosa to tie the game at 6. Muniz had a three-point play and later a 3, but Cardenas answered for the Lady Raiders each time. Muniz finished with 13 points during the first quarter and Cardenas scored six, but Weslaco High led 16-13.
During the second quarter, the Lady Panthers’ defense was too much for Rivera. Emily Saenz had back-to-back buckets to extend Weslaco High’s lead to 20-13.
Cardenas kept doing her part for the Lady Raiders, hitting a free throw and later a jumper, but that was all Rivera got in the quarter.
Muniz added eight points, including five straight points during a stretch, as the Lady Panthers limited the Lady Raiders to contested looks and led 28-16 at the half.
“I thought in the first quarter, (Rivera’s) shot selection was different than what we’ve seen,” Weslaco High coach Griselda Fino said. “It was just a matter of adjusting defensively. When we eliminated their clean looks at the basket, it changed the game a little bit, it rattled them a little bit more.”
During the second half, Rivera tried to come back as Cardenas drove to the basket and hit a couple 3s on her way to 14 points after the break. Weslaco High’s defense continued to cause turnovers and scored points in transition to extend the lead to 20 by the end of the third quarter.
The Lady Raiders found some offensive firepower during the fourth quarter as Michelle Morales and Hinojosa each hit a 3, but Rivera did not overcome the third-quarter deficit.
Alvarado and Hinojosa each scored six points and combined for seven rebounds, and Morales added five and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Raiders.
Muniz led Weslaco High with a game-high 26 points, a pair of assists and four steals. Brianna Pena finished with eight points, five rebounds and four steals for the Lady Panthers.
Muniz was determined to do whatever she needed to do to carry Weslaco High.
“That’s her game, she can shoot, she can slash to the basket, she can drive, she’s also a big part of our defensive game,” Fino said. “She never lets down. She understands (the playoffs) is one and done, we can’t lose any games. Her job was to get this team going and that’s exactly what she did, that’s what she’s done all year.”
Fino also was proud of her team’s defensive effort.
“I think defensively our kids stepped up, and that’s been our bread and butter especially this year,” she said. “I think that’s what changed the momentum and the outcome of the game.”
Instead of focusing on the season-ending loss, Brown reflected on the journey to the postseason.
“I can’t be any more proud of these girls,” he said. “To get here, to get to this point with these young ladies, it’s been sweet. They gave me everything they could give me this year, and I’m so proud of them. I wish Weslaco High much success and (to) go as far as they can go.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.