By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
PORT ISABEL — Port Isabel is at its best when it uses its defense to generate offense. Zapata found that out on Thursday.
The Lady Tarpons totaled 18 steals and used a key run in the third quarter to pull away from the Lady Hawks for a 65-48 victory in District 32-4A girls basketball action.
“I think (our defense) is effort. The girls do a good job of fighting and staying with it,” Port Isabel head coach Hannah Burleson said. “They have a lot of tenacity, we play pretty hard. On defense that accounts for a lot of it. Being able to force turnovers and capitalizing on them on the offensive end is something we’ve worked on and hopefully is gradually improving.”
Gabby Murchison led the way with 14 points, nine rebounds and a pair of steals, but it was her work in the paint on defense and on the offensive glass that helped Port Isabel fend off a Zapata team that closed within six points in the third before a 10-0 run essentially put the game out of reach.
“I owe it to my coach … she has pushed me harder and is making me a better ball player,” Murchison said. “(The win) was a team effort, it doesn’t matter who scores, it’s a team effort.”
The win gives Port Isabel (4-4 in District 32-4A) a victory to start the second half of district play within striking distance of the fourth playoff spot. Zapata falls to 1-7 in District 32-4A.
“I think Gabby has unlimited potential,” Burleson said. “For our team to win we have to get certain things out of every player. It was huge (Tuesday) she had a good offensive night … I can always count on her on defense and to rebound. She always plays hard, I know she’s always going to go out and give a good effort.
“For her to stay with it and play hard inside, it showed a lot of mental toughness.”
It was back-and-forth in the opening quarter. The Lady Hawks got a layup from Cassy Peña and a pair of free throws from Jolissa Paredes while the Lady Tarpons got a bucket from Murchison and a jumper by Ryley Galvan to a 4-4 tie. A little later, Sabrina Garza hit a layup to push the Port Isabel lead to 10-6, but Elaine Lopez answered to pull Zapata within 10-8. Later Murchison got a three-point play to start a 7-2 run to finish the quarter and 6-point edge through one.
In the second quarter, Samantha Chapa had a steal and a finish for the Lady Tarpons, but Kaelynn Gonzalez hit a 3-pointer to keep the Lady Hawks close at 19-14. Port Isabel went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by a Sabrina Gonzalez steal and bucket and a 23-14 lead. A bucket by Selene Garza got Zapata with 26-20, but the Lady Tarpons finished the half on a 11-4 run including a layup by Ava Gomez and another three-point play by Murchison for a 37-24 advantage at the break.
The Lady Hawks started the third on a 4-0 run with buckets Peña and Selene Garza to get within 37-28. A putback by Galvan and a 3 by Gonzalez gave Port Isabel a 42-32 edge before a bucket by Peña got Zapata within eight. However, the Lady Tarpons used another aggressive defensive effort to reel off 10 straight points and seize a 16-point lead after three.
“That’s the story of our season,” Zapata coach Hector Garcia said. “We cut it down to seven and whew … those runs were the difference.”
The Lady Hawks got within 12 points in the final quarter, but no closer as Port Isabel earned the district victory.
Selene Garza finished with 14 points and four rebounds, Peña had 13 points and four rebounds and Paredes added 10 rebounds and four steals for Zapata.
“We’re just young and we couldn’t get it together,” Garcia said. “Their pressure got to us and we missed a lot of free throws at the end … just missed opportunities.”
Sabrina Garza also finished with 14 points, four boards and three steals and Galvan added 10 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Lady Tarpons.
Burleson hopes the momentum carries forward as her team tries to earn a postseason berth during the second half of district play.
“We know where we stood (midway through district) and how we finish is going to determine the success of our season,” she said. “All of our goals are attainable if we take care of each game, one at a time.”
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.