By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Pace and Donna High had already clinched postseason spots, but both were trying to build momentum until then.
The Lady Vikings fell behind in the second quarter, struggled against the Bravettes’ defense and we’re unable to recover in the 55-36 loss in a District 32-5A girls basketball game Friday at Pace.
Pace (7-6 in District 32-5A) stayed with Donna High (10-3) throughout the opening quarter but fell behind early in the second quarter. The Bravettes went on an 8-0 run to open up a 12-point advantage and built a 15-point lead by halftime. Donna High used an aggressive defensive effort to outscore the Lady Vikings 15-4 in the second and Pace never got the lead below 10 points the rest of the way.
“We seemed a little off, out of the gate we were uncomfortable,” Pace coach Eddie Lozano said. “But you have to give it to Donna, they made us uncomfortable all night long, had a good defensive plan and we weren’t able to get back into it.”
In the first quarter, Pace took an early 6-5 lead on a 3-pointer by Lexy Arce, but Donna High regained the lead after a free throw and bucket by Miranda Sandoval. The Lady Vikings’ Sofia Espinoza hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at eight, but a steal and finish by Bianca Quesada gave the Bravettes a lead and they would never trail again. Donna High went on a 5-0 run with a three-point play by Monica Guerrero and a pair of free throws by Quesada. But Pace’s Jade Rodriguez hit a 3 to keep it within four points after one.
After a bucket by the Lady Vikings’ Amanda Gomez, the Bravettes took control. They used an 8-0 run, six points that came from the foul line, to take a 25-13 lead. Stephanie Saenz stopped the drought for Pace, but Donna High ended the quarter on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three-point play by Brianna Quesada and took a 30-15 advantage into the break.
“It kept them from getting second shots and gives us more opportunities to score,” Donna High coach Kevin Kromer said. “If you can control the ball, you can control the game. We had great energy (Friday); I was pleased with our first quarter and the first half.
“I’m proud of their effort … at this time of the season, that’s hard to do.”
The Lady Vikings kept up with the Bravettes in the second half, but they couldn’t overcome Donna High’s 24 steals on the defensive end. Pace hit just 10 of 22 from the foul line and couldn’t match the Bravettes output from the charity stripe (21 of 32) and although it chipped away at the deficit, it couldn’t get it below 10 points in the loss.
“We got in foul trouble (in the first half) and our two leaders were on the bench … in a big game like this that’s not good,” Lozano said. “They hit their free throws and we didn’t … that’s kind of been our Achilles heel the whole year. That’s something we need to work on more.
“Those leaders need to know they need to be on the court, they need to play better defense.”
That free throw differential was key for Donna High.
“When you make free throws, you relax on your shooting,” Kromer said. “You’re not under pressure anymore because the free throws make it a little easier for the jump shots to go in, it’s all confidence. If you make your free throws, you should win the game.”
Brianna Quesada led the Bravettes with 14 points, four rebounds and six steals and Sandoval added 13 points, 17 rebounds and six steals for Donna High.
Kromer hopes that this momentum continues with the postseason starting soon.
“We want to be playing our best ball at the end of the year, so I’m pleased with the effort and I’m proud of every one of them,” he said. “(Pace) is a good, tough physical team. They fight tooth and nail every time we come down here. We have another game on Tuesday to get us ready and give us confidence (going into the playoffs).”
Rodriguez came off the bench to lead the Lady Vikings with 11 points, Gomez had seven points and five rebounds and Arce had six points on a pair of 3-pointers, four rebounds and six steals for Pace.
Lozano tried to find the positive in the loss with the Lady Vikings returning to the playoffs this season.
“I’m glad this happened (Friday) rather than a playoff game,” he said. “We got a little wake up call and hopefully build on the different aspects of the game (before the playoffs start).”
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.