BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
LA FERIA — The Hidalgo Pirates and Corpus Christi West Oso Bears knew enough about each other and their respective districts entering Tuesday’s Class 4A regional quarterfinal matchup. Hidalgo, of District 32-4A, knocked off Rockport-Fulton, West Oso’s district mate from 31-4A, in the bi-district round. West Oso, meanwhile, defeated 32-4A’s Grulla in the first round last week.
The Pirates and Bears also shared the court during the regular season. The game ended in a two-point overtime victory for West Oso on the first day of the La Joya Pack Brawl on the Border Tournament on Nov. 9.
The difference for West Oso on Tuesday, as it was in November, was the team’s length and athleticism giving Hidalgo fits. The Bears eked out a 58-54 win, advancing to the Sweet 16 to face San Antonio Veterans Memorial.
“I told the girls that it was going to be an inside game,” Hidalgo coach Saul Arjona said. “We tried to help up, but they were extending our defense. The more pressure we put on them, the more mistakes they would have made down the line. We relaxed and let them get into their offense. It was too tough for us.”
“The last time we played them, we were in a 3-2 defense, because they’re not really an outside team,” Hidalgo guard Savannah Sanchez said. “I think that worked a little bit this time, and they played us in man-to-man, which we do well against. We could have beat them both ways, but we just didn’t finish at the end. They’re a good team, but we could have done better.”
Among the things Hidalgo does well are pressing, converting easy baskets off those forced turnovers and making perimeter jumpers in the half court. The Pirates (31-9) did all three in the first half, making five 3-pointers and building a six-point lead going into halftime.
Hidalgo’s Ashley Arjona missed several minutes in the first quarter after twisting an ankle. During the third quarter, Arjona, the Pirates’ statistical leader in rebounds, assists and steals, again left the floor after stretching the ankle on a rebound.
“I’m not going to say it was all on me, or that they depend on me too much, because we all have really good chemistry when we’re all on the court,” Ashley Arjona said. “We do well when Savannah (Sanchez) and I are running the offense together.”
“After she twisted her ankle, she got a little ball in her ankle now,” Saul Arjona said. “She said she was able to play, so I put her back in. I couldn’t afford to keep her on the bench. She’s been playing tough for us all year.”
Arjona, who finished with six points, played her final game as a Pirate alongside twin sister, Alexis, and for her father, Saul Arjona.
“I’m going to miss practicing every day with my dad,” Ashley Arjona said. “It’s going to be hard letting my teammates go and going my own way.”
“It’s just setting in,” Saul Arjona of his departing daughters. “The Arjona girls are leaving. Whether they’re playing for me or not, I’m going to be here.”
Sanchez led the Pirates with 20 points, and junior forward Barbie Gutierrez chipped in with 12. Sanchez and Gutierrez will both return along with six other girls who will be juniors next season.
“These girls didn’t want it to end,” Saul Arjona said. “We were already talking about what we were going to do in our next practice to get ready for the regional tournament, but I’m not disappointed in the girls. We worked so hard for this and we accomplished a lot of our goals this season, one at a time. We’re good right now.”