NATHANIEL MATA| THE MONITOR
ROMA — Weslaco High and Laredo United South both got off to sluggish starts in their Class 6A area playoff game on Friday, but United South overcame the early funk and advanced to the regional quarterfinals with a 38-30 win.
The Panthers will say goodbye to a stellar senior class that has been a part of six consecutive district titles under coach Griselda Fino.
“It’s great to represent Weslaco, especially playing for Fino. She’s a great coach,” senior Briana Peña said. “The seniors, we’ve all played together for four years. They just kept playing tenaciously. The chemistry we had, it’s going to be hard to let go.”
The teams combined for 15 points during the first quarter. Defense was paramount, and neither team shot the ball well.
Weslaco center Illiyah Cantu opened the scoring with her putback layup after Emily Saenz attempted a shot that rimmed out. Weslaco jumped out to a 9-2 lead after Peña converted a 3-point play.
Weslaco’s defense was aggressive, forcing four first-quarter turnovers.
“It was a low-scoring game. It was a really defensive game. It was really physical out there,” Peña said. “It was just a matter of who wanted it more. I don’t think a lot of shots were falling for us. A lot of shots were rolling out for us. It just happens. It ended up happening, unfortunately, tonight.”
Peña scored five points on 2-of-8 shooting during the opening frame but didn’t sink another field goal the rest of the night.
United South turned up the pressure on both sides of the ball to start the second quarter. Weslaco gave up two turnovers in the first two minutes of the second, contributing to a 7-0 run.
United South center Evelyn Cruz had five points in the 14-point United South quarter.
Weslaco couldn’t get on the score sheet in the frame until 3 minutes and 30 seconds remained before halftime.
“We had a good start, but I think toward the second half, when they started pressing, trapping, I think we had a little bit of trouble,” Saenz said. “Once we started getting the hang of and attacking the basket, I think we should have capitalized on that and kept attacking. Again, our shots weren’t falling.”
The Saenz-Cantu connection was Weslaco’s lone silver lining in the quarter. Cantu finished with 11 points to lead the Panthers, while Saenz had six.
The third quarter was another momentum swing, this time in favor of Weslaco High.
Saenz made two free throws to tie the game at 18. She also made a slick move to evade Cruz and put the Panthers up 24-23. That was the last time Weslaco led.
“It was definitely something that we worked on — to make sure that we had our defensive assignments down,” Fino said. “I think we did a good job, the first half anyway, (of) doing the little things — keeping them off the boards, making them take difficult shots. We were able to take a lead here and there. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to contain it.”
Untimely fouls, unforced turnovers and poor interior shooting doomed Weslaco in the final frame. Saenz and Jada Lopez had baskets in the fourth, but Weslaco only managed six points to United South’s 11.
“We have a lot to be proud of,” Saenz said. “Things didn’t go our way this game, but I think it was just a great run. We came together as a team every single game. At practice, we were all on each other, pushing each other. The thing about this team is the senior group. We’ve worked hard. I think everyone pushed each other, and it’s going to be a memorable year.”
A senior and last season’s Monitor All-Area Player of the Year, Peña was in tears after the loss but was able to recognize how special her four seasons were.
“It was a great ride,” Peña said. “We went through a lot of adversity, and we kept fighting. It is what it is. Everything happens for a reason, and all the glory goes to God.”
“To maintain that level of excellence is unheard of,” Fino said. “I’m just beyond proud. Of course, the ball didn’t bounce our way today, but it doesn’t diminish or take away the fact that I’m very blessed one, to be their coach, and two, proud to be their coach.”