By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen South Lady Hawks’ basketball team has been quite the story this season.
After a turbulent 2017-18 season, Harlingen South has rebounded this year behind its big three in juniors Karla Reyes and Laura Ramirez, and senior Dolores Mendoza.
The three all have had a hand in this year’s success that has Harlingen South in the mix not only for the playoffs but for a potential district title with a 6-1 record.
“Last year I felt we didn’t play with heart,” Reyes said. “This year we are not doing that, we are playing with heart and it shows. We want it this year, and I’m glad we are all playing with a chip on our shoulder. We are hungry.”
While Ramirez and Mendoza have helped fuel the Lady Hawks, it’s Reyes’ presence on and off the court that has helped turn the season around. Reyes was lost last season to a season-ending knee injury Dec. 19, 2017, against Brownsville Hanna.
“When I got hurt, I really felt like it was the end of the world,” Reyes said. “It hurt so much that I could not be out there on the court. I tried to help as much as I could, but it just wasn’t the same with me not being on the court with them.”
South finished 6-8 in district play, going 2-8 down the stretch without Reyes.
“Last year I felt it all came down to when Karla went down with her injury,” Mendoza said. “It felt like everything collapsed. Now we are all back together and everything is flowing, and we are all on the same page.”
With Reyes on the court and teamed up with her battery mates, South is a well-rounded squad that has displayed mental toughness and has shown the ability to make plays when they count.
This season, South got off to a 3-0 district start and its only blemish is a loss to rival Harlingen High. Since that loss, the Lady Hawks have won their past three games.
While Reyes leads the team in scoring, rebounds, blocks and assists, Ramirez is third in scoring and leads the team in steals. Mendoza is second in scoring and fifth on the team in steals.
“I think now we have heart, and like Dolores said, when we lost Karla we all got down,” Ramirez said. “But this year we believe in each other and we have grown mentally, and that just comes with the experience that we have.”
Harlingen South next travels to Brownsville Rivera on Tuesday and, if the stars align, the Lady Hawks could have a shot at the district title this Friday when they travel to Harlingen High.