DONNA — Donna High extended its win streak to four in District 32-5A competition with a 64-42 victory over Brownsville Porter on Tuesday night at Donna High School.
The key to its four-game run? Defense.
“That’s our forte. Defense is where we get after it,” Donna head coach Manuel Epperson said. “The first half, we kind of had some lapses, people weren’t playing defense. Halftime, that’s the adjustment we made. We’re going to play defense and score off our defense.”
The win improves the Redskins’ record to 17-10 on the year and 4-2 in 32-5A action.
Three players finished in double figures for Donna as Trey Rodriguez and Roger Rodriguez each scored 18, while big man Brandon Chavez recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“I felt like we played together; we played as one. We came out here, trying to bring some energy as a team, no individuals or anything like that, and I think that’s how we got the win,” Chavez said.
Despite taking a 27-18 lead into the locker room, Donna wasn’t satisfied with its defensive performance during the second quarter.
After the break, Donna’s full-court pressure took over as Porter struggled just to get the ball past half court.
“I felt like we brought the intensity in the second half,” Chavez said. “We really get after it at practice. We take pride in our defense and that’s what’s been helping us.”
Brownsville Porter’s Diego Moreno and Rocco Almanzan each finished with 10 points, but the Cowboys didn’t have enough firepower to keep up with Donna High.
Meanwhile, Trey Rodriguez did a little bit of everything for Donna. The senior point guard had five steals, five assists and four rebounds.
The last time Donna tasted defeat was Jan. 7 at the hands of Brownsville Pace, which dealt Donna a 51-50 loss.
Since then, Donna has won four straight to put itself in a good position to compete for one of the four playoff spots in 32-5A.
“We’re playing as a team,” Trey Rodriguez said. “We came out the first two games, we weren’t really playing our game. These last four games, we’ve been playing our game and getting after it on defense and it’s been paying off.”
“We’re exactly where we want to be,” Epperson said. “Four wins, we’re not done with the first round, but we can finish with a plus-.500 record in the first round. In the second round, every game is important, every game is a playoff type game.”
Donna will put its four-game win streak in District 32-5A on the line as the Redskins face Brownsville Veterans at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. The Chargers (19-3, 5-1) are ranked No. 15 in the most recent Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll released Jan. 20.
“I just want to see us come out and play,” Epperson said. “Play the same type of defense we’ve been playing all season and anything can happen. It’s going to be a little ‘David vs. Goliath’ in that one.”
Next up for Brownsville Porter is a home game against the Mercedes Tigers slated for a 7:30 p.m. tip Friday.