By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen South Lady Hawks defeated the Brownsville Hanna Lady Eagles 40-35 on Tuesday night to open district play in 32-6A.
The Lady Hawks got off to a fast start powered by center Jasmine Ortiz. Ortiz led South in scoring on the night with 17 points and got 11 of them early to help build a 17-5 lead during the first half.
Marie Neme kept the Lady Eagles in the game early with some tough baskets down low to cut the Lady Hawks’ lead to 17-7.
South guard Isabella Marez answered with a big 3 to take a 20-7 lead after she found space. The Lady Hawks’ guards were really patient in the halfcourt offense, swinging the ball well behind the arc.
They pressed well early, too, creating opportunities off of turnovers and in their halfcourt defense. Katelyn Machen, Alexes Rocha, Sarahi Rodriguez and Marez got their hands stuck in well at times, creating turnovers.
“They executed pretty well, I feel like we could have fixed some things defensively,” Harlingen South coach Rebecca Littleton said. “But the girls executed tonight, and we just got to compete and get better.”
Rocha, one of the best ball-handlers for South, got into foul trouble, and the Lady Eagles hit some big shots from deep to claw back into the game.
Amie Bustos hit three big 3-pointers before the half to get Hanna back in it, only down 24-19 going into the half.
“We started off slow for whatever reason, and after that I think we did a good job of adjusting to the pressure,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “A couple of bounces here and there and the game could have went a different way, but I am proud of how the girls fought until the end.”
The Lady Hawks stayed ahead of the Lady Eagles because of three big shots by Marez and Rocha. Late in the fourth and only up by two points, Marez hit a clutch 3 in the corner to put South up 38-33 after Hanna had a chance to tie or take the lead.
Rocha sealed the game with a couple of free throws as the Lady Hawks begin district strong with a good win against a solid team.
“(One-and-zero) is always a good way to start district,” Littleton said. “I am proud of the girls and the effort they put in today. It was not pretty, but the girls played hard and finished.”
Said Gonzalez, “We have 13 more games. We get them back at home, and being at home is a big advantage. All of these district games are big, and we expect a battle just like tonight.”