HARLINGEN — Harlingen High took the first meeting, but Los Fresnos snatched the second meeting Tuesday night to move into third place in District 32-6A.
The Falcons outscored the Cardinals 18-5 during the third quarter to pull away and pick up a 55-46 win at Harlingen High School.
“It was a much-needed win for this team,” Los Fresnos head coach Marco Hinojosa said. “We have not clinched anything yet, and the guys played with a sense of urgency and fight today. We have been talking about that in practice. Credit to my guys, they responded well when they needed. I am proud of them right now.”
The Cardinals picked up the offense in the fourth quarter to try and mount a comeback, but the buckets were answered by Falcons junior Jj Salazar and sophomore Jude Barreda.
Salazar and Barreda combined for 11 points during the fourth quarter.
“My teammates were able to get me open,” Salazar said. “They were able to get me the ball at the right time, so thanks to them.”
Salazar finished with a game-high 20 points, Barreda dropped 13 and Luis Ramirez picked up 15 as the Falcons snapped a two-game district losing streak.
“There was a hunger,” Hinojosa said. “A different energy, a different focus — they knew what was on the line, they knew they needed to win and they knew dropping a game was almost going to put them out of the playoffs. Again, we have not clinched yet, we need one more, possibly two. One game at a time.”
The win moves the Falcons up to third place in the district, alone at the moment as Brownsville Hanna occupied the second spot with only two losses coming into the night.
Only two points separated the teams at the half after a hard-fought first half. Harlingen High held on to the slim advantage at the break.
Harlingen High’s Luis Rodriguez and Jayden Rendon each finished with 15 points, and Ryan Sanchez added nine points.
Los Fresnos takes on Brownsville Rivera at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Brownsville Rivera, and Harlingen High is at home to face Weslaco High at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. Both games are hugely important for the playoff spots in the district.