HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Marine Military Academy Leathernecks took care of business in the first half against IDEA Mission to advance the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League Regional Final.
The Leathernecks defeated the Phoenix 54-28 on Monday at Marine Military Academy. The Leathernecks are slated to face either IDEA Weslaco or IDEA McAllen in the regional final at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
Leathernecks co-captain Ken Jones scored 11 of the team’s 33 points in the first half. Noah Fisher added nine and Mehkhi Blue chipped in with seven points to help put the Academy up by 22 points at the half.
“Once we got going, we picked it up,” Leathernecks head coach Mo Molina said. “Our strength is our speed, and of course our size. We started using that to our advantage.”
Blue is listed at 6-foot-5, as well as senior co-captain Frank Ratliff, and senior John Shields is 6-foot-4. The Leathernecks dominated the boards for easy buckets.
“We played good as a team,” Blue said. “Chemistry was great … we played good today.”
Blue finished with 13 points on the night. Fisher ended up with 11 points and Jones had a game-high 16 points. Shields, Ratliff and Shawn Elsner combined for 14 points.
IDEA Mission’s Noah Tharp led the Phoenix with 10 points. Marcos and Isaac Tijerina had five points apiece, as well as Sebastian Chapa, to round out the scoring for IDEA Mission.
IDEA Weslaco defeated MMA in the regional semifinal last season. This season the Leathernecks finished top of their league with a record of 11-1 and split games with the Colts. MMA won the first game 54-33 at home, and lost the second game 42-41 in Weslaco.
“After losing to IDEA Weslaco a few weeks ago, I think we really came together,” Jones said. “Now, the chemistry is clicking, everything is clicking. Honestly, it is going to be tough for whoever plays us in the finals.”
IDEA McAllen and IDEA Weslaco face each other tonight. The Leathernecks were all smiles about being able to play at the Bert Ogden Arena.
“I can’t even speak any words about it,” Blue said. “It is going to be great.”