RAYMONDVILLE — Port Isabel’s Layni Mata and Emily Burrage combined for 31 of the Tarpons’ 37 points to help their team pick up a 37-31 win over Raymondville on Tuesday night.
The Tarpons are now 4-0 in District 32-4A, while Raymondville is 2-2.
Coming into the game, Port Isabel been struggling offensively, head coach Ramon Garcia said. The Tarpons capitalized with plays to Burrage and Mata Garcia.
“We are young,” Garcia said. “We only have one senior. Every game we are getting better.”
| Port Isabel’s Layni Mata (1) runs past Raymondville’s Emily Perez (22) to try and score Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022 during the game between the Port Isabel and Raymondville at Raymondville.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
Mata is the only senior. She scored 13 points, while Burrage dropped 18 points in the win.
Mata expected a tough fight on the road against Raymondville.
| Port Isabel’s Emily Burrage (4) loses control of the ball to Raymondville’s Olivia Rodriguez (00) Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022 during the game between the Port Isabel and Raymondville at Raymondville.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
“I have been on varsity since freshman year and we have never started district like this,” Mata said. “Our team’s performance has slowly progressed since the first game until now.”
It was a low-scoring fourth quarter compared to the other three quarters as both teams clamped down on defense. Port Isabel’s defense only allowed three points in the quarter to see out the District 32-4A win.
| Raymondville’s Avery Knight (1) and Port Isabel’s Hanna Mata (12) lunge for the rebound Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022 during the game between the Port Isabel and Raymondville at Raymondville.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
“That really was the difference in the game,” Raymondville head coach Felix Silva said. “I am confident that we will learn from this game tonight. The girls have a bad taste in their mouth.”
The Tarpons went into the fourth quarter with a 29-28 lead thanks to two 3-pointers by Mata and baskets from Burrage.
Bearkats guard Emily Perez kept the score close with four points from the line as both teams set up for a pivotal fourth quarter.
| Raymondville’s Mia Sayas (12) scores against Port Isabel Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022 during the game between the Port Isabel and Raymondville at Raymondville.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
A five-point run by Raymondville’s Mia Sayas gave the Bearkats a 14-11 lead midway through the second quarter. The Bearkats went into the half up 22-17.
Sayas scored six points for the Bearkats, Gabrielle Chavez also finished with six and Avery Knight led the team in points with seven.
| Raymondville’s Aracely Garcia (30) runs past Port Isabel’s Emily Burrage (4) Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022 during the game between the Port Isabel and Raymondville at Raymondville.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
Raymondville outscored Port Isabel 13-8 in the second quarter after being down 10-9 to begin the quarter.
Port Isabel returns to action against Grulla at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Port Isabel High School. Raymondville takes on Zapata at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Zapata High School.