By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers defeated the Donna High Redskins 46-38 in a pivotal District 32-5A matchup.
“Well, we did a lot of the little things. We still got a long ways to go, but we got a lot of potential,” Brownsville Veterans coach Albert Briones said. “We just got to clean it up. The boys played hard despite mistakes. We are going to work on it because every possession and every game counts from here on out.”
Both teams found it tough to get any rhythm going offensively for most of the game. Turnovers and fouls were common during the first half as both teams also played hard defense throughout the game.
Brownsville Veterans shot slightly better at the line thanks to Alex Ocampo, Gerry Castaneda and Rodrigo Castaneda. The shots from the line helped the Chargers take a 16-11 lead going into the halftime break.
Brownsville Veterans started strong after the half and got two baskets down low by Joseph Camacho to extend the lead.
But Donna High responded after giving up its biggest lead in the game. Javier Cavillo hit a 3, Alex Sanchez Euro-stepped for a bucket and Damian Fuentes also hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 20-19.
The Chargers responded with a run of their own. Before the third quarter finished, Ocampo banked in a shot from close. Castaneda hit from deep to start the fourth, Ocampo got the old-fashioned three-point play and then Nick Fuentes and Kenny Davis tacked on some buckets for a 32-19 lead.
Donna High again responded with Sanchez and Fuentes hitting from deep to cut the lead to 32-25.
The Chargers saw out the game by making free throws and beating the press for easy buckets.
The game was a battle for third-place in the 32-5A standings. Donna High has another big game against Weslaco East on Friday at home.
“We got to win some games,” Donna High coach Manuel Epperson said. “It is do or die the rest of the way. Tonight, we could not hit our shots. We usually make those shots, but if you do not hit them you are not going to win.”
On Friday, Brownsville Veterans will be away at Pace.
“We got to come out with a greater sense of urgency. We got a big game coming up against Pace,” Briones said. “We have played them twice and had opportunities, leads in the fourth quarter.
“It is going to be a battle, they never quit and they are going for that undefeated season. We are going to the drawing board and see what we can do against them for the third time.”