By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
CORPUS CHRISTI — The Northside Harlan Lady Hawks defeated the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals 68-48 in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday night at Corpus Christi King.
The Lady Hawks busted the game open at the beginning of the second quarter. Harlan went on a 15-0 run to go up 23-6.
“The team came out and played really, really hard,” Harlan coach Mannasha Bell said. “They came out focused, they had a lot of energy and they were prepared for this game.”
Lady Hawks guard Layla Conley led the team in scoring with 25 points, including 11 during the second quarter to give Harlan a 37-19 lead at halftime.
“I think we played great,” Conley said. “We play good as a team, and we came together. They beat us last year, so we had to get our revenge.”
Conley continued where she left off during the second half. The junior’s nice shooting and passing maintained the Harlan lead.
Lady Hawks senior Vivian Villa also chipped in with timely 3-pointers and finished with 13 points.
Harlingen High’s Avery Hinojosa and Juli Bryant cut the lead to 14 to give the Lady Cardinals momentum down the stretch, but a 3-point play by Harlan’s Ariyel Gordon sealed the game.
“My girls left it on the court,” Lady Cardinals coach Ashley Moncivaiz said. “They played hard from start to end, and I am proud of that. I always tell them, never give up and let them see what Lady Cardinals basketball is.”
Hinojosa finished with 15 points to lead the Lady Cardinals in scoring, Bryant added 12.
Harlingen High finishes the season 26-10 and as co-District 32-6A champions.