By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers clinched at least a share of the District 32-5A title with a 57-42 win against the Donna High Bravettes on Tuesday night.
The Lady Chargers (26-7, 12-0) will play Edcouch-Elsa next week at home with a chance to clinch the title outright.
The Bravettes (22-11, 10-2) came out shooting hot. Mia Pedroza and Briana Duran hit a few shots from downtown to take a 15-7 lead.
Brownsville Veterans got back in the game with Catie Esquivel. Her teammates found her often in the paint, and Esquivel also helped herself with offensive boards.
Brownsville Veterans cut the lead to 15-13 during the first quarter and took the lead in the second when Bry Buitureira finished at the rim after a rebound. Buitureira then found Brianna Brackhahn to go up 19-15.
Lady Chargers guard Alexa Torres hit a floater in the lane, then found Buitureira for an easy bucket to continue the run.
Brownsville Veterans began to open it up more on the Bravettes. Mariana Espinosa got involved in the run, too, finishing at the rim after a wonderful drive to give her team a 34-17 halftime lead.
“Movement was key,” Esquivel said. “During halftime we broke things down and we really wanted to work harder on the next play and not worry about the last.”
Brownsville Veterans post Jordyn Rivera came off the bench, got a few baskets and a big block. Buitureira and Torres each banked a 3-pointer as the Lady Chargers pulled away to 48-17 in the third quarter.
“I think we came out a little weak, but we turned it around,” Torres said. “When we move the ball well we get some nice shots, and because of that ability we were able to come back for the nice win.”
The Lady Chargers went into the fourth up 52-22.
The Bravettes showed heart in the final frame. Donna High will finish second in the district and now will begin to focus on the playoffs.
“Going forward, looks promising, the girls are really buying in and are working hard,” Donna High coach Lori Pedroza said. “They could have packed it up, but they played hard after going down. We got to do some things we needed to work on. We are looking forward to the playoffs for the second year in a row.”