BROWNSVILLE — Missed game-winning free throws, multiple foul-outs, unlikely comebacks and three overtimes of drama-filled basketball unfolded between McAllen Rowe and Brownsville Lopez on Friday in the BISD tournament.
McAllen Rowe edged Brownsville Lopez 86-85 in triple overtime at Brownsville Porter High School.
“I am going to give credit to the kids,” McAllen Rowe head coach Jose Yebra said. “Our kids kept their composure and kept playing, despite everything that went on in the game. I am not going to say anything about the game. Everyone here saw what happened. I am just proud our kids stayed composed with everything that went on.”
Four Warriors fouled out along with one Lobos player in the game. Both Yebra and Brownsville Lopez head coach Erick Quintero had intense discussions with the refs over calls during the game, but when the dust settled Rowe came out on top.
“We needed a game like this for our kids to continue to believe and continue to get better,” Yebra said. “That is why we came here to get better, we learned from this, that is what I am going to take away from this game.”
Manuel Bejarano led the Warriors in scoring with 33 points. When Bejarano fouled out, left-handed shooter Marcos Hernandez stepped up with 18 points. Hernandez drained four 3-pointers and made the clutch free-throw to win the game.
A halfcourt heave by Marco Coello missed out on the possibility of another twist in the ever-turning game.
Coello finished with 35 points to lead the Lobos in scoring. Coello had a chance to win the game during the second overtime, but missed a free throw. Brownsville Lopez had chances to win the game from the line during the first overtime as well.
The senior Coello also pulled off acrobatic finishes at the rim to keep his team in the game late and helped facilitate mostly early as the Lobos jumped out to a 34-19 lead in the third quarter.
For losing, Brownsville Lopez had to face Brownsville St. Joseph, the defending BISD tournament champion, but the day was not all doom and gloom for the Lobos. The Lobos defeated the Bloodhounds at the buzzer to advance.
“It was an emotional roller coaster for me,” Quintero said. “I have not had a day like this in a long time.”
Quintero worried about his team’s legs and some injuries to some key players like Jacob Cortinas, but the Lobos will run through a wall for the team, he said.
“I have been telling them, it does not matter who we are right now,” Quintero said. “It is who are we going to be when there is 10 district games left and we have to win six or seven games, that is what matters to us. It is great we are winning and beat who everybody thought was going to be the winner of the tournament, and they are a good team.”
Brownsville Lopez takes on Port Isabel at 12:30 p.m. today at Hanna High School. The winner advances to the BISD championship game slated for 3:30 p.m. today at Hanna.