KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN— The Harlingen High Cardinals needed a win and got one Tuesday night against crosstown rival Harlingen South.
Senior Michael Arellano just knows how to play in big games. Arellano dished a game-high 19 points during a 42-36 road win Tuesday night at Harlingen South.
“This was a big win for us,” Arellano said. “Anytime you come here to South it’s going to be tough, we just need to keep working. This is a big rivalry, it is always fun playing South. It was a tough game and it was a physical game, but that is something I’m used to, it is a part of it.”
Against a rugged home crowd, Arellano caught fire with three straight 3s and put Harlingen High ahead 25-17 late in the second quarter. The Cards outscored the Hawks 14-7 in the frame, with Arellano scoring 11 of the points.
Diego Bazaldua added 12 points in the win.
“As far as the adjustments go, (the Hawks) did a great job on their man-to-man defense and adjusted well in the second half,” Harlingen High assistant coach Leeroy Sanchez said. “It was tough. We struggled to score in the third quarter and took some hard, contested shots. That is just a testament to how well South played defensively.”
Harlingen High picked up its first district win and will meet Brownsville Rivera on Friday. Tuesday’s game was looked at as a must-win for the Cardinals if they want to keep pace in the district race.
“Every district game is a must-win,” Sanchez said. “That is how we approach every game we want to win, and if it happens, it happens, and now we can focus on Friday.”
South managed to trim the lead and slowed Arellano during the second half, holding him to five points.
Down the stretch, leading 36-33 with two minutes left, Michael Vasquez drove through the paint for a layup, completing a key three-point play and giving the Cardinals a late 39-33 lead they did not surrender.
“Down the stretch, we made some key baskets and made some stops, and that is what helped put the game away,” Sanchez said. “Anytime you can get a win here is good. It is a tough place to play.”
The Hawks will travel to Brownsville Hanna on Friday. Despite the loss, there is still room for optimism moving forward.
“I thought the kids played well, and the effort was there,” Hawks coach Brian Molina said. “They played hard and we put ourselves in position to win a ballgame, but Harlingen is a tough ballclub and they executed when they needed to.”
Senior Grant Lowery led the Hawks with 12 points, Alex Rodriguez finished with eight and Mito Vasquez netted six.