Bobcats blow past Falcons
BY RAUL GARCIA
STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — The Edinburg High Bobcats made it clear after the opening tip off that they were going to dominate the paint the rest of the night.
Bobcats senior Brianna Sanchez took control early with a tip pass off a missed shot to her teammate Julissah Santa Maria waiting in the left corner.
Santa Maria and the Bobcats next moved the ball back around the top of the key to let Sanchez and her 6-foot-2 frame find her position on the right side block where she converted on a turnaround shot off the glass after receiving a shooting pass from teammate Larissa Martinez.
It was the game’s opening score, and the Bobcats never let go of the lead.
The Bobcats went on an 8-0 run after Bobcats juniors Daysha Tirerina and Santa Maria converted on two back-to-back threes and defeated the visiting Falcons (10-9) 60-40.
The Bobcats, ranked No. 21 in the state according to tabchoops.com, sank 11 3-pointers in the win.
“I thought this was a really good test for us knowing that a big piece of our team — in Annika (Saenz) was out,” Edinburg High head coach JD Salinas said. “The girls responded really well tonight.”
Saenz, a junior and the Bobcats starting point guard, had been averaging 20 points per game before a left ACL tear recently sidelined her for the remainder of the season.
“They stepped up to the challenge and they were moving the ball very well,” Salinas said. “The girls shot the ball extremely well from the outside.”