BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
ELSA — Edcouch-Elsa needed some help, but the team was squarely in the playoff conversation heading into its regular-season finale.
The Yellow Jackets were in the middle of a three-team logjam for the fourth and final playoff spot in District 32-5A. Brownsville Pace, which was 7-6 in district play before Tuesday, held on to the No. 4 seed with Valley View and Edcouch-Elsa sitting a game behind the Vikings in the standings.
Valley View and Edcouch-Elsa needed to win their finales and Pace to lose its finale in order to stay alive, but the Tigers nor Yellow Jackets could hold up their end of the deal. The Chargers hung on late to down the Yellow Jackets 56-55 at YellowJacket Gymnasium.
Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz knew his girls were facing a desperate Edcouch-Elsa team.
“This game was important because they (Edcouch-Elsa) were fighting with (Brownsville) Pace and Valley View for that last spot,” Paz said. “There was going to be a lot of energy in this building. It was good that we had this kind of game instead of an easy game because this helps us realize the things we have to correct for the playoffs.”
Brownsville Veterans (21-15, 11-3) was in control for most of the game, but it never took more than a nine-point lead. The Chargers left the door open enough times to allow the Yellow Jackets to crawl back into the game in the second half.
“Three of the things we talk about with the girls is to play hard, play together and play smart,” Paz said. “We did the first two, play together and play hard, but at times, we didn’t play very smart. We could have made some better decisions, but overall, I’m glad that they gutted it out. They maintained their composure and still came out with the win.”
Edcouch-Elsa (6-8 in District 32-5A) showed off its strength shooting from the perimeter. The Yellow Jackets tied the game at 42 with under two minutes to play in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from senior Yara Ybarra.
E-E squared the game again at 47 on a trey from freshman Mia Flores less than 30 seconds into the final period, but the team couldn’t build a lead of its own.
“I think we got a little bit ahead of ourselves and started rushing,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Daniel Richardson said. “We started to turn the ball over, and I think it’s because we’re young. We have to grow. In those situations, the more times we’re in them, the better we’ll be better at getting out of them.”
Tuesday’s loss brings a familiar sting to Richardson and the program. This is the third time in Richardson’s three seasons where the Yellow Jackets have finished on the outside looking into the playoffs in fifth place.
“We have to figure out how to finish games and having some type of leadership on the court. That’s what we’ve lacked,” Richardson said. “Someone who can grab the ball, calm everybody down and help us finish some games.”
The Chargers were led by Destiny Contreras’ 20 points. Brownsville Veterans is now locked in as the No. 2 seed representing District 32-5A and will face PSJA Memorial in the bi-district round of the playoffs next week. The Wolverines are the No. 3 seed from District 31-5A.
“I think (PSJA Memorial) coach (Marissa) Gutierrez is going to run everything through her bigs,” Paz said. “It’s going to be a very challenging first round game.”