BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Harlingen High sophomore guard Alexus Coto has been working for the past two years, just to get back on the court.
Coto first injured her ACL in seventh grade. She suffered another ACL injury over a year later, and never stepped onto the court her freshman year.
On Saturday, Coto stepped up and knocked down necessary baskets to lead the Cardinals to the championship of the Mid-Valley Classic tournament.
“She has come a long way,” Harlingen High coach Ashley Moncivaiz said. “This is her first year actually playing. She has been out. To us, she is a blessing, coming in to our team.”
Harlingen knocked off Weslaco High at Weslaco, 73-69.
‘We are very excited, because it doesn’t really mean anything until the regular season comes, but now we are ranked No. 1 in the Valley,” senior post Taegan Dickey said. “So, it means a lot to us.”
Coto finished with 14 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, claiming the All-Tournament MVP award.
“The rehab itself, I had to do it three times a day,” Coto said. “It was very hard. And then getting into the rhythm of playing basketball was tough, because I haven’t played in forever.
“This award is an honor. I worked so hard just to play my heart out for this game that I love.”
Dickey contributed a team-high 17 points, and was cleaning the glass all night, but foul trouble haunted her late in the game.
“I just have to keep my composure out there,” Dickey said. “But, we know we can count on our bench to step up and fill in for anyone.”
The Cardinals’ lead had been cut to four points with four minutes left in the third quarter. Dickey came out to avoid fouling, but the Cardinals banned together and clawed back into the lead. With half a minute left in the quarter, Harlingen hit back-to-back threes from sophomore guard Alyssa Salas and sophomore wing Callie Cervantes to balloon the Cardinal’s lead to 11.
“It was very a big moment,” Moncivaiz said. “We had our sophomores come in and hit some big shots. And that is the thing we have been telling them: We need people off the bench who can come in and give us a spark.”
Weslaco High started the fourth hot, scoring six of the first eight points in the quarter. The Panthers chipped away at the lead, but just when the Cardinals needed it, they got a stop, a turnover or a Coto three to steal back the momentum. Coto’s long-range shot with six minutes left pushed the lead back out to 10.
“She is really good,” senior point guard Ariel Leal said of Coto. “She has been working really hard since her injury. She has always been on the court.”
With 1:48 left to play, Weslaco High’s Aleksa Gallegos buried a corner three to give the Panthers their first lead of the game.
With her team down three, and 45.9 seconds showing on the clock, Coto stepped to the three-point arc and drilled a jumper, which tied the game.
“I was just hoping it went in,” Coto said with a giggle.
The Cardinals got a stop, and 35 seconds later, Leal was wide open at the top of the three-point line.
“Watching her hit that shot was awesome,” Dickey said. “For us to know we can count on her for big moments like that, it means a lot.”
The play was designed for Coto to get a shot, but Coto knew if she couldn’t get open, Leal would be.
“That was our play,” Coto said. “We were hoping that they would trap me, and I would have Ariel open.”
The former district rivals are now in separate districts, and they met Saturday, six days before the two schools will meet on the football field in the bi-district round of the playoffs. The atmosphere on Saturday resembled a playoff game. The two teams will meet again in non-district action Dec. 29 at Weslaco High.
“This win feels good,” Moncivaiz said. “We are headed in the right direction, and we played against a tough team, so that helps us out.”