JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — A parent’s video camera caused a momentary break in action during the second quarter of Friday afternoon’s game between Edinburg Economedes and Weslaco East at Economedes High School.
Lady Wildcats coach William Kromer protested the unwanted surveillance to officials to no avail, and play resumed in time for the camera to catch Economedes’ Emily Suarez go lights out from the floor. The senior guard scored 7 of her 25 points in the quarter, knocking down 4 of 5 shot attempts, including a 3-pointer.
The Lady Jaguars drained seven bombs from long range en route to a 48-42 win over their District 31-6A opponent, who mustered a single make from behind the arc.
“I gave the girls the green light to shoot,” Economedes coach Marina Campos said. “I figured those were the shots that were going to be open.”
Weslaco East entered the game looking to limit Silvia Perez, the Lady Jaguars’ inside muscle.
“We have to adjust for every team’s defense,” Suarez said. “But if you guard Silvia and pack the paint like (the Lady Wildcats) did, that leaves it open for me.”
Though Perez finished with a quiet 4 points, Weslaco East had no answer for Econ’s perimeter play. On several possessions, the ball scantly touched the floor as the Lady Jaguars whipped it about the 3-point line, tiring or confusing East’s defense to get open looks.
The Lady Jaguars (13-8, 2-0 31-6A) racked up 10 assists to the Lady Wildcats’ two.
“We said from the get-go we wanted to wear down (Weslaco East’s) defenders,” Campos said. “We kept passing and wearing them down and I told the girls that, if it’s there, to take the shot.”
Weslaco East (13-11, 2-1) switched its defensive scheme to a 3-2 zone in the second half in an attempt to stop Econ’s jump shooters.
“But we did worse in the second half,” Kromer said. “We went back to our typical set, but it didn’t produce what we wanted.”
While the Lady Wildcats struggled to get stops, Econ’s defense flourished. The Lady Jags held their opponent to 30 percent shooting and out-rebounded them by a 33-29 margin.
“Offensively we’re consistent,” Suarez said. “But the defense will be key for us going forward.”
Econ’s next game will be Tuesday in Pharr against PSJA North, a team of similar makeup: savvy guard play with license to shoot.
“It seems like this district is all about the guards,” Campos said. “No body has a lot of height.”
The Lady Wildcats do in forwards Sabrina Rodriguez and Faith Olszak. Both saw limited minutes in Friday’s game as they recover from a high ankle sprain and a broken right clavicle, respectively. Rodriguez finished with 4 points while Olszak scored 2 points on a lone trip to the foul line.
“Faith’s not in basketball shape,” Kromer said. “She’s been running on a treadmill, but that’s not the same as running on hardwood.”