By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Hanna’s Mia Paz reached a milestone against Rivera, but Rivera didn’t make it easy.
Paz hit a pair of free throws with 3:19 left in the second quarter to tally 2,000 career points, but the Lady Golden Eagles needed a strong second half to beat the Lady Raiders 59-48 in a District 32-6A girls basketball game Tuesday at Hanna.
“I wanted to just get it over with,” Paz said of her achievement. “I know the girls were trying to get me the ball. I thank them for that and supporting me, but I really wanted the win.”
After just six points in the first half, Paz scored 13 after the break (seven in the third quarter) to finish with a game-high 19. She added three rebounds, three steals and a block as Hanna (3-5 District 32-6A) erased a slight deficit and kept Rivera (0-8) winless in 32-6A.
“I’m proud of Mia’s accomplishment, it goes to show what hard work and dedication can do,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “She has 2,000 as a junior, so the sky’s the limit for her … if she continues to play hard, she can accomplish a lot of great, great things.”
It didn’t without a fight for the Lady Eagles. After Ryann Wood and Karen Garcia hit back-to-back jumpers, Paz nailed a runner to cap a 6-0 burst that opened the scoring in the first period. Mayra Martinez sank a jumper to get the Lady Raiders on the board, but Garcia nailed a 3-pointer to push Hanna’s edge to 9-2.
Kourtney Shears converted a pair of free throws during a 4-0 Rivera spurt, but Paz countered with two free throws of her own during a Hanna move as the Lady Eagles finished the period with a 17-7 lead.
The Lady Raiders started the second quarter on a 6-0 push, including back-to-back layups from Montes to get within 17-13. After a free throw by Ariana Arceaeux for the Lady Eagles, Shears hit a runner to close the gap to two for Rivera. On Hanna’s next possession, Paz was fouled and hit two free throws to record her landmark number. Play was stopped and she was recognized with a special basketball to mark her accomplishment. When the action resumed, the
Lady Raiders got consecutive buckets from Ashley Hinojosa for a 21-20 lead and Rivera maintained the edge at halftime 24-22.
As soon as Paz scored her 2,000th point, it seemed as though a weight was lifted off Hanna as it came out ready to go in the second half.
“Our defensive pressure helped, we were just more aggressive … I think that was the difference in the second half,” Gonzalez said. “I think with the 2,000-point thing, the girls were out of their comfort zone. But once Mia got the record, I think the girls settled in and in the second half they played better defense and that led to better scoring opportunities.”
A 10-2 Lady Eagles run opened the second half beginning with a Paz 3 followed by another her teammates followed her lead. With an aggressive defensive effort, Hanna started to get points off turnovers in transition and it was the boost the hosts needed. The Lady Raiders couldn’t keep up and along with three triples from Jackie De La Rosa, the Lady Eagles outscored Rivera 24-8 in the third for a 46-32 advantage.
“We came out with more confidence, we knew we had to come out in the second half and play better,” Paz said.
Paz opened the fourth quarter with a 3, but later Montes got a three-point play and the Lady Raiders went on a 9-2 run to trim its deficit to 53-46. Paz promptly hit another trey and Hanna sank some key free throws down the stretch to keep Rivera at bay.
“We didn’t come out and execute (in the third quarter), we didn’t do the things we talked about at halftime,” Rivera coach Willie Brown said. “After we refocused at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter, we started playing like we know we can play. But we had dug ourselves in such a hole, we couldn’t get over the hump.”
Montes finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, Martinez had nine points and three rebounds and Susan Baez added six points and three rebounds for the Lady Raiders.
For Rivera, it hopes to build off the positives.
“I told the girls I was proud of them because they battled back, didn’t quit and proved to themselves they can play,” Brown said. “I can’t ask for anything more than that. We need to play with more consistency and stop the lulls.
“We didn’t win the ball game, but the girls put it all on the line.”
Garcia finished with 11 points, a pair of rebounds, two assists and a couple of steals, De La Rosa had nine points, five rebounds and three steals and Arceaeux added nine points and 13 rebounds for the Lady Eagles.
Hanna hopes to take the momentum forward in the second half of district to push for a postseason berth.
“We have to show up to practice and take it one game at a time,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to enjoy this victory and Mia’s 2,000 points, but we just have to continue to work hard … I see great potential with this group of girls.”
For the night though, it was to celebrate a great accomplishment.
“It’s unbelievable experience,” Paz said. “To get 2,000 points in only three years … I just thank my teammates for everything, the coaches for supporting me through this journey. I’m just glad I got it with them.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.