HARLINGEN — The Harlingen South basketball programs did not pick up many wins in non-district play. That was expected with the graduation of more than just a couple of players.
The Lady Hawks went 6-12 in non-district, went 11-5 in district and are now in the driver’s seat for the playoffs in a competitive District 32-5A. A tough 46-45 loss to Brownsville Lopez derailed what could have been a playoff-clinching night.
“I told the girls we have come a long way,” Harlingen South girls head coach Rebecca Littleton said. “In the beginning of the season, if you would have told me we would be in the running to grab that second-place spot, I would have said, ‘Yeah, right.’”
The turnaround has been outstanding, but not dissimilar from last season when Littleton came in as a first-year head coach to guide a group of seniors to the playoffs in District 32-6A. Now it’s a whole new team, and possibly the same result. The Lady Hawks could seal at least a spot in the playoffs with a win against Donna High at 6 p.m. in Donna.
If they win, seeding is what is important because the Lady Hawks meet Weslaco East on the final day of district play next Tuesday.
“The next two games are important for our season,” Littleton said. “We always talk about how one game does not define us. We just have the mentality of keep working, keep getting better and believe in the process. These girls have worked their tails off for me.”
Boys head coach Brian Molina has seen the growth of Littleton’s team firsthand.
“She does a great job,” Molina said. “She is a very good coach. Sometimes one of the most challenging things to coach is experience, and she has a young team. I see them improving every single game. I think the girls really respond to her, and although they lost a tough one, I know they will bounce back.”
Molina’s Hawks dropped their first game of district play Tuesday to Brownsville Lopez. It was going to be hard for the Hawks to stay undefeated, 18 games, and teams with 20 wins possibly missing out on the playoffs.
“I cannot get to upset,” he said. “We missed a lot of free throws down the stretch, and they hit theirs. I said guys, ‘You put yourself in a really good situation.’ Anybody in the district would still rather switch spaces with us and be in our shoes.”
The Hawks control their own destiny, Molina added.
Harlingen South also returns to action against Donna High. The boys game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Donna High.