By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
As basketball bi-district playoffs get underway this upcoming week, the Harlingen South Hawks are flying high heading into their Tuesday night matchup with Edinburg North.
The Hawks (22-7, 10-4) are currently riding a four-game win streak and head coach Brian Molina feels his team’s best basketball has yet to be played.
“I told the kids that they needed to finish the district season strong and that’s exactly what we did,” Molina said. “We played really well at the right times and it showed that we haven’t played our best basketball. We’re starting to peak at the right time.
“We have assured ourselves a playoff spot, now it’s time to focus possession by possession and getting stops on the defensive end.”
Among the four wins was a double-overtime thriller against Brownsville Veterans.
The Hawks came out with a 57-53 win led by Luke Bradford’s 23 points and 15 boards, but Molina was happy with the overall team effort.
“It showed that our team is deep because we had 10 different players score and certain players had to play different roles that night,” Molina said. “Playing a good team like Vets shows how good our ditrict is and will hopefully prepare us for what’s ahead in the playoffs.”
The Hawks host Edinburg North Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
GETTING TIME
The Harlingen Cards may not be on a winning streak, having split their last four games of the district year and losing two of their last three, but head coach Greg Yates isn’t sweating it either.
With a playoff spot pretty much wrapped up over the last week, Yates saw a good opportunity for all his players to get some quality playing time in.
“We had some close games down the stretch, but we were trying to get everybody some playing time,” Yates said. “We were set in the fourth spot, so it was an opportunity for some to gain some experience. Hopefully when they’re number is called during this playoff game, they’ll go out and perform.”
The Cards (19-3, 8-6) draw 31-6A district champion Weslaco Tuesday night.
It’s a matchup where Yates feels the Cards’ size can benefit them, especially with their taller guards Ernie Ramirez and now Elijah Rhodes.
“We put out a pretty tall lineup,” Yates said. “Rhodes has moved over to play some guard and he’s pretty tall and Ramirez has played guard all year and he’s about 5’11.We can match Weslaco’s size and some of our size can handle the ball and shoot perimeter shots.”
Another matchup to watch will be Harlingen’s top big man Juan Cerrillo against Weslaco center Justice Free.
Cerrillo gives away some height to Free, but his athleticism along with help from center Matt Sesler and the emergence of forward Reece Ortega as of late bodes well for the Cards.
DOUBLE HEADER
ACTION
Santa Rosa and La Feria are are just six miles apart, but they’ll hit the road side by side Tuesday and will headline a bi-district double-header in Bishop Tuesday night.
The Lions (25-9,12-2), who are fresh off a District 32-4A title and a 12-2 district season, tip-off at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Sinton.
After that, the Warriors (22-8, 8-0), who wrapped up their 12th consecutive district crown with a 113-58 win over Monte Alto this past Tuesday night, will meet Banquete at 8 p.m.