MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Harlingen South took another team’s best shot once again this district season.
However, the Hawks were able to weather the storm and avoid consecutive losses after dismissing the San Benito Greyhounds 54-50 Tuesday night in Harlingen.
The Hawks let an 11-point halftime lead slip away thanks to tough San Benito defense and long-range shooting, which tightened up the game late.
Like they did all game, the Hawks finished the fourth quarter with 5-0 run in the final minute, which included the go-ahead layup from Gabe Britten with 2.7 seconds left on the clock.
Two more free throws from Luke Bradford iced the game with 1.8 to play after trailing for the previous three plus minutes of the fourth.
San Benito’s second-half pressure put them back in the game and gave the Hawks fits, but it came as no surprise to South head coach Brian Molina.
“The kids made the most of the possessions late, but credit to San Benito. We knew that they were going to bring pressure and they forced us into some turnovers,” Molina said. “The kids never quit. I told them to keep attacking the basket and things will happen. I also think we grew up from the free throw line tonight. This is what basketball is all about— you want to be in these situations.”
San Benito (2-2 in district) came out flat to start the game as the Hawks (3-1 in district) took advantage and gained momentum off dribble penetration and fast break opportunities.
Still, the Hounds shook off the slow start and won the second half, but could not finish in the fourth quarter, going 5 of 11 from the charity stripe.
South was 11 of 13 from the line in the fourth.
“Hats off to South and Coach Molina, but we got shaken and didn’t execute,” San Benito coach Eddie Abrego said. “In the third quarter the kids woke up. It was a great game with some lead changes in the fourth quarter, but (South) pulled off a little more than we did late. We’ll go back and try to improve ourselves.”
After trailing 30-19 at the break, San Benito 12-2 run to make the score 32-31, but South pushed in the final minutes of the third and went into the fourth with a five-point cushion.
San Benito didn’t take their first lead until 3:48 left to play in the game after Mario Aguirre dropped a three from the wing to put his team ahead 47-45.
San Benito held the lead until South’s Darren Perez split free throws to tie the game with 46.4 seconds left in the game.
The Greyhounds were unable to score again as Britten and Bradford finished the game off for South in the waning seconds.
The go-ahead shot was Britten’s only field goal on the night.
He finished with five points, while Christian Pena and Bradford finished with 14.
For San Benito, Joey Saucedo led the way with 14 points and Aguirre added 11.