HARLINGEN — The latest installment of the Harlingen Cardinals-Harlingen South Hawks boys basketball rivalry was full of physical defense.
While both teams were cold from the field throughout the night, the Hawks got it done from the free-throw line down the stretch and picked up a 45-34 win over the Cardinals on Friday night at the Harlingen South gymnasium.
After three up-and-down quarters, the Cardinals (13-10, 2-3) scored just six points and two field goals in the fourth quarter and went 2 for 5 from the free-throw line, thanks, in large part, to the South (15-5, 3-2) defensive pressure.
“Anytime it’s a rivalry game, Harlingen is going to come and play; they did a great job tonight,” said Harlingen South head coach Brian Molina. “I told the kids that they needed to be tough and make free throws to win this game.
“My hat goes off to them — they knocked them down.”
In addition to not knocking down shots, the Cardinals could not keep Luke Bradford off the line, as he knocked down seven of his nine fourth-quarter points from the line.
In all, Bradford torched the Cards for 25 points and went 10 of 11 at the line.
“We knew (Bradford) was a player that he is and we knew we had to stop him. We didn’t and (South) came out on top and he was a difference maker,” said Harlingen head coach Greg Yates, “We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I’ll give South credit for creating that. Hopefully we can build from that, remember this and use it as motivation to carry us through the rest of the district season.”
Harlingen looked solid early on as the Cards jumped on the Hawks early in the first with a quick 6-0 run, but they would never lead by more than that.
“I told the kids not to panic and to try and match Harlingen’s early energy,” Molina said. “We needed to get one or two stops; an easy bucket and that should get us into our defense.”
South trailed later in the second quarter 18-12, but finished the half on a 10-2 run and led 22-20 at the break.
In the second half alone there were four lead changes, but a three-point play from South’s Noah Perez gave South the lead for good and the Cards never recovered.
Darren and Noah Perez both scored nine for the Hawks.
Harlingen’s Elijah Rhodes was the only Cardinal in double figures with 10, while Juan Cerrillo and Ernest Ramirez each dropped in eight.
As a team Harlingen went 2 for 11 from the line.