By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
LYFORD — The Brownsville IDEA Frontier Chargers have a lot to be grateful about even if things didn’t go their way in Friday night’s 57-41 Class 3A area-round playoff defeat against Odem.
Just a few days ago, Frontier captured the school’s first bi-district win in any team sport in seven years of UIL competition with a 67-62 triumph over Falfurrias.
The District 32-3A runner-up Chargers (23-6) were hoping their momentum would continue Friday against the District 29-3A champion Owls (26-9), but it just wasn’t to be.
The Chargers never led, and when they pulled to within three points, 28-25, just before halftime on a 3-pointer by David Vera, the Owls responded by scoring the first eight points of the third quarter to go up by double digits again, 46-35. The closest Frontier came in the fourth quarter was nine points, 50-41.
“I’m real proud of these boys,” Chargers coach Jerry De La Garza said. “They fought hard every single game this season. “They competed well today and we made some noise in the playoffs.
“Sometimes shots fall in for the other team and not for you — that’s basketball, somebody’s got to win and somebody’s got to lose,” De La Garza added. “But I’m real proud of the guys because they gave it everything they had the whole game.”
The Chargers went up against an opponent that advanced to the regional semifinals last season and appears to have a team capable of going at least that far again.
“After going to the regional semifinals last season, we have high ambitions for this year,” Odem coach Tony Ramirez said.
Odem will take on Dilley or Santa Gertrudis in the third round of the 3A playoffs next week.
On Friday, the Owls led 14-7 after one quarter and 28-25 at intermission. They took a 44-32 advantage into the final period. The final score 57-41 was their biggest lead of the game.
Tyrese Arellano and Gustavo Recio led the Chargers with 13 points apiece. Arellano sank three 3-pointers and Recio drained one.
Matthew Ramirez, a sharp-shooting junior guard, was the only player for the Owls scoring in double figures. He finished with 28 points, including seven 3-pointers.