MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
LA FERIA — The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons had to be feeling good after a Ryley Galvan three-point shot gave them an eight-point lead over the La Feria Lionettes during the opening moments of the second quarter.
Then, the momentum shifted quickly.
The Lady Tarpons’ offense disappeared and the Lionettes used a big second-quarter run to take control for good and roll to a 51-40 District 32-4A win Friday night in La Feria.
After trailing 18-10 early in the second, the Lionettes (3-1 in district) mounted a 17-2 run led by eight points from Kayla Lowe to take the lead for good.
La Feria coach Angel Martinez said the run started on the boards.
“I thought defensively we let go a lot of fast-break opportunities,” he said. “(The Lady Tarpons are) very fast, they get down the court very quickly and they are very well-coached over there. At the end of the day, we rebounded very well — that was key. Of course, we got them out of position and the rebounding got them in foul trouble.”
Those fouls forced Port Isabel (2-2 in district) to sit seniors Gabby Murchison and Sabrina Garza early in the second quarter, leading to its offensive struggles.
The Lady Tarpons scored 15 points and recorded five field goals during the first eight minutes, but after Galvan’s trey they did not hit from the field until the 4:35 mark of the third quarter and finished with just six field goals during the final 24 minutes.
“We have 15 points in the first half and then you have two starters pick up two fouls,” Port Isabel coach Hannah Burleson said. “In the early second quarter that’s a huge deal. We also missed way too many free throws. That leads to a drought when you’re penetrating, getting to the line and not knocking down your free throws — that hurts. (The Lionettes) made their free throws and we didn’t.”
La Feria was called for 25 fouls and Port Isabel for 19, and both teams had a player foul out.
The Lionettes were 13 of 17 from the line, and the Lady Tarpons were 16 of 33.
After Reanne Fraga split free throws and gave La Feria a 30-20 lead midway through the third, Murchison drove into the paint and scored on a layup to break an 11-minute drought from the field.
The third was an even quarter as each team scored nine points, but the Lionettes kept their foot on the gas, not allowing the Lady Tarpons to get within seven points the rest of the way.
“We had some games were we had difficulty scoring in the second half,” Martinez said. “We’ve gotten better. To be able to maintain and hit some big shots and some free throws at the end there was real crucial. That’s totally where we’re getting better and our girls are better conditioned.”
Lowe finished with a game-high 17 points to lead the Lionettes, and Aaliyah Stewart added nine.
Murchison had four of the six Lady Tarpons field goals during the final three quarters and led the way with 15 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Meanwhile, Sabrina Garza added nine more points for Port Isabel.
Murchison and Garza were in foul trouble early, which Burleson said had a lot to do with the drought.
“I think Gabby Murchison had a good game but got in foul trouble early,” Burleson said. “Same thing with Sabrina Garza. Having to sit them down early with early fouls hurts and puts us in a little predicament. Late in the game Gabby stepped up; she fights hard every game.”
On the boys side of the district doubleheader, Port Isabel defeated La Feria 51-36.
The Tarpons scored just five first-quarter points but held La Feria scoreless in the process.
Port Isabel put the game away with a 22-9 spurt during the second quarter led by 12 Cole Pinkerton points.
The Tarpons led 27-9 at the break.
Daniel Rinza scored a game-high 18 points for the Tarpons and Pinkerton finished with 15.
La Feria’s Christian Alvarado finished with 13 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter.