After Harlingen took a commanding 25-13 lead going in the half, Laredo United came out shooting in the third and outscored the Lady Cardinals 21-10, and ended the quarter down 35-34 with Illeana Rodriguez hitting a three pointer just before the buzzer.
However, Moncivaiz’s words didn’t fall on deaf ears as the Lady Cardinals rose to the challenge and came away with a 53-49 Class 6A area-round playoff victory Friday night at the Rio Grande City High School gymnasium.
“We started out really good working together and doing all the little things,” said Moncivaiz. “I think Elvira (Fraga) came in and provided a little spark off the bench.
“In the second (half), what can you do when No. 23 (Laredo United’s Natalia Trevino) is hitting from way beyond the three-point line? We just had to keep on grinding and attack the basket.”
And the Lady Cardinals did exactly that. Fraga, Ariel Leal, Addison Dickey and Sami Quilantan quickly scored eight unanswered points to push the lead to 43-34 with just under six minutes remaining in the game, swinging the momentum back in Harlingen’s favor.
United responded by scoring five unanswered points of its own to close the gap to 43-39.
However, Dickey and Marissa Gasca quickly scored five to extend the lead back to seven at 48-41 with two minutes remaining.
United resorted to fouling, but the Lady Cards went 5 of 11 at the free-throw line to seal the victory.
The win marked the first time in three seasons that Harlingen advanced past the area round.
“The feeling is good because after three years you want to get over the hump and then finally you do it,” said Moncivaiz. “I always tell them you never want it to end, you always want to be able to say when your last game is over that you gave it your all.”
The Lady Cards will now face Weslaco in the regional quarterfinals next week.