By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The shots just didn’t fall for Brownsville Veterans Memorial.
Brownsville Veterans’ offensive attack struggled early and the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals took advantage, building a double-digit lead during the first half on the way to a 46-33 victory over the Lady Chargers and a piece of the District 32-6A title Tuesday at Brownsville Veterans.
Harlingen High’s Marissa Gasca and Addison Dickey got the Lady Cardinals’ offense going, including two 3-pointers from Gasca as the pair combined for 13 points during the first quarter to race out to a 13-5 lead.
After Briana Cortez and Sarah Sandoval opened the game with buckets for Brownsville Veterans, the Lady Chargers went cold and relied on free throws to try and keep pace. The Lady Chargers hit just 6 of 11 from the charity stripe in the first half.
But it was also the aggressive defense from the Lady Cardinals that contained the Brownsville Veterans offense.
“I think we were helping each other and making stops when we needed to,” Harlingen High coach Ashley Moncivaizsaid. “Then we attacked on the offensive end and we were able to (get the lead) in the beginning because we were containing them up front.”
During the second quarter, Gasca added another four points, including another 3-pointer, and Dickey added a pair of free throws as the Lady Cardinals pushed their lead to 15 points by halftime.
“In the first half we scored just two baskets, the rest came from the free-throw line,” Brownsville Veterans coach ValentinPaz said. “We were attacking and getting to the line, but you’re not going to win too many games scoring two baskets in a half.”
The Lady Chargers weren’t going down without a fight and opened the second half with a 6-0 run on a pair of free throws by Cortez and two free throws and a basket by Jordan Rudd in the first 3 1/2 minutes to cut the lead to nine.
The Lady Cardinals responded with 10 points to finish the quarter, six of them on baskets by Sami Quilantan to push the lead back to 13.
Brownsville Veterans tried to rally but only got as close as 10 points after a 3-pointer by Cortez with about three minutes left. Dickey scored a basket on an assist from Gasca to seal the game moments later.
Moncivaizthought their play was the difference.
“I think both girls really contributed a lot,” she said. “Addison has changed her game from the low block to the high post so she can attack to the basket. Marissa has changed her role, too. From being a two-guard to more of a point guard.She is a greater shooter, but her ball handling makes her more of a threat. The more confidence they’ve built up, the better they’ve got on offense and defense.”
Dickey finished with 12 points and seven rebounds and Gasca had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Lady Cardinals.
Cortez had 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals and Rudd, Maria Rios and Krista Lopez each scored five points apiece for the Lady Chargers.
“We got a lot of good looks, but we just didn’t hit,” Paz said. “We didn’t hit anything.”
Paz summed up the offensivee woes of his team by a referencing a missed layup after a steal by Rudd at halfcourt with no one in front of her.
“I think that was a summation of how the night went,” he said.
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.