By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — When her team needed her, Bry Buitereira was there yet again to answer the bell.
After Brownsville Veterans Memorial trailed by four at the end of the first half, the sophomore knocked down a pair of three-pointers to give her team a lead it would never surrender en route to a 34-29 victory in the Los Fresnos Holiday Tournament championship game on Saturday at the Los Fresnos United dome.
The Lady Chargers’ Lizzie Garza led all scorers with 14 points. Juju Alvarez (five points) was named co-MVP of the tournament alongside her teammate Alex Parchmont (three points).
Brownsville Veterans coach Arnold Torres and his team found themselves down big in the early stages of the contest, as Los Fresnos’ Ari Gallardo poured in 11 of her 13 points in the first period to give the Lady Falcons a 14-6 edge.
The Lady Chargers held the hosts scoreless in a scrappy second quarter, in which they only managed to score two baskets themselves, both from Garza. Torres said his team’s defensive effort kept them in the game, though Garza’s offensive output was also crucial.
“Our main goal is to attack the basket, and just look for the open person,” Garza said. “If we’re attacking the middle, and there’s an open girl on the bottom, (we look) to make the extra pass to get the easier layup. If there’s an open girl and they’re a good 3-point shooter, we kick it out to them.”
Brownsville Veterans’ 16-point third quarter was the key for the visitors to separate themselves, as Garza and Juju Alvarez each buried a trey, and Parchmont knocked down a floater in the lane to extend the lead to 25-18 with two minutes to play in the third quarter.
“(Parchmont) is our defensive person, she goes out there and creates things for us on the defensive end,” Torres said. “I tell her to be confident in her decision-making and that’s one of the things that she’s done well for us throughout the year.”
Alvarez’s defense and the Lady Chargers’ penchant for forcing turnovers forced Los Fresnos to settle for long jumpers and inhibited Los Fresnos’ chances of maximizing its size advantages by keeping them out of the paint.
“(Alvarez and Parchmont) don’t always score points but they do little things that make a difference,” Torres said. “(Alvarez) got a steal when we needed it; she controlled the tempo when we needed it. Having her IQ on the court is a real benefit.”
After a 3-ball from Jasmin Garcia and buckets from Gallardo and Victoria Hernandez, the Lady Falcons pulled back within four points and trailed 26-22 at the end of the third quarter.
Garza continued to find her groove, hitting a wide-open three from the left elbow to put the Lady Chargers up 31-22 with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Sarahi Jones found Gio Godoy in the paint for a bucket that brought Los Fresnos within four at 31-27, but Alyssa Esquivel converted a shot from close range at the other end to put Brownsville Veterans ahead 33-27.
Jones drove to the basket and drew a foul with 45 seconds to play in the fourth quarter to pull the Lady Falcons within four at 33-29, but they did not manage to draw any closer.