By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Since Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Harlingen High are in different districts for girls basketball this season, Tuesday figured to be the last time the Lady Chargers’ seniors would face the Lady Cardinals.
Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz reminded his squad of that prior to the non-district game on the Lady Chargers’ home court.
If the Lady Chargers were going to have any chance at redemption after going 0-5 against Harlingen High over the past two-plus seasons, Tuesday was pretty much their best and only remaining chance to do it.
The Lady Chargers responded with a come-from-behind 48-41 win.
Brownsville Veterans (9-3) trailed by as many as 11 points three times in the opening quarter, including 11-0 to start off, before coming alive and turning up its defensive pressure to capture the seven-point victory over the Lady Cardinals (9-4).
“I’m very happy for our seniors (that we snapped this 0-5 losing streak against the Lady Cardinals),” said Paz, whose team next plays host to Edinburg Vela at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in another non-district matchup. “We told the seniors it was the last time they’d have this opportunity, and our girls came out and played big in the second half. It was all about playing good defense (and forcing turnovers off the press).
“Harlingen High’s girls came ready to play hard and battle us,” Paz added. “Even though it was a home game for us, it was a hostile environment because their fans travel so well. I congratulate Harlingen High and coach (Ashley) Moncivaiz. They’re a top program and it’s an honor to play them. They’re what we aspire to be.”
Even though Brownsville Veterans trailed 18-7 after one quarter, the Lady Chargers outscored the visitors 18-7 in the second period to create a 25-25 tie at intermission. Brownsville Veterans took a 37-32 lead into the final quarter and outpointed Harlingen 11-9 over the last eight minutes to secure the win.
The Lady Chargers, now in District 32-5A, had gone 0-4 against the Lady Cardinals in district over the last two seasons and were coming off a 58-36 loss to Harlingen High two weeks ago in the semifinals of the Weslaco Tournament.
Lizzy Garza, Hannah Meyers and Jordan Rudd led Brownsville Veterans with 13, 12 and 12 points, respectively. Ares Muzquiz added six points on a pair of 3-pointers.
Destiny Olivares and Blanca Rodriguez led the Lady Cardinals of District 32-6A with 11 and nine points, respectively.
Olivares hit two 3-pointers and Rodriguez made one 3-pointer. Also for the Lady Cardinals, Taegan Dickey and Alyssa Cervantes each scored seven points with a 3-pointer each.
“I just saw that our girls got outhustled at the end due to the calls (that went against us),” said Moncivaiz, whose ballclub next plays at home against McAllen High at 1:30 a.m. Saturday. “This was a game that definitely helps us get prepared for our district season. It also gives us a chance to see what we need to work on, so yes, it was a good game for us.”
Brownsville Veterans took it first lead, 19-18, at the 4:55 mark of the second period when Muzquiz drained her second 3-pointer from the top of the key.
The contest was tied at 27 and then at 29 before the LadyChargers began to pull away and led by eight points, 37-29, when Rudd made the second of two free throws with 5.5 seconds left in the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Harlingen High’s Dickey at the buzzer to end the third period pulled the Lady Cardinals to within 37-32.
Andrea Cortez made a jump shot to bring the Lady Cardinals to within two points, 40-38, with 4:25 to go, but the Lady Chargers soon increased the lead to eight points again, 46-38, when Garza drove the lane and scored with 2:37 to play.
Harlingen High then was forced to foul in the waning minutes and Rudd’s two free throws with 31 seconds remaining accounted for the final score of 48-41.