By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Sometimes even a win is frustrating.
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons built a double-digit lead early but had to hold off a determined Rivera squad during the fourth quarter of a 41-33 victory over the Lady Raiders in a District 32-6A game Friday at Rivera.
The Lady Falcons built a 12-point lead in the second quarter, but Gisel Hinojosa and Darcy Cardenas cut that to eight points before the half on a free throw and 3-pointer for Rivera.
The Lady Raiders used that momentum and came out on fire during the third quarter, eliminating the deficit on the strength of three 3-pointers.
“We started out strong and looked like they were ready to play. Then they laiddown and kind of died and didn’t get aggressive,” Los Fresnos coach Kim Edquist said. “We got in a lot of subs to get some playing time, but sometimes the flow doesn’t go as you would like it.”
Hinojosa hit an early 3-pointer to get Rivera within five, Lindsay Schuster tied the game at 23 with another and April Gonzalez hit one late to give the Lady Raiders their first lead in the game at 26-24.
It was short-lived, as the Lady Falcons quickly took back the lead, going on an 8-0 run during the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter.
Emily Pena and Cristi Garza each scored a bucket, Lynette Duran and Jackie Kingsbury each hit a free throw and Joseline Caraveo put back a rebound to give Los Fresnos a lead it never relinquished in the win.
“It was just a matter of our inexperience. We got a little too excited and rushed some shots,” Rivera coach Willie Brown said. “We didn’t rotate back after we got a little winded and gave up some easy baskets. But I’m proud of my girls for fighting back and playing as well as they did.”
Despite the victory, Edquist wasn’t happy with her team’s performance.
“There was no energy out there, no emotion out there,” she said. “That’s been a problem all season. Our intensity level is not where we need it to be to be winners.
“Even though we’ve won a game here and there, we’re just barely holding on. If we don’t step it up, we’re going to get beat a lot.”
Caraveo led the Lady Falcons with 13 points, eight rebounds (three offensive) and three steals. Kelsi McDonough had seven points, six rebounds and five steals, and Allie Flores added seven points and four rebounds for Los Fresnos (10-12, 3-2).
Gonzalez led the Lady Raiders with 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Cardenas and Hinojosa combined for 12 points, three rebounds and six steals for Rivera (8-12, 1-4).
Even though the Lady Raiders fell short in the end, Brown liked what he saw from his squad.
“We wanted to show improvement, and today we took a step toward the positive,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked more from them.”
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.