By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — The Harlingen South Lady Hawks continued their impressive start to District 32-6A with a 41-34 win on the road against the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons.
Harlingen South (19-12, 6-1) came into the game against Los Fresnos (21-9, 4-3) on top of the district with four teams, including Los Fresnos, one game behind and tied for second place in the district.
A lot of parity with these top teams in the district makes the games really close, like they were Friday night.
Los Fresnos maintained a lead for most of the night thanks to Sarahi Jones, Olivia Parra and Aylene Ortega. In the second quarter, the Lady Falcons had their biggest lead up to eight at 19-11.
The Lady Hawks slowly got back in the game. Alexes Rocha and Isabella Marez hit shots from the outside and got to the line. Jasmine Ortiz got her buckets in the paint.
The Lady Hawks tied the game at 27 going into the fourth. Marez then scored five straight points, giving her team the 32-27 advantage with five minutes left in the game.
The college-bound Jones got the Lady Falcons back in the game with three free throws, but Rocha immediately responded at the other end, giving the Lady Hawks a 34-30 lead with three minutes left.
Jones cut the lead to a single point with two minutes left, but the Lady Hawks, who have arguably the best halfcourt offense in the district, made their free throws and ran out the clock.
“At first we started off pretty rocky, we were not making our shots and we were not rebounding,” Rocha said. “At the end we got it together. We became patient on offense, defense and with those free throws.”
Rocha and Marez hit clutch free throws late in the game.
“They saved us the game, so they were pretty important,” Marez said. “Once I started making the free throws it hyped up the team. I am glad I was able to do that.
“I think we are getting better by the day, after that loss to (Harlingen High) we have really started to focus in practice,” she added. “Our coach (Rebecca Littleton) is doing a great job at getting us better every single day. She is what motivates us.”