By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
At this point of the young basketball season, non-conference games provide an opportunity for teams to improve in preparation for the start of district competition later this month.
There was an obvious lesson to be learned for the Pace Lady Vikings in their 38-36 loss to the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons on Friday at Pace. It was to take advantage of free-throw opportunities.
Pace (4-9) made only 3 of 10 tries from the charity stripe during the final quarter and none down the stretch, allowing Los Fresnos (5-9) to battle back from a 36-33 deficit with 2:51 to play to prevail. With a few more made free throws, Pace might have even won somewhat handily.
“Because of flu and other things, this was the first time we’ve had all five of our starters on the court at the same time,” Pace coach Kris Metzmaker said. “It was a good test for them.
“I’m pleasantly surprised with them with one more game left for us before we start District (32-5A),” she added. “A few more free throws would have helped tonight.”
The Lady Vikings, leading 36-33, could have made it a five-point game, but missed a pair of free throws with 2:07 left. Again, with 56.8 seconds remaining and holding a 36-35 advantage, Pace missed another pair of free throws.
Those misses opened the door for the Lady Falcons.
Courageously, Los Fresnos point guard Lynette Duran dribbled the length of the court and scored on a drive to put her team up for good, 37-36, with 45 seconds showing.
After the two teams exchanged possessions, Duran made the second of two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to seal the Lady Falcons’ victory. Those were the Lady Falcons’ only free throws of the fourth quarter.
Dori Alcalde led Los Fresnos with nine points. Joseline Caraveo and Duran each added eight points, including a 3-pointer for Duran.
Valerie Varela led Pace with 10 points and teammate Jenny Garza added nine points, including seven in the first period.
The score was tied at 14 after one quarter and Los Fresnos was up 24-20 at intermission. The Lady Falcons went into the last period with a 30-29 lead.
Los Fresnos led by as many as eight points, 24-16, after a bucket on a drive with 1:01 left in the second quarter.
Pace’s biggest lead was three points twice in the final period, the last time at 36-33 when Varela scored from underneath with 2:51 to play.