McALLEN — McAllen Rowe senior post Yulissa Yebra found herself in foul trouble early in the game, but it did not matter if the Warriors had their powerful interior piece.
The Warriors cruised to the area round Tuesday night with a 69-46 victory over Brownsville Lopez in a bi-district playoff game at McAllen Rowe High School.
“It is unfortunate that she went into their offensive player and picked up those silly fouls,” Rowe head coach Alex Robles said. “It is something we can work on. Even though she got in foul trouble, other girls stepped up big, played big minutes — we did not lose a beat. We know going forward she won’t be able to pick up those silly fouls. We need her in the game.”
Yebra picked up her second foul only a couple of minutes into the first quarter, and then her third when she returned in the second quarter. Fellow senior post Evelyn Valero dominated proceedings in her absence, sophomore Alyssa Cantu slashed through the Lobos with ease and the Warriors also made it rain from beyond the arc to give their team an 18-1 advantage at one point in the first quarter.
The Warriors went into the locker room at the half up 43-18.
McAllen Rowe continued where it left off during the third quarter, when senior guard Olivia Pawelek went off. Her steals, opposite-hand layups and 3-pointers helped the Warriors continue their strong showing on their home court.
Pawelek and Valero both had a team-high 21 points.
It was never going to be an easy game for the Lobos, and they did not do themselves any favors with turnovers and missed free-throw attempts. Brownsville Lopez did not capitalize on one of the most talented players on the court being off it, or being in the double bonus for most of the first half.
“I am glad about the performance,” Robles said. “We had a good of week practice leading up to the game … they executed exactly how we wanted them to. We knew Lopez is tough down low and have good shooters, but what we did notice is that when you apply ball pressure — you make them think while dribbling — they struggle a bit. That is what you saw tonight.”
Yebra finished with nine points, and Cantu chipped in with eight.
Brownsville Lopez was led in scoring by Sophia Carrizales’ 17 points and D’Arrah Howard’s 16 points. The Lobos finished the season with 20 wins to return to the playoffs under first-year coach Filiberto Reyna after a long absence from post season play.
McAllen Rowe faces Laredo Cigarroa in the area round after the Laredo school defeated Gregory-Portland Tuesday night as well. The time, place and date has yet to be decided.