BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — New faces, same goals.
Such is the mantra by which the Weslaco High Lady Panthers define their season. Though the team lost six seniors from last year’s squad, Weslaco has been undaunted and unfazed in its quest for a fourth consecutive district title.
Though Tuesday’s 46-35 win over PSJA North didn’t guarantee them the title of District 31-6A champions, it does give the Lady Panthers a two-game lead with only five games left in the regular season.
“We knew what this game meant to us,” Jazlynn Muñiz said. “They’re a great shooting team and they present a good challenge for us…. Communication really helped us tonight. Everyone was telling each other where to go and where they should be.”
Muñiz led all scorers with 22 points on an efficient 10-of-12 shooting. 14 of the senior guard’s points came during the third quarter to give the Lady Panthers an 18-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
More impressive than Muñiz’s individual effort was the Lady Panther defense. PSJA North is one of the Valley’s premier scoring machines, having breached 70 points on multiple occasions. Against Weslaco, however, the Lady Raiders scored double digits in just one quarter.
“Guarding their shooters was the most important thing for us,” sophomore guard Brianna Peña said. “We were always trying to run them off their spots or keep a hand in their face.”
And it was that kind of intensity that caused PSJA North (24-3, 5-2) to shoot an abysmal 10-of-47 from the floor. Leading scorer Belle Palacios scored just 14 points, six below her season average and sat the entire second quarter with a trio of first-quarter fouls.
“We came out flat tonight,” PSJA North coach Randy Bocanegra said. “They came at us strong and we never could answer back. It’s like the energy was sucked out of us from the beginning. They were playing well and we just seemed lethargic.”
North guard Angela Ochoa was inserted in the starting lineup over the diminutive Mel Palacios in an effort to match with Weslaco’s size. Though Ochoa’s opening 3-pointer in the first quarter hit the bottom of the net, it marked the only time the Lady Panthers (24-6, 7-0) trailed.
Behind a 3-pointer from Peña and two buckets from Muñiz, Weslaco took a 12-7 lead after the first quarter. From there, the Lady Panthers’ lead ballooned to a 38-21 score entering the final eight minutes.
With the postseason on the horizon, Weslaco coach Griselda Fino said the remaining slate of district games will double as preparation for the playoffs.
“I want to see us become more consistent,” Fino said. “We played well tonight and I’m very happy for my kids, but I want to see the offense click more. We’ve got some upperclassmen who are leaders, but we still have some younger players who are still looking to find a more consistent stride.”