By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
FALFURRIAS — The Port Isabel Tarpons last went to the state playoffs in boys basketball in 2012 and last won a postseason game in 2002.
Needless to say, the Tarpons were pretty happy after defeating Orange Grove 69-58 Monday night in a Class 4A bi-district matchup at the Falfurrias gym.
It was a game in which the District 32-4A runner-up Tarpons (19-12) went ahead early and never trailed, although the District 31-4A third-place Bulldogs (17-16) made things interesting by pulling to within five points, 59-54, with 1:14 left.
The Tarpons, who were intentionally fouled during the final minute, made their free throws when it counted down the stretch and walked off the court with an 11-point victory.
“It’s been a long time,” said senior guard Fernie Lopez, a four-year varsity player for the Tarpons. “All of us are very excited and happy we won. Me? I’ve been on the varsity since my freshman year, so this is something I’ve been waiting for. I’ve really been wanting this so we could go at least one round.
“Now we’re going to the second round,” Lopez added. “Hopefully we can keep going from here.”
The Tarpons were up 15-10 after one quarter and held a 32-23 advantage at intermission.
Each team scored 17 points in the third quarter as Port Isabel went into the final period ahead 49-40.
The Tarpons’ biggest lead was 15 points, 41-26, at the 5:17 mark of the third quarter when Lopez sank a pair of free throws.
But the Bulldogs refused to go away quietly, especially in the fourth period when they rallied and Orange Grove’s Jose Aguilar scored from underneath and was fouled in the process. His three-point play made it 59-54 with 1:14 to go.
From there, the Tarpons showed their poise by converting six of nine free throws and finishing the game with a double-digit edge as Tommy Zurita made a steal and dribbled in for a layup with 3.5 seconds remaining to account for the final score of 69-58.
“We did what we had to do and tried to speed up the pace of the game,” Port Isabel coach Mike Hazelton said. “Orange Grove is a very disciplined team, and if you get into a slow-paced game with them, they’re going to beat you. We’re not that type of team. They had a height advantage on us, so we tried to speed things up.”
“It was kind of a ‘Ying’ and a ‘Yang’ game featuring teams with two different styles,” Hazelton added. “We got into foul trouble, and that scared me a little bit, but we had some guys come in off the bench and do what they needed to do.
“I have some four-year players and this is just a great deal for them. Everyone did what he had to do, so this is a great victory for us.”
Lopez, Zurita and Daniel Rinza Jr. led the Tarpons with 14 points each. Rinza sank two 3-pointers and Lopez had one. Teammate Chuy Saldivar added 10 points.
For Orange Grove, Noah Villarreal, Brandon Garcia and Ethan French scored 15, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Port Isabel now advances to the area round later this week and will play Carrizo Springs or Poteet.