KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — Harlingen South junior Karla Reyes just wanted the ball in her hands.
Reyes drained 12 fourth-quarter points as Harlingen South picked up a 57-48 win against Brownsville Hanna on Friday night.
Leading by one with less than five minutes to play, Reyes took over during the fourth quarter with two big shots that helped put the Lady Hawks ahead 47-40 with 4:37 remaining.
“After Tuesday’s loss to Harlingen, we knew we needed to bounce back,” Reyes said. “That’s what this team does, we fight and continue to play together.”
Reyes finished with a team-high 20 points.
“She just wanted the ball,” South coach Kelly Garrett said. “She said she knew she could take her, and that is something she doesn’t tell me very often. She did a good job on finishing, that is one thing we were struggling with, but she was able to get into the paint tonight and take over.”
It was only a matter of time as to when Reyes was going to take over a game. While she admits she has been in a slump, Friday’s win was something Reyes needed heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
“I have been in a slump,” Reyes said. “I needed to step up and make plays. When I’m not aggressive I don’t do so well, but when I play aggressive that’s when I know I’m at my best.”
All night long, the Lady Hawks hustled and answered each shot from Hanna.
Reyes received some help from her teammates, as Laura Ramirez, Dolores Mendoza and Destiny Olivarez all hit shots down the stretch for the Lady Hawks. Ramirez netted 13 points, and Mendoza finished with 10.
With Hanna making a bid for a comeback during the final seconds of the third quarter, it was Mendoza who drilled a basket as time expired to give South a 38-34 lead and the momentum.
“That was a big play for us,” Garrett said. “We had a lot of girls step up tonight and make plays.”
The win puts the Lady Hawks in second place with a 4-1 district record. South now shifts its focus to the second half of district play, which tips off Tuesday at Los Fresnos.
Senior Mia Paz finished with a game-high 25 points for the Lady Eagles. Hanna will play Brownsville Rivera on Tuesday.