SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
Senior guard Jonathan Muñoz scored 27 points to lead Weslaco East to a 57-47 win over PSJA North on Tuesday at Weslaco in a Class 6A bi-district playoff game.
“He shot the ball very well,” Weslaco East coach Jorge Martinez said. “He kept us in it. At the end of the second quarter, he kind of went off and carried us. He hit a big 3 at the buzzer to help us go up by one at the half. After that, the team just started believing. We made a good run in the third quarter and outscored them. In the fourth quarter, we turned the ball over a little bit, but we were able to hit some big shots and free throws. And it worked out.”
Weslaco East dominated the glass, allowing for second-chance points and putting a stop to North’s momentum.
Weslaco East started the game a bit nervous and went down early, but the run by Muñoz to end the half gave the Wildcats all the confidence they needed. In the third quarter they pulled away and never looked back.
Including Muñoz, the Wildcats have seven seniors on the team, a stat that Martinez said helped on Tuesday.
“I think it helps a lot,” Martinez said. “We have some playoff experience from last year. Jonathan was very poised today, especially having that playoff experience under his belt.”
McALLEN HIGH 67, LAREDO ALEXANDER 57: At Alice, McAllen High advanced to the area round with the win, improving from last year’s bi-district round exit.
SOUTH SAN ANTONIO 87, LA JOYA HIGH 32: At Corpus Christi, La Joya High exited in the first round after making the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.
HARLINGEN SOUTH 42, EDINBURG HIGH 41: At Edinburg, Harlingen South stole a road playoff win by edging out the Bobcats.
LAREDO UNITED 47, McALLEN MEMORIAL 40: At Zapata, the Mustangs were eliminated in the bi-district round after finishing the regular season 21-14.
LAREDO UNITED SOUTH 56, McALLEN ROWE 53: At Alice, Rowe was knocked out of the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 26-8 record.
CLASS 5A
LAREDO NIXON 109, EDCOUCH-ELSA 78: At Grulla, the Yellowjackets were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after finishing the District 32-5A season with a 9-5 record.