By Kevin Narro | Staff Writer
EDCOUCH-ELSA — On a night when all eyes were on Edinburg High and Harlingen High, senior Jenessah Santa Maria led the charge for the Lady Bobcats with a game-high 15 points as they dominated the Lady Cardinals 54-34 on Tuesday night in the Class 6A regional quarterfinals, punching their ticket to the Sweet 16.
Edinburg High next meets San Antonio Clark at 6 p.m. Friday at the Northside Gym in San Antonio.
After a slow start to the first quarter, Edinburg High led 8-7 until the Lady Bobcats caught fire and went on a 20-0 run that pushed their lead 30-9 late in the second quarter. Santa Maria hit a pair of 3s as Edinburg High outscored Harlingen High 22-4 in the second quarter.
That quarter served as the knockout blow for the Lady Bobcats, as they controlled the rest of the night with Harlingen High struggling from the floor.
For the Lady Cards, seniors Ariel Leal scored a team-high 13 points, Taegan Dickey scored 10 points and Andrea Cortez finished with seven points.
“We were not aggressive on the offensive end, we stood very passive and we expected something to happen for us,” Harlingen High coach Ashley Moncivaiz said.
“We couldn’t make anything happen and they came down and were aggressive, and that is where we got killed, and anything they got aggressive on, they got the calls and they were able to get the momentum.” Moncivaiz said.
The Lady Cardinals end the season with a 31-6 record. They reached 30 wins for a third time under fifth-year coach Moncivaiz. Harlingen High also hoisted its third district title in five years and reached the third round of the playoffs for a second time under Moncivaiz.
“This means so much to me to be able to play for the Lady Cardinals,” Dickey said. “I know I can say I gave it my 100 percent every year. To be able to wear my jersey one more time, it means everything to me. Coach told us she loves us and she is proud of us, and for us not to be too down on ourselves, that we accomplished a lot this season.”
Harlingen High will lose Dickey, Leal, Cortez, Alyssa Cervantes and Bianca Rodriguez to graduation, all of whom had a key hand in the season. Overall, the team loses nine seniors.
“At first it was a little bit of a struggle because we had to get everyone on the same page,” Leal said. “We had to get the younger girls used to the system but we eventually got everything going and we got things done, and even though it didn’t end the way we wanted (it) to, we reached most of our goals.”
The future remains bright for Harlingen High. Alyssa Salas will return for her senior year. Sydney Potillo, Emery Scoggins, Avery Hinojosa, Alexus Cotto and Callie Cervantes are all slated to return.
“This was a great year for us, and the way they girls competed,” Moncivaiz said. “From last year to this year, you can see a complete change. Our future is bright with what we have returning, and with what we will be adding next year (it) is going to be really good for us.”