By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
MERCEDES — The Mercedes Tigers picked up a nice 44-37 District 32-5A win at home against the Brownsville Lopez Lobos on Tuesday night.
“They are all going to be tough,” Lopez coach Erick Quintero said. “There is not going to be an easy game. It is still early in the district (schedule), everybody is going to beat everybody. It is a competitive district, a lot of parity.
“We only had one practice the last two weeks,” he added. “That has impacted us more than the loss tonight. We have a few games this week. We are a good team, and they are a good team. (Mercedes has) a lot of talent.
“No time to feel sorry for ourselves, we got to bounce back.”
Both teams sparred during the first quarter, trading baskets and contending nearly shot. It was Mercedes (13-7, 3-1) that was ahead 13-12 after the first.
The offense for Lopez (10-5, 0-2) relied heavily on Marco Coello and his ability to get to the basket. When Mercedes stopped Coello, the Tigers got into transition well, opening a 20-15 lead during the second quarter.
Coello had success penetrating at times and helped orchestrate a 10-0 run. Elias Rodarte, Angel Ramirez and Zeke Ibarra all found success from the space Coello helped create when driving, and they finished strong at the basket during the run.
A pair of free throws by Mercedes’ Joseph Nino stopped the run. Lopez took a 26-22 lead into halftime.
Both teams had trouble putting the ball in the basket during the third quarter. Mercedes guard Joaquin Gonzalez did not have that problem, scoring seven points in the quarter. The last of his points tied the game at 33 going into the fourth.
Gonzalez received help during the fourth quarter from Joseph Rocha. The guard was a constant on the court and helped facilitate most of what the Tigers did offensively. Rocha exploded offensively, using quick moves to get separation from his defenders.
Rocha’s seven-point fourth quarter and some stout Tigers defense was the difference on the night.
“It was a good bounceback after Weslaco East,” Mercedes coach Josh Guerrero said. “It is a good win tonight, we had a couple of starters out. Our bench players really stepped up and did their job tonight.
“(Rocha and Gonzalez) are stepping up as captains and as leaders, doing their job, getting their teammates involved and doing it on both sides of the court,” he added.