By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers are undergoing a change in offensive philosophy on the basketball court, it seems.
With 6-foot-4 L.B. Hernandez around as a four-year starter, the Chargers had a strong inside presence to rely upon. Now that Hernandez has graduated, Brownsville Veterans coach Larry Gibson is opening up his team’s outside game, and the results are proving quite favorable as evidenced by Monday’s 47-38 non-district victory over the Porter Cowboys at the Porter gym.
Leading the way for the Chargers was guard Isaiah Torres with a game-high 21 points, including six 3-pointers. In all, the Chargers (11-7) drained nine 3-pointers compared to just one for the Cowboys.
“It looks like Isaiah worked out over the (Christmas) break and did a little shooting (practice) because he was on fire today,” Gibson said. “We didn’t really shoot the ball all thatwell (but he did).”
Porter (6-11) led 5-2 just 2 minutes into the game and the score was tied at 10 early in the second quarter. After that, however, it was pretty much all Brownsville Veterans as Torres made three of his 3-pointers during the second period.
“I think Isaiah played real well for them,” Porter coach Luis Garza said. “He stepped up and did a good job. If there was a reason why they got us out of the game, I would say it was Isaiah’s shooting ability. He really shot the ball well for them.”
The Chargers led 10-7 after one quarter and were up 27-21 at halftime. By outscoring the Cowboys 14-6 during the third period, Brownsville Veterans took a 41-27 advantage into the final quarter.
Porter pulled within four points twice halfway through the third quarter. The second time came at the 4:38 mark of the period when Porter guard Joel Gracia scored on a fastbreak layup to make it 29-25. But seconds later, the Chargers broke it open for good as Torres swished a 3-pointer from the left side with 4:20 showing and was fouled. He converted the ensuing free throw for a four-point play and restored his team’s lead to a much more comfortable margin of 33-25.
Torres’ sixth 3-pointer also came from the left side at the 2:48 mark of the third quarter for a 36-25 cushion that soon became 38-25 after he made a pair of free throws following the exit of Porter big man Eli Martinez with five fouls, including a technical, with 2:16 left in the quarter.
The Chargers’ biggest lead of 16 points, 41-25, came with 1:16 to go in the third period when Kevin Gomez made a 3-pointer from the right side.
The Cowboys outscored the visitors 11-6 during the last quarter to cut the lead to single digits by the final buzzer.
“It was our inability to run our offense,” Garza said. “Some of the credit also goes to the way they defended us up top, but I think it was more of a mental thing for us. We just had a lot of turnovers, and we were horrific shooting the ball. Actually, I was surprised that we kept it as close as 47-38. If there’s a moral victory for us, I think it’sright there (with the final score).”
Nine players scored for the Chargers, led by Torres’ 21 points. Teammate Aaron Villarreal camenext with seven points, including a 3-pointer. Gomez and Joseph Guerrero, each with three points, and also added one 3-pointer apiece.
Gracia and Jesus Garcia led Porter with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Martinezcontributed eight points before fouling out.
“I thought it was one of those normal intercity games where both teams played hard,” Gibson said. “It was a hard-fought game, and it was a clean game. We fought a little harder and came out on top. I think that was the difference.”
District competition begins for both teams later this week. Porter opens District 32-5A play at home at 6 p.m. Friday against PSJA Southwest, and Brownsville Veterans will be at Hanna at 3 p.m. Saturday for the start of District 32-6A action.