By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
BROWNSVILLE — Edinburg Vela led by as many as 16 points during the second quarter and held off a determined Brownsville Rivera squad down the stretch to earn a 66-59 Class 6A bi-district basketball victory Tuesday at the Raiders’ gym.
District 31-6A runner-up Vela, now 20-14, advances to face McAllen Rowe or Del Rio later this week in the area round of the 6A playoffs, while District 32-6A third-place Rivera’s season comes to an end at 18-14.
“This win means a lot to these players,” Vela coach David Keith said. “They’ve been through a lot just in the regular season. To watch them be successful here in a tough place to play against a great (Rivera) coach like Saul Villarreal and against a great team of his players (is very satisfying). Rivera has a very good team and I can see why they made it to the playoffs out of their district.
“I would say tenacity and toughness tonight (were the difference),” Keith added. “We knew we were going to need it because we heard they were a tough team and we saw it tonight. We just needed to be tenacious to stay in the game.
“I’m very proud of these boys. It was a wonderful game to watch and I think the fans really enjoyed it.”
Vela took its largest lead of 16 points, 30-14, with 3:42 left before halftime when Josh Diaz drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Sabercats seemed to have a comfortable advantage at that point, but the Raiders were determined to come back as they rallied to within one point in the third period and within four points in the fourth quarter.
It was Rivera’s first trip to the postseason since 2011.
“My guys played their hearts out all season and I’m very proud of them,” veteran Rivera coach Saul Villarreal said. “I thank them for the hard play they did throughout the whole year. These (senior) guys added a little stepping stone for our underclassmen that will be back next season (to achieve more).
“The players were very united as a team,” Villarreal added. “I think our unity, sticking together and working real hard are the things that brought us to where we’re at right now.”
Vela led 13-12 after one quarter and 33-25 at intermission after capitalizing on some cold shooting and turnovers by the Raiders during the second period. The Sabercats outpointed the Raiders 19-16 in the third quarter to take a 52-41 advantage into the final period.
Rivera came within one point of the lead, 37-36, at the 4:54 mark of the third period when the Raiders’ Oscar Lozoya scored on a fastbreak layup.
The Raiders pulled within four points, 63-59, in the final period on a rebound put-back by Lozoya with 1:35 to play, but that was as close as Rivera could come down the stretch.
Lozoya led all scorers with 27 points, including four 3-pointers. Teammate Rudy Guerrero added nine points and Michael Duran seven as Lozoya was the only one for the Raiders scoring in double figures.
Diaz led Vela with 20 points, including three 3-pointers. Teammates Bobby Espericueta and Trey Chavana added 13 and 10 points, respectively.