LA FERIA — Steam’s 1969 classic “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” rang loud through out the La Feria Gymnasium on Friday as Lions fans sang at the top of their lungs after the team secured a narrow 66-63 victory over the Hidalgo Pirates (11-2) Friday night.
It was the13th consecutive victory for the Lions, who won their second straight district title.
With four seconds left on the clock and a two-point lead, the Lions’ Julian Trevino walked up to the free-throw line and sank his first of two shots giving La Feria a three-point cushion. Trevino, however, left the door open for the Pirates after he missed the second free throw.
After grabbing the rebound, Hidalgo’s Aaron Anaya quickly raced up the court and missed a three- point opportunity as time expired.
“Hidalgo has consistently been at the top of the district and we knew that regardless of the 15-point lead that they were going to come and fight, and that’s what this game has been the last three or four times we’ve played,” said La Feria head coach Dario Sanchez. “I am very proud of the boys for weathering the storm because Hidalgo is a heck of a team.”
While the ending might have been a nail biter, the beginning of the game was anything but that. La Feria came out in the first quarter with a point to prove and raced out to a 12-2 lead before ending the quarter up 12-5.
It the second quarter, JalenMorrell went back to work. After scouring 10 points in the first period alone, Morrell added another seven in the second.
“He’s our team right now,” said Sanchez. “He’s the heart and soul of the team, he’s our leader and he’s our number one. Every year we try to bring up a freshman and by the time they are seniors it’s their team.
“This is his year, this is his time to shine and he totally deserves it.”
Morrell finished the game with a game-high 22 points and Trevino added another 16 points.
