EDINBURG — Edinburg High’s defensive game plan during Tuesday’s District 31-6A game against Edinburg Economedes was simple — slow down Dana Serna.
The Jaguars’ senior entered the contest averaging a district leading 19.7 points per game, with no other player on the team averaging more than five.
Drawing the challenge of slowing Serna were Edinburg High’s Kimora Fagan and Lucero Jimenez. The Bobcats’ duo stuck to Serna like glue all night, holding her to a season-low two points as the Bobcats routed the Jaguars 53-19 at the Edinburg Economedes Gym.
“I was pleased on the effort we had on Dana (Serna),” Edinburg High head coach JD Salinas said. “She’s one of the better basketball players in the Valley. I think our Kimora (Fagan) and Lucero (Jimenez) did a really good job of locking her up and our help defense did a good job of getting there when they needed to. … In a game like today, where we can take advantage of taking her out of the game and forcing someone else to beat us, we’re going to do that.”
While Fagan and Jimenez led the defensive effort, Edinburg High junior Emily Carranco powered the offense, scoring a game-high 17 points.
She opened the game firing, netting back-to-back 3-pointers during the first to spark a 12-0 run by the Bobcats to open the game. Carranco scored nine of her points during the quarter.
Fagan and Martinez joined in on the scoring during the second, combining for 13 points to send the Bobcats into the break with a commanding 32-6 lead.
Fagan and Martinez added 15 and 12 points, respectively.
“We started off hot and did a really good job,” Salinas said. “Emily really came out of her shell and hit some big 3s for us. We got that quick spark.”
The victory is the sixth straight for the Bobcats, improving to 21-7 overall and 2-0 in district play. The Jaguars fell to 16-8 and 1-1 in district play.
“We weren’t going to take them lightly. Regardless of the outcome they had some good wins and they got one of the Valley’s better players in Dana on their team. We were reviewing film like if we’re playing in the district championship tonight. With five opponents in a six-team district, it feels like you start district and end district just like that. We want to be playing our best basketball now.”
The Bobcats turn their attention to their district home opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the La Joya High Coyotes at the Edinburg High Gym. The Jaguars look to bounce back during a road contest at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the Mission High Eagles at the Mission High Gym.
