Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway tops Port Isabel in first round

KINGSVILLE — The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons ended their season Friday with a 69-44 bi-district loss to Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway in Kingsville.

Port Isabel played Tuloso-Midway tighter than the score may let on. The Lady Tarpons competed hard against the Cherokees and kept things relatively close for a good portion of the game. Port Isabel coach Kyle DeMoss was pleased with his team’s play and the effort the players gave for four quarters.

“We played really good, just couldn’t hit some shots. We played our style of basketball, and that’s what we really wanted to do,” DeMoss said. “We knew if we could stay within 10 points, which we were doing up until the end, we’d feel pretty good. We play our best when the pressure’s on the line. They just had some fresh legs and got some fast breaks (to open up the lead).”

The Lady Tarpons fell behind 17-7 after the first quarter as Tuloso-Midway’s size and speed gave them fits. Abegayle Galindo was solid in the paint and HeavenLee Vasquez shot well from the tipoff to give the Cherokees the early advantage.

But Port Isabel adjusted and started chipping away at the lead during the second quarter. Layni Mata, Sabrina Gonzalez, Karina Martinez and Juliana Leon played well and brought the energy for the Lady Tarpons.

Gonzalez drained a 3-pointer to get within six points of Tuloso-Midway. Martinez and Leon went toe-to-toe with the Cherokees’ bigs down low and competed for rebounds.

“It was hard, I was getting pushed around down there, I’m not going to lie,” Martinez said. “What kept me going was … I just tried to set a good example and fight to the end. It’s my senior year, so I wanted to make the most of the last minutes of the game.”

Tuloso-Midway cushioned the lead with a strong final two minutes of the half. Madison Belford was physical and dominant down low to slow Port Isabel’s offense and put the Cherokees on top 31-22 at halftime.

The Cherokees used a monstrous second half to put themselves fully in control of the contest. Lily Ybarra and Danilee Cedillo joined Vasquez and Galindo to shoot lights out, knocking down 3-pointers and a number of shots from all across the court. Galindo and Belford were a force as they clogged up the paint and forced the Lady Tarpons to throw up shots.

Mata and the Lady Tarpons continued to give an all-out effort even as the Cherokees opened up things during the third quarter. Mata scored eight points in the frame, and Martinez continued to battle down low with Tuloso-Midway. She scored a team-best five points in the final quarter.

“(Mata’s) grown so much from last year,” DeMoss said. “She played probably her best game of the year tonight, but I kind of screwed up and left her in the game with three fouls. She was having a good game and I trusted her. Coaches do have favorites, and she’s definitely one of mine.”

Port Isabel had issues keeping up with Tuloso-Midway’s speed during the second half. Galindo was especially dangerous on offense and defense, and led all scorers with 21 points. The Cherokees were hot in the final half, sinking shots and making smart moves down low to let the over-eager Port Isabel defense rush by, allowing for open looks.

Even though it was a neutral site game, Tuloso-Midway had a home-court feel. The Cherokees had a large and raucous crowd that filled the home side of the gym, and they fed off that energy to push the tempo and stay in control even as they turned to the bench late in the fourth. Eight different players scored for Tuloso-Midway in the contest.

Gonzalez led Port Isabel with 15 points and hit two 3-pointers despite an off shooting night. Mata scored 11, Samantha Chapa added seven and Martinez dropped six.

“We were down, but it was a pretty close game. It was a good fight,” Gonzalez said. “They’re a pretty good team, and we thought we could’ve came back. We were communicating a lot. We had a lot of rebounds. My shots weren’t going in, but the girls did good.”

Port Isabel seniors Gonzalez, Martinez, Chapa and Janessa Espinoza kept their team fighting to the end and left behind a solid impression on the Lady Tarpons’ program.

“All four of the seniors are those types of girls, those types of leaders. They never let this team quit or play down,” DeMoss said. “We always try to be positive, influential, and it starts with them. They really created a tradition with this team. The underclassmen learned from them.”