CORPUS CHRISTI — The Harlingen Lady Cardinals’ season came to a heartbreaking end Friday night as they let a 63-55 fourth-quarter lead slip away in a Class 6A area-round playoff game against South San Antonio.
Harlingen controlled the tempo and led until the final seconds of regulation when South San’s Rhiannon Gamez hit a game-tying 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime at 72-72.
The Lady Cards were 10 of 18 from the free-throw line in the fourth period and in overtime, and the missed free shots proved to be costly as they fell 83-78.
“It was a tough loss against a team that finished in the end,” said Harlingen coach Ashley Moncivaiz. “Down the stretch the free throws hurt us. It was one of those things that we talked about that needed to be on point. It’s one of those things that you can prepare for, but need to execute in the game.”
The Lady Cards trailed only early on in the contest and used a 9-1 run to grab a 22-14 lead late in the first half.
Senior Nadia Flores gave the Lady Cards a quick four-point swing followed by an Alyssa Cervantes bucket.
The Lady Cards rode the momentum of the early run and used an Andrea Cortez 3-pointer with one second left in the second period to take a 37-32 lead at the break.
Just like in the first half, Harlingen broke the press, made its shots and controlled the tempo for much of the second half. Four Lady Cards finished in double figures. Julieann Garza led the way with 19 points, Flores netted 16, Alyssa Cervantes had 13 and Taegan Dickey scored 10.
“We just played our game, we contained and we did some good things on offense,” Moncivaiz said. “One of the things that hurt us was we got in foul trouble. They (South San) hit free throws and we missed free throws.”
Harlingen will return all of its key starters with Flores and Garza being the only starting seniors. Cervantes, Dickey, Ariel Leal and Cortez will all return next season.
“It’s exciting to see all my starting group back except for two,” Moncivaiz said. “These girls worked hard all year and on Monday we will get back to work. You hope to go long and the girls wanted it, but we just came up short.”
Flores wraps up stellar career at Harlingen: Nadia Flores spent the last four seasons running up and down the court with swagger and confidence. The senior wrapped up what was a solid career as a Lady Cardinal.
“She has had a major impact on our program,” Moncivaiz said of Flores. “You look at her size and she can score from anywhere on the court. She showed in the playoffs that she is willing to adjust her game. She is a different type of player that the girls look up to and want to be.”
Flores finished with 16 points in her final game and is now looking forward to the next chapter.
“It was the best four years of my life and I wouldn’t change anything about it,” Flores said. “It’s heartbreaking that this was my last game and the way it ended, but I know God has a plan for me and my life. I know there will be different things in my life that I will have to face and this is one of those things I have to get past and it was a hell of a ride.”
Flores began her career at Harlingen as a freshman when Moncivaiz took over as head coach.
“She has always been there for me and she is like a second mom to me,” Flores said of her coach. “I wouldn’t want any other coach but her. I have so much respect for her because she was there for me, and I appreciate and love her very much.”
