HARLINGEN — The Harlingen High Lady Cardinals have a schedule filled with tough opponents meant to challenge them, and their game Saturday against Laredo United did just that.
The Lady Cardinals and Lady Longhorns battled in a fast-paced, physical contest, but Laredo United came out on top 72-64. Harlingen High controlled much of the game, but a 28-point fourth quarter anchored by solid free-throw shooting got the win for United.
“There are some great takeaways (from this game),” Harlingen High coach Ashley Moncivaiz said. “A lot of times, people don’t want to play against tough opponents. But for us, it’s better to have a challenge every night and then know, if we ever get into a tough situation, what to expect and what we need to do.”
United’s shots weren’t falling early in the first quarter, and Harlingen High’s aggressive defense was on full display. Avery Hinojosa’s quick hands kept the Lady Longhorns from getting the ball inside the paint often, and when they did, Layla Salas was there to defend the bucket and rebound the missed shots.
The Lady Cardinals jumped out to an 8-1 lead, but United’s Evelyn Quiroz brought the spark as the Lady Longhorns turned up the defensive pressure and clawed back to make it 8-7.
Harlingen High’s Alyssa Salas dominated the final three minutes of the first quarter. She scored eight straight points to give her team a cushion and was 3-for-3 from behind the arc to make it 25-12 Lady Cardinals after the first.
“(Alyssa) did really well. I told her this was her first game this season that she really came out and produced really well and didn’t hesitate,” Moncivaiz said. “She did exactly what we need her to do, which is shoot the ball. She’s a facilitator and a rebounder, and we always tell her, ‘If you’re open, you have a nice shot, take the shot.’”
Laredo United coach Frank Gonzalez said the squad made some changes defensively after the first, going back to its “bread and butter” 2-2-1 setup and its usual press, and it made a world of difference. As the defense turned up the full-court pressure, Bella Lopez began holding down the paint and outrebounded the Lady Cardinals on both sides of the floor. Lopez and Rebekah Beltran hit some 3s to close United’s deficit to 37-30 at halftime.
Laredo United came out on fire and took its first lead, 42-40, midway through the third quarter. But the Lady Cardinals kept their composure and turned up the energy. Hinojosa and Layla Salas led the charge to go on an 8-0 run and retake the lead, and despite solid play from United, Harlingen High was ahead 50-44 heading to the fourth quarter.
The whole contest was fast and physical, but especially during the fourth quarter. Quiroz, Lopez and Sarah Torres dominated down low and were aggressive with the ball to get back on top, 59-56, after a three-point play from Torres.
But again, the Lady Cardinals wouldn’t go down easy. Hinojosa and Alyssa Salas hit 3-pointers to take a one-point advantage.
United answered with a 3 from Torres to get back on top and controlled the game the final three minutes. Quiroz’s ball-handling and an uptick in passing helped the Lady Longhorns eat clock and force Harlingen High to foul. United was efficient at the charity stripe, sinking 14-of-15 free throws in the final quarter and 26-of-33 in the game to get the win.
“We were a little slow-footed in the first half. I don’t know if it’s the Thanksgiving holiday or the long trip,” Gonzalez said. “I understand, and it’s something you have to deal with, and we really responded and they did great in the second half. We started putting things together and talked about making sure we were helping backside and rotating like we were supposed to, and they did a much better job of it.”
Lopez led all scorers with 21 points and knocked down three 3-pointers. Quiroz and Torres each added 18, and Quiroz was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. Alyssa Salas was Harlingen High’s top scorer with 17 points and four 3-pointers. Callie Cervantes added 11, and Hinojosa and Emery Scoggins each contributed nine points.
“If you think about it, we controlled the pace and we actually worked really well,” Moncivaiz said. “Our defense was pretty good, it’s just that in the second half they were attacking and being aggressive, so they got to the line and that’s what put us in a different situation. (We learned) that if we keep our composure and we keep working the ball inside and outside, we are more talented than we think.”
