By LARRY GAGE
Special to the PRESS
The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons hoops team lost, 50-35, on the road to Hidalgo Tuesday night. With the loss, Port Isabel is eliminated from any possible playoff consideration for the season.
Port Isabel is now 4-8 in District 32-4A play and Hidalgo improves to 8-4 and has clinched a playoff spot. Zapata, 10-2 in district, La Feria, also 10-2, and Rio Hondo, 9-3, have also secured playoff berths.
The Lady Pirates led 10-8 at the end of a quarter of play, 25-21 at halftime, and 34-30 at the end of three quarters.
Here and there, in the first half at least, the Lady Tarpons managed to get a nose in front. “It was back and forth, P.I. head coach Blake Ramsey said Wednesday morning. “We’d be up one or two, then they’d go up two. It was a see-saw battle.”
With a four-point lead to start the second half the Lady Pirates began to establish control of the contest, but Port Isabel would not go away. “I think, at one point, we were down almost 10, and we fought back,” Ramsey said.
The Lady Tarpons were able to get some steals, which they have a habit of doing, but those 18 thefts were more than canceled out by 45 turnovers.
“This was a tough one to swallow,” Ramsey said. “All season long we were in the hunt for the playoffs, and this game is officially the one that knocked us out. We’ve lost some close games that we probably should have won.”
Senior captain Alex Martinez led the team with 16 points and six rebounds. Freshman Sabrina Garza scored eight points and took down five rebounds. Senior Karina Vela, playing in what turned out to be her last game as a Lady Tarpon, blocked a season-high seven shots.
“She’s a great young lady and she always gives her best, 100 percent,” Ramsey told the Press. “You could tell last night … knowing this could possibly be her last game, if we didn’t make the playoffs, she just came out really aggressive.”
Two games remain on the schedule but, as of Friday afternoon, Vela will be on her way to Florida for a cheerleader team competition, and will not be back at school till next Tuesday.
The Lady Tarpons had to win their last four games to have a chance at the playoffs. They beat La Grulla at home last Friday, 56-31. Port Isabel will be at home this Friday night for a JV-Varsity double-header, and will close out the season at La Feria next Monday, Feb. 8. There will be no freshmen game with Progreso.
At Hidalgo, the P.I. freshmen won, 40-25, and the JV team took the win, 36-27. There was no freshmen game against La Grulla last Friday, but the Lady Tarpons JV squad won 40-23.
“Our goal is to come out these last two games and try to end the season 2-0.”
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