Calexico High's Araceli Aramburo (right) attempts a layup while Brawley Union High's Monique Payne goes for a block during a game Tuesday in Brawley. (FERNANDO ACOSTA) |
BRAWLEY — The Calexico High girls’ basketball team squeaked by Brawley Union High, 41-40, here Tuesday night to take sole possession of first place in the Imperial Valley League.
“We came with the idea to give our best effort, regardless of the outcome,” Calexico Bulldogs head coach Salvador Cuevas said. “By giving our best effort, we won in any direction.
“Basically we had the concept to be in front of their three outside shooters,” he said. “If we could press them, then we can be ahead at the end of the game, and I think we worked it out.”
The first half of the contest was really a question as to whether Calexico could stop Brawley’s lethal three-point shooting, and whether the Wildcats could contain freshman phenom Martha Escobar.
The answer to both questions was “sort of.”
Escobar opened the game with two quick buckets in the low post on her way to 12 points and six rebounds in the first half alone.
Calexico sophomore Nancy Clark added four points and four rebounds of her own during a run late in the half.
But Brawley was not to be outdone on their home court twice in a row, utilizing quick ball control by Michelle Kastner and Karin Valdez’s mid-paint short hook to counter Escobar and Clark.
Wildcats snipers Meriah Overton and Monique Payne dropped in two shots each from beyond the arc in the first half, helping Brawley to a 24-23 lead at halftime.
Both teams tightened up defensively in the second half, but with a 7-0 run to end the third period, Calexico was up 32-30.
Senior Marcie Osuna put in her best play during the final period, scoring four and grabbing most of her seven rebounds of the night during those final eight minutes.
Brawley missed 5-of-7 free throws in the final quarter, but a quick bucket by Valdez and a trey from Payne shortened their deficit to just one point with less than a minute left in the game.
It was a frenzied final minute, one the Wildcats ultimately fell short as the Bulldogs gave them no chances at the end for victory.
“The kids made a great effort,” Brawley coach Mike Pacheco said. “It just came down to that last possession.
“Calexico’s kids played well, and ours did, too,” he said. “Our girls came ready to play today, and I’m proud of them.”
Payne led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Kastner scored seven, had four steals, and nabbed nine rebounds. Valdez had nine points and Overton finished with seven.
Escobar ended the night with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Clark scored seven points and nabbed 11 boards. Osuna and junior Anna Rodriguez each had six points for the Bulldogs.
“Someone once said, ‘Good teams always come back,’ so we came out here and gave it our all,” Escobar said. “We left it all on the court.”
On Friday, Calexico (17-5, 3-0 IVL) will defend its league lead at Southwest High at 5:40 p.m. while Brawley (13-8, 0-3 IVL) travels to Central Union High at 7 p.m.
“We came with the idea to give our best effort, regardless of the outcome,” Calexico Bulldogs head coach Salvador Cuevas said. “By giving our best effort, we won in any direction.
“Basically we had the concept to be in front of their three outside shooters,” he said. “If we could press them, then we can be ahead at the end of the game, and I think we worked it out.”
The first half of the contest was really a question as to whether Calexico could stop Brawley’s lethal three-point shooting, and whether the Wildcats could contain freshman phenom Martha Escobar.
The answer to both questions was “sort of.”
Escobar opened the game with two quick buckets in the low post on her way to 12 points and six rebounds in the first half alone.
Calexico sophomore Nancy Clark added four points and four rebounds of her own during a run late in the half.
But Brawley was not to be outdone on their home court twice in a row, utilizing quick ball control by Michelle Kastner and Karin Valdez’s mid-paint short hook to counter Escobar and Clark.
Wildcats snipers Meriah Overton and Monique Payne dropped in two shots each from beyond the arc in the first half, helping Brawley to a 24-23 lead at halftime.
Both teams tightened up defensively in the second half, but with a 7-0 run to end the third period, Calexico was up 32-30.
Senior Marcie Osuna put in her best play during the final period, scoring four and grabbing most of her seven rebounds of the night during those final eight minutes.
Brawley missed 5-of-7 free throws in the final quarter, but a quick bucket by Valdez and a trey from Payne shortened their deficit to just one point with less than a minute left in the game.
It was a frenzied final minute, one the Wildcats ultimately fell short as the Bulldogs gave them no chances at the end for victory.
“The kids made a great effort,” Brawley coach Mike Pacheco said. “It just came down to that last possession.
“Calexico’s kids played well, and ours did, too,” he said. “Our girls came ready to play today, and I’m proud of them.”
Payne led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Kastner scored seven, had four steals, and nabbed nine rebounds. Valdez had nine points and Overton finished with seven.
Escobar ended the night with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Clark scored seven points and nabbed 11 boards. Osuna and junior Anna Rodriguez each had six points for the Bulldogs.
“Someone once said, ‘Good teams always come back,’ so we came out here and gave it our all,” Escobar said. “We left it all on the court.”
On Friday, Calexico (17-5, 3-0 IVL) will defend its league lead at Southwest High at 5:40 p.m. while Brawley (13-8, 0-3 IVL) travels to Central Union High at 7 p.m.
