BY GREG SELBER

Two for the price of one is hard to beat, and this year Valley hoops teams are doing their part to give the fans a double shot of excitement. As Edinburg traveled to Harlingen to take on South in the 31-5A Night of Nights, the crowd was packed in and ready for some action.

They got a hard-fought struggle in the first match, as the South boys matched EHS blow for blow and just missed a serious upset, falling 53-45 in a brawl that was much closer all the way.

The nightcap was ugly for the visiting Lady Bobcats, as they became the second Edinburg unit to get ran off the floor in 48 hours, being drubbed by the ferocious Lady Hawks 67-53. As closely contested as the first one was, this contest was no contest, with EHS loading up during garbage time to make it seem respectable. South (6-0 in league play) had pounded North unmercifully Saturday and did the same to EHS (5-1), establishing a 24-point lead after three with its killer press and trap.

Observers had expected the opposite from this meeting of the Valley’s best, but the South boys played a whale of a game to nip at the heels of the Bobcats throughout, closing to within one twice in the second half but never retaking the lead they’d last held at 10-9.

It was supposed to be a nip-and-tuck affair with the girls, but with junior post Ashley Bukowski all over the court (21 points, 13 boards), the Lady Hawks were never threatened, getting 18 from Josslyn Benavidez and 17 from Ariel Guevara in a surprising rout.

NECK AND NECK

Brian Molina’s Hawk contingent came in at .500 overall, against an Edinburg team that is looking for its fourth straight 31-5A crown. With high-flying Aaron Olvera, the ‘Cats had made mincemeat of the pack so far. But the inside strength of South, combined with a terrible shooting night from Olvera, averaging 21 ppg in 2009-10, set up a super second half which saw the ‘Cats hanging on and the Hawks coming on.

To begin, junior Phillip De la Rosa was the defensive spark for Edinburg (4-0 in 31-5A). He and underrated junior Cord Arriola each scored two baskets to give the team a lift. South countered with Rico Herrera, the sharp-elbowed senior who hits for 22 a night, to stand ground. When speedy Rajann Lassiter made a basket it was 10-9, Hawks, before Arriola’s layup gave the visitor a 1-point margin after one.

Herrera, who can shoot well from the perimeter when he’s not abusing defenders with a deceptive first step and hard rush to the goal, would notch 25 points with seven boards on the night, with teammates Danny Garcia and Wesley McCormick taking it to the Bobcats in the paint with a combined 19 rebounds.

With Olvera shooting 1 for 8 in the half, EHS turned to a trusted option in junior Stevie “Blue Eyes” Guerrero, who continued his hot play with 18 and 8, including seven markers in the second. Edinburg led 23-17 at the half, with the pace slow like the Hawks planned and the ‘Cats doing a bit of standing around as Olvera tried to get on track.

“It happens, even to the guys who make a million dollars to play this game,” said Guerrero of Olvera’s off night on which he scored 12 points but missed 14 shots from the field. “He found some other ways to be effective and that’s what we expect from him. You aren’t always going to be on, so then it becomes a matter of what will you do to be effective.”

Guerrero is the school’s football quarterback, a lanky 6-footer with a lot of ability in hoops. He agreed that for awhile there, his unit did not run the offense in the halfcourt well enough to pull away.

“We always look to run, and make things happen on the break,” he said. “Coach tells us to always get out fast. But when the game ended up being close, we started to run the sets and we got our baskets. South has a tough team inside. I wasn’t used to being surrounded by big guys underneath, they did a good job of coming to us tonight.”

Herrera picked up three fouls in the half, but he is a veteran who knows how to maintain his notorious aggressive streak and avoid the whistles. Edinburg extended to 27-19 early in the third as Olvera nailed a long three-pointer, but Herrera was equal to the challenge, getting 10 in the period as Molina’s Band hung around. When Garcia hooked in a lefty toss, it was just 32-31, but the Bobcats responded with another long one from Olvera. The junior guard ended the third with another two for a 39-35 advantage against a Hawk team that would just not go quietly.

Lassiter made a free throw to bring his team to within one at 41-40 in the fourth but the ‘Cats asserted themselves in the halfcourt game, with big lifts from Guerrero and junior post Marquis Holiday to take the game.

They both snared offensive boards on one possession, with Holiday getting a pair of free shots. Herrera came down and knocked in a pair but then Guerrero and Arriola forced a turnover and Olvera was fouled on the run-out, converting one of two charity throws.

On defense, Holiday, who has been out of the rotation for two weeks after a series of family issues, skied between two for a rebound that he tipped in mid-air to Olvera to avoid being sandwiched. Then he ran down to trail the play, grabbing a De la Rosa miss and making two free throws after being fouled.

Guerrero put a stamp on the narrow victory with a soaring board in traffic, and though he was poked in the eye inside the final minute, was all smiles at the buzzer.

“South is a good fundamental team and they played us hard all the way,” he admitted. “We didn’t panic when they stayed with us and we were able to pull it out.”

If the Hawks (3-1 in district) had gotten another scoring option rolling to go with Herrera – the only South player in double figures – it might have been a different story. Edinburg, which now looks to a battle against Edinburg North Friday, played just seven kids but all made key contributions.

“When they play together, they can beat anyone,” commented EHS Coach Zeke Cuellar. “With Aaron struggling, some other guys stepped up tonight, and though we didn’t play that well, really, we were there at the end. Aaron has got to understand that when he’s not playing well, it’s OK, we have other guys who can get the job done.”

BLOWOUT CITY

Now it was time for the long-awaited collision between the two teams who have dominated the district for years. But from the get-go, it was all South, as the Lady Hawks smothered the Lady ‘Cats with pressure, cut and passed well, and carved out a 12-2 lead without breaking a sweat.

Edinburg could not solve the press, throwing the ball away, failing to make proper catches, and looking totally flustered. Benavidez and Bukowksi combined for 13 points in a first period that ended with South ahead 18-8. Bianca Casas nailed a couple of shots for the visitor but EHS was in deep trouble.

Guevara, who had five in the early going, was particularly active on the defensive end, racing to and fro to confound Edinburg attempts to weather the storm. She added six points in the second with Bukowksi starting to score at will underneath. The 5-9 junior hasn’t gotten a lot of ink so far this year, but she deserved it Tuesday, exhibiting nice body control and a real passion for the boards. If she keeps this up, the size-challenged Lady Hawks will be an even tougher out in the playoffs.

It was 35-19 at the half after Anaka Garcia had six in the period for EHS and started to bring the ball upcourt with some success.

The closest EHS got was 37-27 at 4:53 of the third, as the team gutted up and began to calm down a bit. But Alyssa Romero came up with a big steal and quickly, South put the foe to bed, with Bukowski hammering away down low with six rebounds and the defense recovering from a lull.

EHS star Laura Torres, thoroughly frustrated during the first three periods, came alive late with 10 in the fourth, when her team outscored South 22-12. But by then it was all stat-keeping with the decision not in question.

Tags: basketball, edinburg, harlingen south