Lady Hounds dispatch PSJA Memorial, 46-29

By ANDREA MOSQUEDA
Special to the NEWS

The confident expressions on the faces of the San Benito Lady Hounds varsity basketball team Friday should have been PSJA Memorial’s first indication that they were in store for a long night.

The Wolverines took the first shot and the lead after the tip-off, but the Lady Hounds — who were playing at home — quickly caught up as San Benito’s Rosa Gomez earned one point in a two-shot foul with 6:55 left in the first quarter. The game really kicked into high-gear when San Benito’s Cejay Banuelos hit a bucket for two and quickly followed it up a three-pointer, giving the Lady Hounds the lead as the buzzer signaled the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was filled with tenacious defense from the Lady Hounds, who were fighting tooth and nail for loose balls on the floor. They wasted no time, stifling the Lady Wolverines, and it paid off as the Lady Hounds maintained a five-point lead. The score at the end of the second quarter was 24-19.

The Lady Hounds go from tenacious to downright fierce in the third quarter, tightening up on D and recording a number of steals. Then, a layup from Banuelos extended the lead to nine points, and from there, a beautiful half-court pass to San Benito’s Jav’ana Gonzales and a left-handed layup brought the lead to double digits with 6:22 left in the third quarter. A short jump-shot from Stephanie Castro ended the quarter with a score of 37-24.

Though extending their lead, the Lady Hounds also suffered a number of injures. Banuelos was hit in the ribs but kept playing as the Lady Hounds continued to dominate, never relinquishing their lead even as the final buzzer sounded.

The game ended with a final score of 46-29 with the Lady Hounds coming out on top. Gomez was the night’s top scorer, earning a total of 13 points.

Lady Hounds Head Coach Clarisse Arredondo remains optimistic of the team’s chances of competing for a 31-5A district title. “We’re 2-1 in district, and we moved the ball well tonight,” Arredondo said. “It’s a tough district and anyone can win, but we’re working on playing together as a team, and I know we’re headed in the right direction.”