Edinburg Daily Review

By RAUL GARCIA JR | Edinburg Daily Review 

LOS FRESNOS — It all started looking like it would be “Dre’s Day” for the Cougars after the tipoff at Monday’s Bi-District Championship against the Falcons.

He couldn’t be stopped sparking the Cougars 9-0 run beginning with his wide open jumpshot.

The Cougars came out firing on all cylinders converting multiple three point shots, finishing at the rim and around the perimeter pouncing to a doudle digit lead in the first quarter.

The hometown Falcons were stunned looking at a 27-7 deficit at the start of the second period. The Cougars’ Dre Estrada hit a big three-pointer, picked up an offensive rebound for another bucket, finished a last-second layup to end the first quarter, and splashed a three-pointer to start the second period.

The seven-time District Champion Los Fresnos Falcons were not ready to say “Arrivederci.” 

After being punched and kicked around on the court by the gang of Cougars who seemed to be making every shot they took it was time to give them some heat of their own.

They regrouped and went to work. Slowly cutting the Cougar’s lead in half and began trading blows, shot for shot.

The Falcons cut the lead into half at 30-15 in the second quarter capitalizing off Cougar’s missed shots and mistakes.

With the score 32-21 the Cougars were called for foul bring the ball across court. 

The crowd on both sides began to start going crazy on each possession.  

 With one minute left to go in the half the Cougars had their teeth sunk into a 34-25 lead.

And Raul Palacios did it again, pulling the trigger from the corner and knocking down the 3-ball with time burning up to close the half with a 37-25 lead.

To make matters worse the Cougars opened the fourth quater with another 3-pointer. This time Osmar Alaniz connected to go up 40-25.

The Falcons went into high gear in the fourth quarter with the help of JJ Salazar, Jude Barreda, and Gio Galvan.

They converted three point plays, didn’t miss at the charity stripe and knocked down some big threes of their own.

The Falcons continued to score on each possession cutting the Cougar’s lead little by little.

With 4:44 left to go in regulation, Gio Galvan cut the Cougar’s lead to four. 

The crowd was going wild. With every shot and every whistle, the decibel level seemed deafening, and the fans were enjoying every minute of it.

Heading down the stretch of the fourth quarter of play it was a whole new ball game.

Falcons’ JJ Salazar nailed a big turnaround fade away in the paint. 

Next the Cougars turnover the ball with a traveling violation on the next possession. 

And the Falcons’ Jude Barreda comes back and sinks a three-pointer to cut the Cougars lead down one.

It was now 58-57, and anyone’s ball game in the win or go home playoff match up between the two District Champions.

The game was close. The Cougars were in familiar territory. During the season, they were handed a couple of losses after not maintaining their lead late in the game. That was the case when they lost to Harlingen High and recently in overtime against La Joya.

But the Cougars would regroup and hold on to their lead. Jose Ramirez checked into the game late in the fourth scrambled for the ball and was fouled. He helped maintain the lead by going one-for-one at the line.

Alaniz gots a steal and answered with a running layup to go up 62-57.

The fans shouted “Let’s Go Cougars,” with the help of the Edinburg North Golden Spurs leading the chants from high on top of the bleachers after the Alaniz make and another Cougars forced turnover. 

Cougars Head Coach Carlos Ramos was seen wiping his sweat off his brow as he paced the Cougars bench along the baseline.

The game was still close at 65-57.

The Cougars made an unordinary turnover in the paint looking for the open guy.

The Falcons got to the line and hit two-for-two.

With 2:17 left in the contest, the Falcons were hanging on with a claw. And with the score 64-59, the Falcons force another Cougar turnover.

Ramirez was there for the Cougars coming up clutch in the fourth scoring off the glass and ball swirled in for a score to go up seven.

It was 66-59.

Next the Cougars snatch the inbounds pass and retake possession with 1:39, and they turn it over. Falcons’ Gio Galvan scores and converts an and-one, but Raul Palacios follows up with an and-one of his own.

Galvan scores again to keep the game within reach at 69-65.

And its a four point game with 1:19 left.

The Cougars’ Dre Estrada and Josiah Cantu each got to the line and hit 1-1 respectively.

The game seemed to be going back in favor of the Cougars.

But Jude Barreda drained a long three ball with .44 seconds remaining.

The score was now 73-68.

And Falcons hit another three before time expired. 

To close out the game Josiah Cantu went back to the line after sinking two and he hit one to lift the Cougars to a 78-73 win.