Hawks open season with 50-49 win over Sharyland

HARLINGEN - For the first game of the season, Harlingen South head coach Brian Molina was just pleased with the effort.

The win was nice too.

Wesley McCormick converted key free throws with three seconds left in the game and the No. 8 Harlingen South Hawks opened the 2008-09 season with a gritty 50-49 win against Sharyland here on Tuesday.

"We played sloppy on the offensive end," Molina said. "These guys fought back and Joseph (Bedford) came up with some big shots there at the end."

South (1-0) and the Rattlers (0-1) played about as tight as they could through the halftime.

With the game tied at 26 after the first two periods, Sharyland came out and took a 38-26 lead after three quarters.

Harlingen South fell into some foul trouble in the second half and the Rattlers were able to take advantage.

Ricky Torres, Peyton Hayes, Danny Garcia and Rico Herrera all fouled out during the game. All four are also starters.

South trailed by as many as five points with 1:30 left in the game.

But that's when Molina said the team came together and overcame everything for the victory.

"Our bench bailed us out today," Molina said. "We came up with some big steals there at the end and we were able to stay ahead."

Herrera made his Hawks debut leading all scorers with 13 points. Herrera transferred from Rio Hondo over the summer.

Bedford scored 11 for the Hawks to go with his four steals and four assists.

Torres scored 10 more and also recorded four steals with two assists on the night.

Mike Trevino led the Rattlers with 10 points.