Argyle ends Hidalgo's dream season, 58-43

AUSTIN - Hidalgo's historic run at the Class 3A girls basketball state title came to a heartbreaking end Thursday afternoon.

The Lady Pirates came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 37 during the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter, but Argyle pulled away down the stretch for a 58-43 victory in their state semifinal at the Frank Erwin Center.

Hidalgo chipped away at the lead throughout the third quarter, then tied the game at 37 with 7:18 remaining in the fourth when Nashae Owens stole the ball and then found senior standout Victoria Gonzalez open down low for the easy layup.

Then Argyle's Jessica Bonfield took control of the game, scoring seven of the Lady Eagles' next nine points - including two shots from downtown - to put her team up 46-39 with 4:32 in the game.

The Lady Eagles held the Lady Pirates to 2-of-9 shooting the rest of the way while scoring 15 points off of turnovers and second-chance points to put way the game in the closing minutes.

Argyle shot 20-of-46 from the field during the second half and was a critical 11-of-15 from the line. Hidalgo coach Monica Rodriguez said was the difference in the game.

"At halftime we told our team we needed to step it up defensively and get within five," she said. "We're in the Final Four and playing against a great team.

"It was do or die. Loser goes home, and the team did a really good job of coming back. The momentum was for us in the third quarter. They hit big shots in the fourth quarter and we had to foul, and that's how they got the lead on us."

While Gonzalez was an efficient 6-of-11 shooting for a team-high 12 points Lady Eagles coach Steve Schmidt said it took a team effort to contain the Rio Grande Valley's top scorer.

"It took all five players on the court," he said. "There is no way one could handle her, she is a really good player. We tried to stay all around her and all five players knowing where she is (on the court) and limit her to one shot as much as possible. She did grab some offensive rebounds, but she's a great player. You're not going to completely stop her. We did a good job overall holding her to 12 points."

Hidalgo, which ends its run at 37-3, upset No. 3 West Oso on Saturday to advance to the Final Four. It was the first trip to the state tournament for a Valley girls basketball team in the modern era. Before 1978, Texas girls teams played a six-man basketball.

After the game Gonzalez fought back tears while talking about the historic season the Lady Pirates accomplished not only for her school but for the Valley.

"I'm going to miss my girls on the team," she said. "It was a great honor to represent Hidalgo and the Valley in the Final Four, and to make history this year."

The Lady Pirates were down by as many as 15 points, but a Maria Perales 3-pointer with six seconds left before the half cut the deficit to 10 at 29-19.

Fearless sophomore point guard Nashae Owens then scored five of her 10 points and grabbed three steals and three rebounds as the Lady Pirates outscored Argyle 18-8 to tie the game in the opening moments of the fourth.

Argyle (20-14) moves on to play Robinson (32-5) for the Class 3A title at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Lady Rockets defeated Lubbock Estacado 51-35 in their semifinal game.

Louie Vera covers girls basketball for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at lvera@brownsvilleherald.com.

ARGYLE 58, HIDALGO 43

ARGYLE (20-14): Beacher 3;11 1;3 8, Pettibon 4;12 4;4 14, O'Brien 2;5 2;2 6, Bonfield 5;6 1;2 13, Harris 4;6 0;0 10, Laurion 0;0 0;0 0, Eckert 1;2 0;0 2, Kuckelman 0;0 0;0 0, Smith 0;0 0;0 0, McInaney 0;0 0;0 0, Hennesy 1;4 2;2 4, Speer 0;0 1;2 1. Totals 20;46 11;15 58.

HIDALGO (37-3): Olvera 2;5 2;4 6, Gonzalez, V. 6;11 0;3 12, Perales 2;7 1;2 7, Owens 2;7 6;8 10, Castillo 2;11 0;2 5, Serna 0;5 1;2 1, Gonzalez, N. 0;0 0;0 0, Pitones 0;0 0;0 0, Duran 0;0 0;0 0, Reyes 0;0 0;0 0, Flores 1;2 0;0 2. Totals 15;48 10;21 43.

Halftime - Argyle 29, Hidalgo 19. 3-Point goals - Argyle 7;20 (Bonfield 2;2, Harris 2;4, Pettibon 2;8, Beacher 1;4, Hennesy 0;1, Eckert 0;1), Hidalgo 3;12 (Perales 2;4, Castillo 1;4, Serna 0;4). Fouled out - None. Rebounds - Argyle 34 (Bonfield 12), Hidalgo 32 (Gonzalez, V. 15). Assists - Argyle 15 (Harris 4), Hidalgo 9 (Owens 3). Total fouls - Argyle 18, Hidalgo 16. A - 6,504.