Hidalgo has solid foundation

The Hidalgo Lady Pirates took a giant leap for their basketball program and turned heads toward the Rio Grande Valley for schools across Texas.

Hidalgo's march to the UIL state tournament was almost unfathomable for many in the Valley, but with its historic and valiant run at a state title there is no doubt now the RGV is gaining respect.

"UIL treated us so well, and we all really enjoyed it," Hidalgo coach Monica Rodriguez said. "We were living a coach's dream, and these players were living their dreams, too. We showed the girls in South Texas can play in Hidalgo and the Rio Grande Valley, and this one is going down in the history books."

Rodriguez's final words during the postgame news conference after her team's 58-43 loss to Argyle were loud and clear: "We will be back."

While losing senior Victoria Gonzalez to graduation next season ostensibly will hurt the team, sophomore Nashae Owens said there is a foundation set for Hidalgo and that she is already looking forward to another run title in 2010.

"It was playing basketball in front of everyone here, representing our community and the whole South Texas Valley," Owens said. "It's a wonderful experience, especially knowing that if we can do it this year we can do it next year. We have to work harder and keep going and going."

Assistant coach Arnold Martinez was firm in his belief the Valley, including Hidalgo, can match up with anyone.

"It was a great experience for us," he said. "We have a sophomore point guard leader (Owens) ready for next year, and we want to come back. We know we can compete at this level."

Sophomore General

On the court Owens was collected, calm and confident in her playing ability, and it was evident with her five steals, three assists and 10 points.

The young floor general also was 6-for-8 from the free-throw line while Argyle fans were screaming at the top of their lungs, leading her team on an 18-8 run that tied game in the fourth quarter.

"She looks and plays like a senior, but she's is just a sophomore," Rodriguez said. "With her leadership, being as young as she is, is great for our future. Nobody can stop her when she sets her mind to attack the basket and run. She creates a lot of things for us offensively."

Inside the numbers

While it seemed as though the Lady Eagles cleaned the glass from the Lady Pirates, the stats say otherwise.

Argyle finished with 32 rebounds and Hidalgo had 34. The Lady Eagles shot 50 percent during the first half, going 12-of-24 from the field and shooting an impressive 11-of-15 from the charity stripe, marks which proved to be major factors in the game.

Argyle finished with 16 points off of turnovers and 14 second-chance points, and it drained seven 3-pointers against the Lady Pirates.

"You have to give them credit, they've been here before and won a state championship before," Rodriguez said. "They did a great job doing what they do best, and that's shoot the 3."

While Hidalgo played tight man-to-man defense, Gonzalez said Argyle's shooters created space to shoot the deep ball off of screens. The Lady Eagles hit five 3-pointers during in the first half.

"That made room from the screens they set all game," she said. "We guarded as close as we could, but they made their shots."

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.

BY THE NUMBERS

37- The amount of wins the Hidalgo Lady Pirates had this season and also the number when they were tied with Argyle in the fourth quarter of their semifinal game.

16- The number of turnovers the Lady Pirates forced on the Lady Eagles that turned into 17 points.

12- Victoria Gonzalez'S point total in her final game for Hidalgo.

7- Argyle's total 3-pointers, including five in the first half.

5- Sophomore point guard Nashae Owens' game-high total for steals, including three during an 18-8 second-half run that helped Hidalgo tie the game late

11- Free throws missed by the Lady Pirates.

17- Winning streak for Hidalgo heading into game with Argyle.

3- Total losses for the 2008-09 Lady Pirates season.

2- Number of times the lead changed during the game. 

1- The only modern-era RGV girls basketball team to reach the state tournament. Also was the most the Lady Pirates were up by against Argyle.