Unsatisfying win gives Lady Falcons share of 32-5A title

LOS FRESNOS — Kim Edquist was not a happy camper.

Sure, her Los Fresnos Lady Falcons just picked up a 44-33 win over the Rivera Lady Raiders on Tuesday.

Sure, they clinched a share of the District 32-5A title.

Sure, they even secured the district’s top playoff seed.

But considering how her team looked doing it, it wasn’t exactly celebration time at the Falcons’ gym.

“I’m still not happy,” Edquist said. “And I don’t think the girls are either.”

The Lady Falcons (31-4, 12-0 district) were never really threatened by the Lady Raiders (15-20, 5-7), but they never really found a groove.

“They know that they didn’t play (their game),” Edquist said. “We’re not doing the things we need to do all the time.”

But despite the way they played, it still goes in the right column.

“Well, we won,” Edquist said. “We did some offensive things that we did a little better job (of).”

Los Fresnos led 14-13 after the first quarter and outscored Rivera 17-8 during the second to go into halftime up by 10. The Lady Raiders got within six late in the third, but a Karla Burnias 3-pointer pushed the lead back to nine at the end of the frame.

The fourth was especially slow, but Los Fresnos got out of there with the win.

“We got three seasons — non-district, district and playoffs,” Edquist said. “We’re just trying to get through Season 2 right now.”

Burnias had 17 points to lead all scorers. Chanel Ebanks-Texada came off the bench and added 14. Monica Salazar had 16 to front Rivera.

The Lady Raiders were in the game after one and had their chances during the third, but even with the way the Lady Falcons played, they were always at arm’s length.

“We made some mistakes, then we could never close the gap again,” Rivera coach Abel Moreno said. “It was difficult.”

His team is still in the thick of the 32-5A playoff race, though, and goes into its last two games against Weslaco High and Lopez with a chance to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot.

“If we were to beat those two teams, we’re in no matter what,” Moreno said. “I think.”

As for Los Fresnos, it will look to secure the district title outright Friday against Pace, then start getting ready for the fourth-place team out of District 31-5A.

“I’ve been blessed with great kids here,” Edquist said. “But they know I’m not happy right now.”

Todd Orodenker covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at torodenker@brownsvilleherald.com. Follow him on Twitter @ToddO243.