Bobcats nip Hidalgo to hand Pirates 1st league loss

RIO HONDO — Oh the madness!

From opening tip off to the final buzzer…oh the madness!

Rio Hondo never trailed in a key district game against tough Hidalgo and a three-pointer as time ran out in the first half proved huge as the Bobcats held on for a 60-57 win against the Pirates in front of a packed and frenzied Bobcats Gym on Friday night.

Jonathan Arismendi made four free throws and Jorge Bermudez made two inside the final 1:30 of the game to secure the key win for Rio Hondo (17-7).

The Bobcats move to 8-1 in 32-3A while the Pirates fall to 8-1.

"We felt we had something to prove after losing to them the first time," Bobcats head coach Joe Guzman said. "These teams are so evenly matched I knew it was going to be a good game. There's a lot of pride involved with both teams. My hats off to Hidalgo. They're a great team and we're looking at a one-game playoff at the end if we both win out. I’ll be looking forward to that one."

Down 32-23 at the half, Hidalgo made it a game getting within two, 43-41, going into the fourth.

Moments later, Fabian Nino nailed a three-pointer to tie it at 49 with 5:36 left in the game.

Andrew Espinoza and Hugo Garcia each scored a bucket to make it 53-up with 3:55.

At 1:26, Arismendi went to the line and nailed both free throws.

Up 55-53, Bermudez went to the line for two for the seemingly comfortable 57-53 lead with :27 left in the game.

Arismendi made two more free throws at with 12 seconds left in the game before Joe Noriega nailed a three to come within two, 59-57 with five seconds left.

Mario Rodriguez made one-of-two from the charity stripe and Hidalgo heaved a desperation three as time ran out and the black and gold stormed the floor.

But the difference proved to be a huge three-pointer by Isaiah De La Cruz as time ran out just before halftime.

De La Cruz swished a three from half court as both teams headed to intermission.

"It was everything we expected," Hidalgo head coach Gus Sanchez said. "They jumped on us early but we kept up with them in the second half.

"We've got to keep our heads up. We've got Lyford and La Feria coming up. We just have to keep our heads up right now."

Arismendi led all scorers with 19 points. Bermudez and De La Cruz scored 12 for Rio Hondo.

Noriega and Nino each had 13 for Hidalgo.

Eladio Jaimez covers boys basketball for Valley Freedom Newspapers.