Special to the PRESS
It’s been an exciting year of basketball for the eighth grade boys’ Port Isabel Tarpon basketball team. Adversity at times, however, is rising to the occasion. The New Year has given both boys’ basketball teams a desire to compete to their full potential in hopes of winning a district championship.
The Tarpons first match up of the New Year was the Progreso Red Ants. The Tarpon Blue team played tough. Steve Morin led in scoring with 10 points. It was close throughout the basketball game. Phillip Canales and Lucas Gandler each scored three points. The biggest shot of the entire game belonged to Jose Martinez. With the game tied and seconds left to play, Jose Martinez shot a game-winning three-pointer. The Tarpon blue team defeated the Red Ants, 27-24. The Tarpon A team played hard the entire game. Nick Carrillo led with 15 points and Andrew Ogletree scored 12 points. However, the Red Ants were persistent and scored a last second three-pointer to win the game and earn the victory.
On January 17, the Tarpon eighth grade basketball teams traveled to Raymondville to play the Bearkats. The eighth grade boys’ blue team had control of the entire game from the very beginning. Steve Morin led the Tarpons with 12 points. Andrew Villarreal, Brandon Zaldivar and JD Vasquez all contributed in points, earning the 16-9 victory. The boys’ A team played hard throughout the night. Carlos Orduna led the A team with 20 points. Jr. Martinez, Dylan Athanas, Ramsey Green, Nick Carrillo, Mark Martinez and Andrew Ogletree all added points to the scoreboard. The Tarpons earned the victory scoring 46 points.
The La Feria Lions traveled to Port Isabel on January 24. Great basketball was played that evening. The Tarpon blue team played with heart and determination. Steve Morin led the Tarpons with eight points. Morin made a last second three-pointer at the end of the first quarter pumping up the crowd. Phillip Canales and Andrew Villarreal each scored four points. Felipe Garcia was fouled and made both shots at the free-throw line. The boys’ blue team played as hard as they could. La Feria was proven to be a tough team and earned the victory. The A team’s Carlos Orduna was making three-pointers like Lebron James in the NBA Finals. Orduna led the Tarpons with 11 points. Andrew Ogletree and Dylan Athanas each scored seven points and Jorge Escobar and Nick Carrillo each scored five points. Jr. Martinez scored a total of six points. The game came down to a 35-35 tie in last seconds of the game. However, La Feria rallied toward the end to earn the victory.
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