By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, December 15, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons took on the 6A Los Fresnos Falcons in a non-district game. The exciting matchup pitted two of the better basketball teams in the RGV against each other.
The (8-6) Tarpons entered the game winners of four out of their last six games. The two losses in that span came from much bigger schools, a 3-point loss to 6A Edinburg North and a 1-point loss to 6A Harlingen High.
Meanwhile, Los Fresnos entered the game with a 16-5 record, with only two of their losses coming from valley teams. Losing to Harlingen 61-57 back on December 2 and a 66-57 loss to Weslaco East in their first game of the season.
The Tarpons got off to a good start running their offense as the first quarter got underway. With less than a minute to go in the first quarter, a 3-pointer by Jeffrey Smith gave PI a solid 18-10 lead.
In the second quarter, the Falcons turned up their defensive effort and forced the Tarpons into some turnovers. Halfway into the quarter, Los Fresnos went on a 6-1 run, forcing the Tarpons to call a timeout as PI now led 23-19.
Around the three-minute mark, J. Smith made back-to-back 3-pointers as PI extended their lead to 29-19. After a foul call on PI, the Falcons made both free throw attempts at the end of the quarter as the Tarpons headed into the locker room with a 30-23 lead.
Both teams got off to a rough start in the second half as both teams made a handful of turnovers and missed shots. The Tarpons then started to find their rhythm as they went on an 8-0 run, which forced Los Fresnos to call a timeout. The run included a pair of 3-pointers by Cl. Smith and J. Smith as PI built a 38-23 lead.
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