By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This Monday, January 5, the Port Isabel Tarpons (24-6, 11-0 in district) hosted the La Feria Lions (20-7, 10-1 in district) in a crucial district game. The Tarpons entered the game in first place of the district standings. The teams met back on January 12, when the Tarpons came away with a 40-39 at La Feria. With only three games remaining in the regular season, a Tarpons win would virtually wrap up the district title.
Port Isabel recovered the opening jump ball and proceeded to pass the ball around until they found a crack in the Lions’ defense, as Christian Smith sank a 3-point shot. Midway into the quarter, Jeffrey Smith made a 3-pointer of his own as the Tarpons jumped out to 10-4 lead. After the Lions made a small run, PI’s Aiden Sanchez hit a 3-point shot and the home crowd erupted with excitement. The Lions made a 3-pointer of their own as the quarter was winding down, cutting the Tarpon’s lead down to 16-14.
After a slow start to the second quarter, Christian Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers forcing La Feria to call a timeout with 5:19 showing on the clock and Port Isabel leading 27-18. Upon returning from the timeout, the Lions went a 14-3 run as they took their first lead of the game (32-30) with less than two minutes left in the quarter. The Tarpons responded with an 8-0 run of their own capped by a 2-point basket by Christian Smith at the buzzer with the Tarpons leading 38-32 at halftime.
As the third quarter got underway, the Lions started to chip away at the Tarpons lead. With 5:27 left in the quarter, the Port Isabel coach saw enough and called a timeout with the game tied at 41-41. Whatever was said during the timeout needs to be bottled up and saved because the refocused Tarpons went on a 12-2 run forcing La Feria to call their own timeout. Christian Smith came in clutch once again hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Tarpons proceeded to extended their lead to 58-44 to close out the stanza.
The Lions started to fade in the fourth quarter while the Tarpons continued their sharp shooting and defensive tenacity. When the final buzzer went off, the determined Tarpons sealed the win 72-55.
Port Isabel’s leading scorer, Christian Smith finished the night with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Jeffery Smith also had a big game registering 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
The Tarpons will be back in action this Friday, January 9, as they take on Brownsville Harmony at home with a noon game start.
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