Harlingen avenges loss against Los Fresnos, keeps title race alive

HARLINGEN — Los Fresnos entered Friday night’s rematch against Harlingen High undefeated in 32-6A play and one win away from clinching at least a share of the district title.

The Cardinals shut down any potential celebration from the Falcons, however, as Harlingen handed Los Fresnos its first district loss, 77-72, on Friday at Harlingen High School.

Harlingen High (25-6, 4-2) and Brownsville Hanna (23-10, 3-2) both remain in the district title race behind Los Fresnos (24-8, 5-1).

Harlingen Cardinal Luis Rodriguez (3) hustles in for a layup Friday night against Los Fresnos Falcons at Harlingen High School gymnasium. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

“We played better as a team than last time,” Harlingen junior forward Leroy Eufracio said. “We had to box out their main player. Last game, he had 17 rebounds and we just did better this time boxing him out. In the end, our team did good with our free throws and that was it. Free throws win games.”

The Cardinals have one of the deepest benches in the Rio Grande Valley and it was on display in their win over the Falcons.

Harlingen’s reserves provided a much needed spark that started in the second quarter. Leroy Eufracio, Elijah Anaya, Ricki Henderson and Ashton Barajas combined to score 20 of Harlingen’s 22 points during the period, which allowed the Cardinals to build a 39-25 halftime lead.

Harlingen’s bench finished with 44 of the Cardinals’ 77 points on the night.

“Our starting group is good, but our bench is good, too,” Eufracio said. “We just work hard in practice, we make each other better and we translate it to the game.”

Los Fresnos Falcon Gio Galvan hustles in for a layup Friday night against Harlinen Cardinals. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

Los Fresnos stayed in the fight during the second half despite their versatile forward Gio Galvan fouling out early in the fourth quarter. He poured in 23 points before his exit, however, which set up a late run led by guards Andrew Munoz and Eric Salazar. 

A Salazar layup tied the game at 68-68 with under a minute to play, but the Cardinals responded with a bucket inside from Eufracio and a pair of free throws from Aaron Benavidez. Harlingen proceeded to knock down its free throws at the end to maintain a two-possession lead to secure the win on their home floor.

Los Fresnos’ Munoz and Salazar both finished with 15 points, while Evan Mcchesney and Xavier Solis had nine apiece.

Eufracio led Harlingen with 16 points, Henderson added 12 off the Cardinals’ bench, and Marcus Gutierrez and Barajas both finished with 11.

Los Fresnos returns to play against Brownsville Hanna at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Los Fresnos High School. A win by the Falcons would clinch a share of the 32-6A title.

Harlingen High, meanwhile, is slated to face San Benito at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at San Benito High School.

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