Hidalgo opens Pirate Classic with pair of wins

HIDALGO — The 13th Annual Hidalgo Pirate Classic tipped off Thursday with 24 teams from across the state competing in four gyms at Hidalgo High School and Diaz Junior High.

The hosting Pirates opened the day with a 59-37 win over Lyford before taking down West Oso 41-32 in a grind it out game to finish first in Pool B with a 2-0 record.

Hidalgo point guard Miguel Martinez drives to the basket against West Oso in pool game during the 13th Annual Hidalgo Pirates Classic Boys Baseball Tournament at Hidalgo High School on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Hidalgo. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

“We started off 2-0 against two tough teams,” Hidalgo head coach Gus Sanchez said. “Lyford had some real good size and West Oso had speed and we had to contend with that, but our kids battled and we came out pretty strongly with a 2-0 start in our own tournament.”

Hidalgo jumped out to a 30-17 halftime lead against West Oso, then the second half turned into a defensive slugfest. The Pirates held the Bears just five points in the fourth quarter by contesting everything at the rim and closing out on 3-point attempts to secure the win.

Hidalgo center Nick Hernandez (15) drives to the basket against West Oso in pool game during the 13th Annual Hidalgo Pirates Classic Boys Baseball Tournament at Hidalgo High School on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Hidalgo. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

Gerald Perez led the Pirates in scoring with 11 points and Rafa Galvan was right behind him with nine.

“I thought we played pretty good man-to-man in the first half then we had to change it up because they were driving on us a little more in the second half, so we dropped down to our zone and that kind of neutralized their speed and their kickouts and it kind of worked out for us,” Sanchez said.

The Pirates will continue tournament play in the platinum bracket at 10:30 a.m. Friday against Rio Hondo, who finished second in Pool A.

Los Fresnos also dominated Day 1 of tourney action with a 91-51 victory over the STX Saints and a 79-52 win against PSJA North to finish first in Pool H. The Falcons move on to the platinum bracket to face La Feria at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Los Fresnos ‘ Gio Galvan (4) drives to the basket against STX Saints in pool game during the 13th Annual Hidalgo Pirates Classic Boys Baseball Tournament at Hidalgo High School on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Hidalgo. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

Pool winners from Thursday’s action also included PSJA High, Edinburg Economedes, Houston Stafford, Rio Grande City, Valley View and Corpus Christi Ray.

For all of Thursday’s tournament results and Friday’s schedule, visit RGVSports.com.

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