Warriors cruise past Greyhounds in non-district finale

SAN BENITO — McAllen Rowe had three different players score in double figures as the Warriors cruised past the San Benito Greyhounds 60-46 during their non-district finale Tuesday at San Benito High School.

Senior Valentina Saldivar led the way with 21 points behind a barrage of 3-pointers. Alyssa Cantu added 17 points off the bench, and Fernanda Saldivar chipped in 11.

“I’m real blessed that some of these girls have peaked at the right moment,” McAllen Rowe head coach Gustavo Cobos said. “It’s beautiful to see. Just beautiful team basketball. Alyssa could probably have 30 a night if she wanted to, but she’s being such an unselfish player and that’s what has made our team great. Silah (Flores) comes with great defense, and she provides the offense as well. She’s probably what gets us going on defense. Valentina is a great shooter as well. We are blessed we are peaking at the right time. We want to stay healthy. That’s my biggest worry right now.”

McAllen Rowe’s Alyssa Cantu (13) fires a three during a non-district game against San Benito on Tuesday at the San Benito Gym. (Miguel Roberts | The Monitor)

The Warriors used a full-court press from the opening tipoff to apply the pressure to San Benito’s offense. The defensive intensity led to numerous turnovers by the Greyhounds, with Rowe turning it into a 12-3 lead after one.

McAllen Rowe continued to pour it on during the second behind a 3-point barrage from Valentina, with the senior netting three straight to spark an 11-0 run by the Warriors. Rowe’s guard finished with 11 of her game-high 21 points during the quarter.

“We’re not the biggest, but we do have a lot of speed,” Cobos said. “My girls just battle. They have the biggest hearts out there. I am so proud of them and their effort today. They just work really hard.”

San Benito pushed Rowe during the second half, outscoring the Warriors 31-30 down the stretch. Leading the rally attempt was senior Angelina Reyes, with the guard netting 12 of her team-high 18 points during the final two quarters.

San Benito’s Angelina Reyes (2) goes up for a layup during a non-district game against McAllen Rowe on Tuesday at the San Benito Gym. (Miguel Roberts | Brownsville Herald)

The push wasn’t enough, however, with a big third quarter from Valentina and an eight-point fourth from Cantu helping the Warriors close out the day with the win.

“It was a good game,” Cobos said. “It was a good, competitive battle. My hats off to San Benito. They came and played very well. We knew coming into the game that the plan was to play good defense. That’s what we tried to do. San Benito is a great team, and we wish them the best of luck.”

San Benito drops to 10-6 with the loss. They turn their attention to a non-district contest against Hidalgo at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Hidalgo.

The Warriors move to 19-1 overall on the year, with the win marking their eighth straight. They turn their attention to the start of District 31-5A play, beginning with a home tilt against PSJA North at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3.

“My message to these girls is to stay humble and rest,” Cobos said. “Recovery is key. We just have to stick to the game plan and not let our heads to get too big. That’s our biggest worry.”

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