Right at Home: PSJA North fends off visiting Vela SaberCats in district matchup

PHARR — It was a packed house here Friday as two of the toughest teams in the Rio Grande Valley went toe-to-toe with one another.

The PSJA North Raiders (21-10, 7-3) hosted the Robert Vela SaberCats (19-12, 6-4) as both went down to the wire, similarly to their first district game back in December.

The Raiders, though, prevailed and toughed it out for the win, 46-43. Coincidentally, their first game against one another this season was also determined by three points.

In the first quarter, the teams sparred with one another as they looked equal on paper and on the court. At the end of the quarter, it was 16-11 with the lead leaning toward the Raiders.

A layup with some contact and a foul by Vela’s Evan Tijerina gave the ‘Cats a 1716 lead. Contrary to the first, Vela controlled the boards and were more aggressive in driving to the basket.

However, basketball is a game of momentum and the Raiders slowly got into their own groove as sophomore Isaiah Garza — who had 15 points for PSJA North — crossed over and hit a stepback three to gain a 2419 lead. After a steal, Jalen Ramos laid it up to bring the cushion to seven points.

Raiders led by seven at the half after Vela got a basket before going into the break.

The second half mirrored the first as both squads were neck to neck and physical all the way though. A layup by Jordan Bustamante — the Valley’s leading scorer — and a three-pointer from Carlos Vazquez knotted the game at 27.

Momentum, of course, then swung to the favor of the Raiders as they had a 5-0 run of their own. A tough turnaround jumper from the right wing from Bustamante, as well as a layup from another teammate, gave Vela a push to knot it up at 32.

Garza then got the crowd further into the game with a three of his own on one possession, and then catching a foul for some free throws on the following possession.

With about six minutes left in the third, Kai Howard, muscled his way for a basket but had missed the free throw. He made up for it on the next trip by finessing himself to another bucket. The PSJA North senior had 10 points on the night.

Later in the game, with about a minute and some change left, it was 43-39, Raiders leading.

Then, with about 32 seconds left, a lone free throw by Bustamante mended the deficit to three.

After that, with a fast break by Matthew Archer, the lead grew to five. Bustamante came back down the court in a haste and cashed in a three from the left wing to bring it to 45-43.

Senior for PSJA North, Mason Lopez, then hit one free throw to grow the lead. Vela attempted to get down court for a clear shot to tie, but a half-court heave was the best they could do with the permitted time.

The fourth quarter in games like this can tilt in either team’s favor. Lopez, who had nine points on the night, said the team’s mindset was to keep their composure.

“(We had to) stay composed under the pressure,” the senior said. “We knew that coming into this game. And just, you know, we gotta stay composed and that’s what we did.”