Photos: Ashley Vallin, Laredo United hold off Laredo Alexander for big rivalry win
LAREDO, Texas - The Laredo United vs. Laredo Alexander game is the biggest north-side rivalry in the Gateway City.
The games always seem to go down to the wire, including in the first meeting this season on Jan. 14 when the Laredo United girls basketball team missed a flurry of free throws and narrowly held on for a two-point victory.
In the season finale on Tuesday, Laredo United did not repeat their mistake. The Longhorns went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final minute of the game to secure a 73-66 victory over Laredo Alexander.
With the victory Laredo United heads into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed from District 30-6A, while Laredo Alexander is the No. 3 seed. Bi-District opponents will be decided on Wednesday.
Free throws set the tone from the beginning of the game as Laredo United sophomore Cris Rodriguez was fouled on a 3-point attempt just 15 seconds into the game. Rodriguez cut hard to the top of the 3-point line only to be fouled by Laredo Alexander’s Samantha Carranza. Rodriguez nailed all three free throws to give Laredo United the early lead.
Laredo United doubled their lead on a triple by Ashley Vallin, who finished with 18 points and three 3-pointers. Laredo Alexander’s Sophie Villalobos finally put the Lady Bulldogs on the board, but it was the play of senior Kayla Herrera that lifted the Bulldogs throughout the game.
Herrera has been the No. 1 offensive option for Laredo Alexander all season. She has consistently scored in double figures and has a slew of 25-point-plus games. On Tuesday night Herrera left everything on the floor in the last home game of her high school career.
The lefty slashed and worked her way to the basket early and often, scoring seven of Laredo Alexander’s 15 points in the opening quarter as the Lady Bulldogs led 15-8 after the first quarter.
Laredo Alexander built an 18-11 lead behind Herrera, only to have Vallin come down and hit a layup. The Lady Bulldogs took a 24-20 edge in the second quarter on a basket by Abby Arce with 5:17 left, but the Lady Longhorns answered with a 7-0 run.
Laredo United went ahead 32-30 on a basket by Beltran, but Villalobos converted a layup to tie the game at 32-32 at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Herrera and Carranza who accounted for 13 of Laredo Alexander’s 17 points in the frame while Vallin got red hot for Laredo United with eight points. The Lady Bulldogs also turned to Valeria Costilla and Rodriguez as Laredo United built a 49-44 lead after the third quarter.
Laredo Alexander freshman Emily Buitron scored to tie the game at 60-60 with 4:29 left, but Jalomo answered with her fourth triple of the game as Laredo United regained the lead 63-60.
Then Herrera went on a rampage, hitting back-to-back baskets as Laredo Alexander took a 64-63 lead with 1:25 left in the game. Jalomo battled back and hit a hard layup at the 1:19 mark.
Villalobos gave Laredo Alexander their last lead of the game at 66-65 with 1:05 on the clock. Laredo United went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final minute as Laredo Alexander attempted to stop the clock and regain possession.
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