Diana Lara helps Cigarroa beat Laredo Nixon in District 30-5A battle for first place

LAREDO, Texas — The first time that crosstown rivals Laredo Cigarroa and Laredo Nixon met during the opening round of district play, senior Diane Lara spent the majority of the game in foul trouble. 

When Lara made it back to the court, Laredo Cigarroa faced a 16-point deficit. She helped the Lady Toros come within two points of reclaiming a late lead to stat perfect against District 30-5A foes, but just ran out of time.

On Tuesday, Laredo Cigarroa and Laredo Nixon met with the district title on the line. But this time around, Lara was on the floor the entire game and dropped a team-high 16 points to help Cigarroa beat the Lady Mustangs 49-35 and take sole possession of first place in District 30-5A.

The victory represents the sixth straight win for the Lady Toros, who haven't lost since their only slip up in district play: a 58-56 loss to Nixon during their last meeting in early January.  

“Ever since that first loss it weighed heavily on all of us and slowly we have been working to fix the errors that we committed in that first game,” Laredo Cigarroa head coach Mary Tobias-Encinas said.

“They came out tonight and executed. I could not be more proud of them for that.”

Heading into Tuesday’s pivotal District 30-5A game, Laredo Cigarroa and Laredo Nixon were tied at 10-1 in district play after the Lady Mustangs were upset by La Joya Palmview in a #-# loss on Friday.

During the opening moments of the game both teams came out firing, but it was Laredo Nixon who held a 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter after Abby Esparza canned a shot from the perimeter.

The next 8 minutes mirrored the first quarter, but it was Laredo Nixon that gained some momentum and seized a 22-16 edge on baskets by Kait Sierra. Laredo Cigarroa then went on a six-point run that was spearheaded by Jadyzlayd Galvan, who had a layup followed by a jump shot by Angela Chavarria.

Lara knotted up the game with 9 seconds left on the clock to close out the first half. Laredo Nixon’s Danica Robles was fouled with .26 seconds left on the clock behind the 3-point line, and she sank two out of the three following free throws to give the Lady Mustangs a 24-22 halftime lead.

Laredo Cigarroa was able to start widening its gap on the scoreboard, as Lara led the charge offensively to begin the second half. She opened with two free throws after getting fouled seconds into the third quarter.

The Lady Toros went on to take a 31-29 lead and got a major basket from senior Mia Calderon, who was fouled behind the 3-point line as the ball sailed through the basket. 

She completed the four-point play after icing her free throw, as Laredo Cigarroa led 35-29 heading into the final frame.

After Robles hit a free throw at the 6:28 mark to open the fourth quarter, Laredo Cigarroa junior Eunice Cervanates took over. Cervantes scored back-to-back baskets but it was her defense and rebounding skills that took center court.

She was able to control the boards and come up with several huge blocks to give the Lady Toros their biggest lead of the game at 46-30 with 1:58 left in regulation.

Laredo Nixon was held scoreless for 4 minutes as Laredo Cigarroa pressed the gas pedal on offense. Cervantes, Lara and Calderon — who have been the backbone of the team throughout district play — came through again for the Lady Toros and they took over down the stretch.

Role players like Chavarria, Galvan and Kenyah Vasquez kept the Lady Toros in the game with some huge, timely baskets and sharp defensive plays. 

Laredo Cigarroa (22-10, 10-1) will look to keep rolling and extend its six-game winning streak when the Lady Toros take on the Rio Grande City Rattlers (21-12, 7-4) at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in Laredo

Laredo Nixon (24-11, 9-2) will look to end its recent two-game slide when the Lady Mustangs return to action against the Mission Veterans Memorial Lady Patriots (2-19, 1-8) at the same time Friday night in Mission.

Check out SBLive's exclusive photo gallery from the game:

PHOTO GALLERY — LAREDO CIGARROA 49, LADERO NIXON 35

All photos by Clara Sandoval