By Brian Argabright
A strong second half defensive effort for the Rams put them back in the game, but they just couldn’t overcome a tough first half.
Del Rio opened district play Friday night at home with a 53-49 loss to the Laredo United Longhorns. The loss drops the Rams to 5-5 overall and 0-1 in District 30-6A.
United took control in the first half, outscoring the Rams 36-21. Del Rio was slow out of the gates, scoring just 10 points in the first quarter and falling behind by seven points.
It didn’t get much better for Del Rio in the second quarter as the Rams scored 11 points while seeing their deficit grow to double digits by the break.
But the third quarter was all Rams as they held the Longhorns to just two points in the period. An Eliad Fernandez basket was all that kept United from posting a goose egg for their third quarter efforts.
Meanwhile, Del Rio’s offense came alive in the third, scoring 14 points led by Luis Arteaga’s seven in the quarter.
By the end of the third quarter, United’s 15-point lead was down to just three, 38-35.
Del Rio took the lead early in the fourth, 39-38, on a steal and score by Nick Rivera. Del Rio would grab the lead once more midway through the fourth, but United was able to pull away late.
The Rams made it as close as 51-49 with less than 30 seconds in the game, but United was able to hold on for the win.
Arteaga finished with 17 points to lead Del Rio. Rivera had 13 points, J.J. Cervantes had nine points, Will Proffit and Cesar Gavia each had four points, and Eli Webster had two points.
United was led by Nicholas Cruz’s 13 points. Carlos Castro had 11 points, and Frankie Viro had 10 points.
Del Rio heads to Laredo on Tuesday to face the Nixon Mustangs at 6 p.m. The Rams’ next home game will be Tuesday, Jan. 5, versus Laredo Alexander at 6 p.m.
