Lady Loboes Fall To Prowlers 54-50 To End First Half Of District Race

    By Randy Hogan , Staff Writer ~ The Monahans News, January 13, 2006

Dina Ortiz scored a game high 21 points for Monahans, but the Lady Loboes couldn't get the shots to drop down the stretch in Tuesday night's district battle with Fort Stockton.

The Prowlers tied the game at 45-45 off a Monahans turnover, and shot 6 out of 8 at the free throw line in the final three minutes to give Fort Stockton a 54-50 win at the Jerry Larned Sports Complex.

Monahans (2-4 District 3-3A), struggled early on to control the Prowlers, but picked up big plays from Ortiz and Jordan Latham in the first half.

Latham dished the ball to Ortiz for a bucket to start the second period, and Ortiz nailed a three point shot from long range in the closing minutes of the half.

Latham brought the Ladies within eight points on a jump shot with 36 seconds remaining in the half.

On the play, Latham drove to the top of the key and banked the jump shot off the glass to close the score to 21-29.

Nicki Fuentes knocked down a field goal late in the period, and Catherine Cutbirth hit a free throw in the closing seconds to end the half with Monahans trailing 22-31 at the intermission.

The Lady Loboes outscored the Prowlers 17-7 in the third period behind the hot shooting of Ortiz.  She accounted for 13 of the Green's points in the period.

"I'm feeling better about the way we are playing as a team now," Coach Treasure Thaggard said.  "We are seeing the whole game better and putting it in offensively.  Defensively we have got to play better."

Ortiz opened the third with a free throw, and Chelsea Cartwright knocked down a field goal on the Ladies next Possession.

Cutbirth pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back up and in the net for two points with 3:39 to play in the period.

Joann Gonzales added a bucket for the Prowlers to stretch the score to 27-38 with 3:21 remaining in the period.  However, it would be the final points FSHS would get in the third period, as Ortiz went on a rampage.

Ortiz nailed a three-point dinger from outside the arch, and then followed with a big defensive play.  That would send her to the line to shoot two.

On the play, Ortiz stepped in front of a Prowler pass and raced down court.  She drove the lane and was fouled on the lay up attempt.  She went to the line and sank both free throw attempts to draw the Green to with 32-38 with just under two minutes to play.

On the Lady Loboes next possession, Ortiz pulled down a rebound and drove to the hoop for a score, closing the scoring gap to 34-38.

Fort Stockton called a time out to regroup with 1:23 to play in the third period.

When play resumed Ortiz blasted the Prowlers with another three-pointer, and Monahans trailed by one point, 37-38.

After a big defensive stand by MHS, Ortiz ended the period with a jump shot to give the Lady Loboes a 39-38 advantage.  It was the first lead of the night for Monahans.

Fort Stockton rallied to regain the lead in the early minutes of the fourth period, before Latham sank a field goal from the right side of the key to give MHS a 43-42 lead.

Ortiz displayed her defensive skills, picking the pocket of Prowler all-star Ruby Bernal and completing the play with a score.  MHS led 45-42 with 4:34 to play in the game.

Monahans did an outstanding job limiting Bernal to 12 points on the night, but unfortunately, Fuentes became the go-to-shooter for the Prowlers.

"Unfortunately when you shut down one of their big shooters, another one opens up, and Fuentes hit us with 19 points."

Down the stretch Fuentes scored five points, getting a basket off of a steal and converting three of four from the free throw line.

Fort Stockton took a huge 47-54 lead by way of free throws in the final two minutes of the game.

Overall, the Prowlers shot 9 of 16 from the line, compared to 9 of 12 at the free throw line for Monahans.

Ortiz ended the game with a steal from Bernal, and eventually a score with 3 seconds to play.  She filled the net with the ball, picking up a foul on the shot before sinking the free throw to end the game 50-54.

Fort Stockton (3-2 District 3-3A), has put themselves in good position entering the second half of district.

"We are not out of the district race," Thaggard said.  "Seminole is at the top, but everyone else has a shot at the two remaining playoff spots.  The kids know what is at stake and have maintained their enthusiasm and we are improving all the time."

Coach Thaggard encourages everyone to get behind the Lady Loboes as they make a second half push in the District 3-3A race.

"The kids work so hard and play hard every night," Thaggard said.  "Its time that we convert all that effort into wins."

Monahans will host Kermit Friday, at the Jerry Larned Sports Complex, in a break from district action.

"Kermit will give us a good opportunity to work on some things that we need to improve on, before the second round of district begins," Thaggard said.  "Even though it's a non-district game, it is important for us to win and regain some of our confidence."