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Hermleigh seniors Ryleigh Benitez and Makia Gonzales saw their high school basketball careers come to a close Saturday after the Lady Cardinals fell to Veribest, 27-25 in the Regional Finals at Moody Coliseum. The duo racked up three district titles, three bi-district and area championships and two state final appearances in their careers as Lady Cardinals. -
Hermleigh seniors Ryleigh Benitez and Makia Gonzales saw their high school basketball careers come to a close Saturday after the Lady Cardinals fell to Veribest, 27-25 in the Regional Finals at Moody Coliseum. The duo racked up three district titles, three bi-district and area championships and two state final appearances in their careers as Lady Cardinals.
ABILENE – Two points were all that kept the Hermleigh Lady Cardinals from a third consecutive trip to the state tournament.
The Lady Cardinals lost to Veribest 27-25 in the Regional Finals at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum Saturday.
The two teams went blow-for-blow for three and a half quarters in a defensive battle ultimately decided by the stingy defense of Veribest.
The Lady Falcons held Hermleigh to fewer than 10 points in every quarter but the third.
Hermleigh started the game on a 5-2 run but five straight Lady Falcon points put them ahead 7-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Senior Makia Gonzales tied the game at 7-7 to start the second quarter, but the Lady Falcons got hot from deep, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and outscoring the Lady Cardinals, 6-4 to take a 13-9 lead at the half. Both teams began to find their offensive grooves in the third quarter. Junior Brittany Smith and sophomore Sarah Murphy both hit 3-pointers and Gonzales continued to work the post as the Lady Cardinals scored 11-points. Veribest kept pace, also scoring 11 points to take a 24-20 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Veribest parked the bus, draining as much time off the clock as possible to secure the win.
Midway through the quarter, Gonzales came away with a steal and turned it into two points, drawing Hermleigh within two points.
Veribest continued to run the clock and Hermleigh began to send them to the free throw line in the final minute. Free throws put Veribest up 26-22 with under a minute to go. Murphy hit her second 3-pointer to cut the lead to one, 26-25.
Hermleigh sent Veribest to the line once again, making one-of-two shots.
Hermleigh set up a play allowing Gonzales to get open, but the shot didn’t fall, sending Hermleigh home and the Lady Falcons to the state tournament.
The Lady Cardinals finished the season as District 13-1A champions and went undefeated in district play for the second straight season. Seniors Makian Gonzales and Ryleigh Benitez finish their high school careers as three-time district champions, two-time state finalists, three-time bi-district and area champions and Gonzales also earned numerous all-state accolades.