Bel Air Advances To Regional Quarterfinals In Girls Basketball After Big Win Over Dallas-Area Team
The Bel Air girls basketballsquad stunned North Richland Hills, a team from the Dallas area, 73-61, in front of hundreds of El Paso fans in the lower valley. The victory moved the Highlanders to 28-3 overall. In front of a packed, energy-driven home crowd, Bel Air jumped out to a 17 point first half lead and cruised the rest of the game.
A pumped-up Coach Clay Ward said, “The girls left everything on the court. That team(Bel Air) is the best in the city right there. I don’t care what anybody says. They deserve it.”
Senior Forward Kendra Vega added, “I have a lot of pride in El Paso. We have an amazing support system and Bel Air is just amazing.”
The Highlanders full-court pressed from the onset, forcing a number of turnovers by North Richland Hills, a team that came into the area round with a 24-7 record.
Bel Air Junior guard Alanis Candelaria had a number of key steals and helped lead fast breaks the entire evening.
“This is very exciting because last year we only got to bi-district and we always expect more. This year we accomplished our goals and hopefully we can go even farther,” said Candelaria, “We believe in our Bel Air family and (the fans) are a huge thing for us.”
Bel Air will take on the winner of Friday’s game between Eastwood and Arlington Bowie. If the Troopers can pull of the upset, it’d be an all-El Paso showdown in the regional quarterfinals.
