Go, team! Members of the Port Aransas High School Marlins basketball team hang out bus windows while other students wish them well as they depart Port Aransas for New Braunfels for a playoff game against Milano. STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER In what coach Joe Kocurek called “the most exciting game of the tournament,” the Marlins saw the regional semi-finals game slip from their grasp, 53-62, on Friday, March 2, against a tall, strong and solid Milano team.

The Marlins went to the semi-finals from a come-frombehind win in the quarterfinals against Medina, which Kocurek credited with spurring the team on to the next level.

Trailing by two points going into the second quarter, the Port Aransas boys put together a 22-point period to lead at the half, 33-26. They were seriously outgunned in the third period, however, and ended that stanza leading by only one point, 41-40.

A 22-12 deficit in the final period spelled the end of the Marlins’ season: “The Eagles made some defensive adjustments that helped hold the Marlins in check,” Kocurek said. “They also shot 31 free throws, converting 17, while the Marlins went to the line five times, converting all of them.”

Kocurek also credited Ea- gles guard Toby Sanders, who hit two 3-pointers and totaled 11 points to help hold the Marlins off.

Tyler Pate led the Port Aransas scoring with 28; Chase Gustafson was the only other double-digit scorer, with 10 points. Caleb Rogers scored seven, Andrew Groseclose hit four and Connor Collins and Austin Scott each made two.

Pate also hit three 3-pointers and Rogers nailed one.

By quarters:
1234F
MHS 13 13 14 22 62
PA 11 22 8 12 53

In looking back at the Marlins’ 2011-12 season, Kocurek said, “I love being a part of this school, the community and our wonderful sports program. We are already getting ready for next year, so go ahead and make your reservations, because we will be back!”