There is plenty of optimism for the coming season surrounding the girls basketball team at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, and certainly for good reason.
The Lady Chargers return a solid group of players, including four girls who were starters last season, from a 28-8 squad that finished second in district behind Harlingen High and advanced two rounds in the state playoffs, defeating PSJA North 53-32 before falling to Laredo Alexander 43-39.
A new season begins this week in the Rio Grande Valley, bringing new expectations along with new challenges for the Lady Chargers.
“I think the main goals for us this year are to get the District (32-6A) title and to go as far as we can in the playoffs,” said junior guard Briana Cortez, one of the team’s returning starters and a three-year member of the varsity squad. “I like that we play together and that we’re a good defensive team. We try to be a good team on both ends of the court, actually.
“I’m very excited for the season,” the 5-foot-4 Cortez added. “I’ve been waiting for it since the end of last season. We’ve been preparing as a team to go as far as we can and get that district title.”
Other starters back are guard Jordan Rudd (soph., 5-6) plus posts Sarah Sandoval (jr., 5-8) and Ares Musquiz (soph., 5-10).
Rudd, who as a freshman averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 steals and 4.2 assists per game, was named newcomer of the year on the All-Valley and All-Metro teams at the end of last season as well as District 32-5A MVP.
Besides the returning starters, two other players who will be counted upon to contribute to the team’s success are Krista Lopez and Daniela Diaz, a pair of 5-4 sophomore guards.
“At this point, we’re just trying to work hard, learn to play together and build some chemistry,” said Lady Chargers coach Valentin Paz, whose team went 12-4 in district one year ago. “We’re incorporating some new people into the team and (developing) chemistry is important. These girls love to play basketball together, they love each other off the court, and that’s the biggest thing.
““We’re excited about the opportunity (this season holds),” Paz added. “We just want to be better than last year.”
Here is a team-by-team look at the girls basketball squads in The Brownsville Herald’s Metro coverage area:
HANNA
Luis Gonzalez takes over as the Lady Golden Eagles’ coach after coming over from Lopez, where he was the boys basketball coach.
Players back with starting experience for the Lady Eagles include point guard Janet Adame (sr., 5-2), center Taylor Cano (sr., 5-8), forward Alicia Chavez (sr., 5-7) and forward/post Pamela Ellis (jr., 5-10).
Coming back from an injury is guard/forward Brithzel Chapa (sr., 5-5), a past all-district selection. Another expected contributor is guard Priscilla Hernandez (jr., 5-6).
“We still have a long way to go, but the girls are working extremely hard,” Gonzalez said. “I’m expecting a lot, and so are they.”
RIVERA
Willie Brown, the former Hanna coach, is now guiding the Lady Raiders.
Brown has just one starter returning. She’s guard April Gonzalez (sr., 5-4).
“There are lots of girls back who played on the varsity,” Brown said. “It’s a good group, and we’re real optimistic. We think we have a lot of depth, and we want to play an uptempo game with three guards and two forwards.”
Among the girls expected to see some meaningful minutes on the court this season for Rivera are forwards Valerie Jimenez (soph., 5-8), Kassandra Garcia (jr., 5-6), and Ulyssa Alvarado (jr., 5-7) along with point guard Darcy Cardenas (jr., 5-0) and guards Gisel Hinojosa (jr., 5-4), Natalie Pareida (jr., 5-4) and Lindsey Schuster (sr., 5-5).
Duplicating or even surpassing what the Lady Falcons achieved last season will be quite a feat. Still, veteran coach Kim Edquist is known for getting the best out of her players.
Edquist, the TABC regional coach of the year for 2013-14, is now in her 25th year at Los Fresnos.
Last season, the Lady Falcons were the third-place team in 32-5A behind Harlingen High and Brownsville Veterans, yet they advanced three rounds in the playoffs and came very close to reaching the Region IV-5A Tournament if not for a 54-53 third-round playoff loss to Laredo Alexander.
The Lady Falcons must find a way to replace graduated senior standouts Amanda Ramirez, Kim Ruiz and Vivian Alvarez from the squad that finished 25-11 overall and 11-5 in district. Ramirez was the All-Metro MVP last season, while Ruiz and Alvarez received All-Metro recognition.
PORTER
Cowgirls coach Tony Saavedra welcomes back two starters in guard Sabrina Garcia (sr., 5-9) and guard/forward Danielle Ocampo (jr., 5-6).
Players returning with varsity experience include post Krista Quiroz (jr., 5-9), guard/forward Brissa Rivera (jr., 5-6) and guard Jennica de Leon (sr., 5-2).
Saavedra said two players who could become important contributors are guard Kayla Guevara (jr., 5-5) and guard/forward Kassy Reyes (jr., 5-6). Also, the team is awaiting district approval so that guard Terry Tellez (sr., 5-3) can play.
“I have high expectations,” Saavedra said. “I expect our two returning starters to be leaders and help out the other girls. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I believe we can be in the mix for one of the top four spots (in 32-5A). We’re looking forward to the season.”
PACE
Three starters return for the Lady Vikings as Kris Metzmaker begins her fifth season as Pace’s coach.
The starters back are point guard Olga Guevara (sr., 5-8) and posts Valerie Valeria (jr., 5-7) and Rose Perez (sr., 5-10).
Two other players who figure to make strong contributions are point guards Angela Garcia (soph., 5-6) and Krissy Rivera (fresh., 5-6).
“I have four kids that played all summer and have played most of the fall,” Metzmaker said. “They’ve gotten to know each other a lot better, and they’re playing together a lot better. Adding these two young players (Garcia and Rivera) gives us more speed, so it changes what we can do on the court. Hopefully we’re able to press better and play man-to-man (defense) more.
“We just have to wait and see what we can expect from these (new) teams (in 32-5A) before we decide how things will be,” Metzmaker added. “With the two young players (at guard) we should be able to match up a lot better. Scouting the tournaments (to see the other 32-5A teams) is going to be important.”
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY
The Lady Bloodhounds enjoyed quite a season to remember one year ago with Silvia Perez and Hannah Carrillo leading the way. They went 34-3 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the TAPPS playoffs, giving their school one of its best seasons in girls basketball.
Although Perez and Carrillo have graduated, the Lady Bloodhounds are looking forward to making another strong showing with a younger group of players as Cynthia Martinez enters her 17th season as coach.
The team’s three returning starters are guards Valeria Tapia (soph., 5-5), Diana Garcia (soph., 5-3) and Alison Alvarez (sr., 5-5).
Players expected to play bigger roles this season include forwards Ana Karen Barrera (sr., 5-6) and Frannie Huerta (soph., 5-8), guard Ceci de la Garza (soph., 5-4) and post Nicole Carre (jr., 5-10).
“We’re going to be pretty young,” Martinez said. “It’s a teaching type of deal that’s fun. For nine of them, it’s their first year in basketball. They are young, and they’ve got that extra enthusiasm. Things are new to them every day, and there’s an eagerness to learn. That always makes it fun.”
The Lady Tarpons don’t have a complete team yet because the Class 4A volleyball playoffs are underway.
Once Port Isabel gets its full squad together, the three returning starters for second-year coach Blake Ramsey will be forward Kelcie Swink (sr., 5-8) along with guards Cecily Niles (sr., 5-4) and Alex Martinez (jr., 5-3). Players coming back who came off the bench last season include guards Larissa Torres (jr., 5-5) and Avery Colunga (sr., 5-3), plus post Karina Vela (jr., 5-6).
The Lady Tarpons want to improve upon last season, when they made the playoffs as the fourth-place team from their district.
“I have pretty high expectations because we have eight returning players (who can help out),” Ramsey said. “Now they know my system.
“We lack height, so we hope to keep everybody healthy and have enough people to play an uptempo game (in District 32-4A),” he added.
IDEA FRONTIER
Four starters are back for fourth-year coach Victor Leija at Frontier. They are point guard Justine Torres (soph., 5-6), shooting guard Machela Elbert (jr., 5-7), post Shanelle Flores (jr., 5-6) and forward Zruaya Berlanga (sr., 5-5).
Other players on hand to help out are post Alexa Reyna (jr., 5-6) and guard Rosalyn Castro (sr., 5-4).
“We have pretty much everyone returning, so I’m expecting a strong, veteran team back that can take us to the playoffs,” Leija said. “My goal for them is the District (32-3A) title and the playoffs. We’re only lacking depth off the bench.”
LOPEZ
Stephen Davis came over from Porter to coach the Lady Lobos. No information about the team was made available by the coach.