By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
This was supposed to be the year La Joya Palmview played both of its bigs together.
Javier Alaniz’s injury prevented that from happening last season, when the 6-foot-4 post tore his ACL. Anthony Magallon, a 6-foot-5 post, flourished during that time and was recognized as the district’s top newcomer.
But Palmview again will have to play without one of its inside players, after Magallon broke his right leg. It’s the same leg he hurt while competing in track during the offseason. It limited his mobility on the court this season, leading coach Andy Saenz to bring him along slowly this season.
“It’s a big blow losing him,” Saenz said. “Obviously you can’t replace a guy who’s 6-foot-5. I don’t have that type of athlete coming off the bench. We have guys with our skills and we’re going to have to utilize them.”
Magallon’s loss places an even bigger workload on Alaniz, who is among the Valley’s top rebounders at 7.0 per game.
It’s been five games now since Magallon was sidelined on Dec. 5. and his loss means the Lobos will resort to playing more small ball. At 5-foot-10, Armando Alaniz is the team’s second-tallest player, but he’ll be utilized more as a stretch four.
“Obviously, the loss makes us small but at the same time we’re going to try to pick up the pace,” Saenz said. “There’s no room for error. Because of Anthony’s presence, he was able to erase some mistakes. He could block shots or alter some shots. We don’t have that luxury anymore, so we’re going to have to play smart.
“It’s a work in progress.”
Palmview (10-5) is ranked No. 9 this week by RGVSports.com, after having beaten Laredo United 61-60 on Tuesday. The Lobos also beat La Joya High, the second-place team in District 30-6A, last week.
PICKING UP THE PACE
San Isidro (10-1) is pressing more than it has in past years, and it has led to plenty of easy baskets.
The Tigers are averaging 66.5 points per game while holding teams to 35.6 points per content. In fact, they have four players averaging double figures in scoring.
“I just feel we’re a faster team now. It makes it hard for opponents to stop us,” coach Rolando Garza said.
The faster pace led San Isidro to a 49-38 win over San Perlita in the Tiger Shootout on Dec. 6. The Tigers have improved their long ball, drilling 90 3s (38 percent shooting), an average of 8.2 per game. Last year, San Isidro hadn’t drained as many all season.
Part of that can be attributed to returning three starters from the team that advanced to the regional quarterfinals last year. That other aspect, too, has been the play of Marcos Garcia, a senior, who’s averaging a team-high 18.7 points per contest. In 11 games, he’s already hit 45 3s.
“It’s just the experience,” Garza said. “Marcos is a sharpshooter. … And we feel we have the right formula right now. We have the shooters and rebounders and a little bit of height, and I think that makes for a good team.”
TOURNAMENTS
The upper-Valley will play host to two tournaments beginning today. The Tri-City Tournament will take place at the four PSJA high schools, while McAllen Rowe will house the City of Palms Tournament.
There’s 16 teams expected to compete at the Tri-City Tournament, most of those from the upper-Valley. The championship game is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at PSJA North. City of Palms, which also has 16 teams scheduled, will have its title game at 3 p.m. Saturday. Local teams include Donna High, Edinburg High, Edinburg North, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, La Joya Palmview, McAllen Rowe, Mission High and Weslaco High.
There’s also four Brownsville schools, Los Fresnos and three Laredo schools.