By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
In 24 years of coaching, PSJA North’s Jaime Gongora had never as nervous as he was Saturday.
From the outside, one would imagine it had to do with the stage — AT&T Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs — with his Cougars facing inner-city rival PSJA High. But the game had much more significance for Gongora, who picked up his 500th coaching victory that day.
He didn’t want to add any pressure on his players, who were already in awe of playing on an NBA court. So he kept it a secret from everyone — his team, his wife and even his mother-in-law — until the bus ride back home.
“It’s kind of surreal because you don’t plan on winning 500,” said Gongora, who has led the program the past 21 years. “It’s a great milestone and it’s something we’ll enjoy later in life. But right now, we’re just focused on trying to get better.
“It’s good for our program and for our community. And the fact that I played basketball for PSJA High, it makes it even more special.”
Reaching the coaching milestone, he said, was a reminder of the roots he’s established at North. He grew up in the Housing Authority, where some of his players are from. He has three former players as assistants on the bench. And in the past 20 years, he’s qualified for the playoffs 15 times, claiming seven district titles. And perhaps more importantly, they’re 7-2 now after beating Brownsville Pace on Tuesday.
“I had a great opportunity to coach at 24 years old. It’s just been, I don’t know how to put it into words. Most people become head coaches in their early 30s and I got an early start,” said Gongora, who’s 47 years old. “But now, we’re just focusing on Taft (today).”
INJURY BUG
McAllen Memorial (5-6) has dealt with its share of injuries early in the season. D.J. Johnson sprained the same ankle he broke during the summer.
Point guard D.J. Talamantez has been dealing with a groin injury the past eight games. And Alonzo Gutierrez buckled his knee and threw out his shoulder in the past week and has played hurt the previous three games.
“You just have to adjust,” Memorial coach Sam Cortez. “Adversity hit us. Everybody goes through it.
“We’ve been kind of blessed the past years to have avoided injuries. But when you’re going hard, things happen.”
Johnson was hurt Saturday against Laredo Alexander in the Craig Smith Tournament. He rolled over another player’s ankle and it “ballooned like a grape fruit,” Cortez said. He hasn’t played since. Johnson did, however, begin running again Wednesday and he intends to play this weekend in the River City Classic in New Braunfels
Meanwhile, Cortez said he will monitor the health of Talamantez, who returned to practice, and Gutierrez, who sat out.
It has opened up opportunities for other players, like Cody Howden, a junior, who has run the offense more. Though he’s made “rookie mistakes,” Cortez said, Howden has demonstrated his ability to manage the game well. Joshua Sanchez, a freshman, has stepped in for Johnson to lead the team in scoring, netting 10 points against Brownsville Rivera on Tuesday and 16 against Laredo Alexander on Saturday.
Juniors Joe Gamino and Dorian Perez have stepped up with their outside shooting, along with Orly Cortez and Jonathan Sanchez, who have largely remained healthy and have been solid contributors.
“Right now, we’re not where we want to be but we’re getting better every game,” said Cortez, who’s in his 12th year with the program. “The best part of it is, the kids have a great attitude.”
RANKED
Three Valley teams made the top 25 rankings this week by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
Hidalgo was the only 4A school, coming in at No. 17. The Pirates, who were 3-2 at the time, are coming off a 63-57 win over Valley View on Tuesday.
In 5A, Mission Veterans was selected No. 22 and Edinburg Vela No. 25. The Patriots cruised to a 63-45 victory over visiting Edcouch-Elsa on Tuesday. And the SaberCats, who were 10-2 at the time, lost to McAllen High 61-59 on Monday.