BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Mission Veterans sputtered only for a few minutes in the opening quarter of Tuesday’s non-district game against Hidalgo at Mission Veterans High School.
The Lady Patriots committed careless fouls, were out-run on lose balls and couldn’t find their shooting touch. Last year’s team-leading scorer, junior point guard Ashley Smith, missed her first four shots.
For the remaining three and a half quarters, however, it was all Mission Veterans as the Lady Patriots defeated the Lady Pirates 67-35. Mission Veterans led by as many as 35 points.
Mission Veterans (9-8) generated many of its points in transition. Smith led all players with seven steals, many of which became open layups.
“She’s been playing with a lot more intensity,” coach Rafael Cantu said of Smith. “We try to stress (the press) on the defensive end because that’s going to open up easier shots. When the girls move their feet, good things happen.”
Smith was the game’s high scorer with 17 points, nine of which came in the second quarter.
“Our communication helped us tonight,” junior forward Rosa Silva said. “Once we talk to each other about a play, we just run and hustle.”
Rosa finished with 16 points and, along with teammate Didi Ibarra, was an interior presence Hidalgo had no answer for.
Despite the comfortable win, coach Cantu is still making real-time adjustments in preparation for the beginning of District 31-5A competition next week.
“During every time out I kept telling the girls the things we have to get better at,” Cantu said. “We can be a really good team. There are just certain things that we have to commit to.”
Mission Veterans’ district opponents include Edinburg Vela, Roma, Sharyland HIgh, Sharyland Pioneer and Valley View.
Cantu is primarily focused on the team’s prolonged defensive intensity, as their heavy reliance on the press at times equates to fatigue.
“Playing like that isn’t easy,” Cantu said.
Though Hidalgo (7-7) was never close, the Lady Pirates view Tuesday’s loss as another opportunity to get in shape for their own district schedule. Coach Saul Arjona has purposefully scheduled his Class 4A program against the bigger schools in the Valley to better prepare them.
“We’ve played (McAllen) Rowe, Eidnrbug North, and now (Mission Veterans),” Arjona said. “We haven’t played any one from our level. That’s what’s going to help this girl get better.”
This girl would be his daughter and starting point guard Ashely Arjona, a freshman with budding skills as a ball handler and penetrator.
“The guards they have at the upper level are very defensive-minded,” coach Arjona said. “And she’s being able to handle that.”
Arjona’s passing skills are already so polished, the team has had to adjust its style of offense to accommodate.
“We’ve never had a point guard like her,” coach Arjona said. “Our offense used to be perimeter pass, perimeter pass and another perimeter pass. Now, I’m telling my post girls to be ready for a pass, because it’s coming for them.”