BY JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
McAllen High coach Roy Gonzalez saw half of his team’s offense vanish in just four days.
The Lady Bulldogs fancied an inside-out game to begin the season. Senior forward Savanna Weaver would hog the paint and crash the boards while the sharp-shooting talents of Kathy Maravilla and Heavan Wilbanks fired away from long range.
But Weaver played just eight games before tearing her right ACL in a tournament game on Nov. 21. The loss was compounded by the sudden departure of sophomore Sydney Pemelton on Nov. 25, citing personal reasons for her leaving.
Gonzalez has not ruled out a possible return for Pemleton, but says he has not discussed such a scenario.
In the ensuing weeks, McHi adjusted its offensive game-plan.
“(We play) more of an outside game,” Gonzalez said. “Everything we learned coming into the season is kind of out the door now. But when you’re an outside team, you live and die by it.”
The Lady Bulldogs had a litany of shooting woes in their most recent game, a 60-47 district-opening loss to 30-6A opponent La Joya Palmview earlier this month. McHi’s trio of Erika Mora, Maravilla and Wilbanks combined for just 8 of 32 from the floor. Weaver dressed and participated in pre-game warmups, but was sat by Gonzalez, who sees no need to rush her back.
Despite the unforeseen circumstances, The Lady Bulldogs have adjusted well enough to remain optimistic on the season. The team’s record is 10-11, 0-1 in District 30-6A and Gonzalez continues to tinker with various lineups.
“It’s a game-to-game situation,” he said. “It all depends on matchups and who we’re playing. Every game will be different. I don’t see us starting the same five against any one.”
McHi’s next game will be a Dec. 30 contest at Mission Veterans (11-9, 1-0 District 31-5A).
RAPID GROWTH
Edinburg Vela’s freshman center Bianca Cortez has had little time to adjust to varsity play, and had her toughest test in the Lady Sabercat’s district-opening win over Sharyland High earlier this month.
“Before the game, I asked her how she felt, what was going through her mind. I told her that I wasn’t expecting much from her” coach Lottie Zarate said. “She was honest with me. She said she was intimidated by (Sharyland’s) bigs.”
In that game a 54-38 Vela victory, Cortez scored just six points and was flummoxed by Lady Rattlers forward Maddie Garza.
For Vela’s next game against Roma, Zarate was more forceful with her young post player.
“I told her (Roma) doesn’t have the size that Sharyland does,” she said. “I told her I expect a double-double.”
Cortez answered the call with 23 points and 10 rebounds en route to a 70-60 victory. The bulk of her scoring occurred on put-backs and baseline jumpers.
Though Cortez isn’t the focal point of Vela’s offense, which has a speedy guard combo in Ariel Rodriguez and Jaida Muhammad, Zarate is nonetheless impressed with what she’s seen in Cortez.
“She’s had to grow up fast,” she said.