By JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Roy Gonzalez didn’t have to try too hard to convince Sydney Pemelton to return to the court for McAllen High. A brief conversation between coach and player was all that was needed.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Gonzalez said. “But I called her in around the beginning of the season and told her how much the team needed her, and she didn’t need too long to think about it. It was her decision to make, though.”
Last year was a series of unfortunate circumstances for the Lady Bulldogs. Before the season, McHi’s roster was balanced, healthy and ready to compete for a district title. By the postseason, however, it was marred with injuries en route to a 15-19 record.
Senior post Savanna Weaver missed significant time with a knee injury and guard Stacy Solis suffered a torn ACL during a game against La Joya Palmview. Pemelton, a volleyball and track athlete, played just five games before leaving the team due to personal reasons.
“Suddenly I was giving a lot of minutes to players who otherwise wouldn’t get that kind of playing time,” Gonzalez said. “We went from an inside-outside team to a jump-shooting team. That was a big change for us.”
Gonzalez didn’t expect Pemelton to rejoin the team this year, but the junior post rediscovered the urge to play while watching the team from the stands during last week’s McAllen High round robin tournament.
She rejoined the team Monday and played during the team’s 55-37 win over PSJA High on Tuesday, scoring seven points and grabbing double-digit rebounds. Though just a few weeks removed from volleyball season, Pemelton paid her dues for time away from the court.
“I felt fine until the end,” she said. “Then I started feeling like I was dying. I was so exhausted.”
Though Pemelton has yet to start, Gonazlez says she will work her way into the starting five as she gets back into basketball shape. Once she’s up to speed, Pemelton will be one of the Lady Bulldogs’ key defensive pieces in a district known for its size.
“We’ve got a big girl to go against the other big girls we play against,” Gonzalez said. “McAllen Memorial has Ebony Johnson, McAllen Rowe has Mayda (Garcia). Any time a McAllen team plays each other, it’s going to be a tough, physical game.”
Pendleton admits scoring is the area of her game in need of the most work and that rebounding and defense are her strongest skills.
“There will be teams we play where they’ll be half her size,” Gonzalez said. “I tell the girls, ‘Let’s not be stupid, give Sydney the ball.’ They know that if the matchup is there, she has to be our go-to. But she’s such a presence inside, she can draw attention and allow some of our shooters to get open.”
jlafollette @themonitor.com
