By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Edinburg North coach Rudy Garcia had every reason to think he was in for a rebuilding project last year. He entered the season having graduated key players, including standout twin brothers in Brian and Lico Beltran, who anchored the Cougars’ postseason run in 2013.
So without them, Garcia anticipated a makeover project. Far from it.
North secured its fifth consecutive playoff berth in 2014, fueled by the play of Brandon De La Cruz, Kobe Patterson and Ubaldo Pequeño, all of whom have paid their dues in the program. The trio returns this season with much of the same expectations.
“We started a little tradition here of being in the playoffs, and the kids want to continue it,” said Garcia, who enters his 10th campaign.
There’s a balance between experience and youth this season, especially when some of the junior varsity players are called up. Garcia hopes his team’s quickness and athleticism can give them extra lift when they begin play next week.
De La Cruz and Patterson have proven themselves as capable shooters and ball handlers, while Pequeño helps with his strength and stamina in the paint.
With those players back, Garcia anticipates will have a similar offense in place, except this year he’ll expect a burst of energy from the underclassmen.
Garcia said it’s his players’ commitment to their offseason regimen that has helped North pick things up recently, including winning two district titles in the past five seasons. They have 85 players in the program now (not including football) and plenty of options to build around their nucleus.
“We thought we’d start from scratch (in 2014),” Garcia said. “But every year we have good, young kids coming in and filling their shoes fairly well.”
DIFFERENT LOOKS
From November to December, Sharyland High coach David Keith expects to roll out one version of his team. From December to January, he anticipates he’ll see another. And going forward from there, Keith believes he’ll be putting the final touches of his roster.
Part of that is attributed to the football team, which takes on Mercedes on Friday, and how those players acclimate with the group currently in place. There’s also the much-anticipated debut of 6-foot-6 post Max Oyervides, who transferred from McAllen Memorial in mid-January.
Oyervides must sit out 365 days before becoming eligible to play for the Rattlers. When he does, Keith believes the Rattlers will have a mobile big man that can do any number of things on the court.
The Rattlers, who graduated 11 seniors from a season ago, will hang their hats on a predominantly junior roster, which also has a couple sophomores and freshman in the mix.
“They were amazing. Not just as players, but amazing individuals,” Keith said of last year’s group. “So right now there’s a lot of leadership you have to re-teach.”
Sharyland plans to ride the hot hand of Sean Tucker, who can get open on the court and score, and Oyervides. There’s also football players Edgar Alanis and Beto Ruiz who figure to be key contributors, once their season is complete.
GETTING UNDERWAY
Teams will go through scrimmages this week in preparation for their non-district and tournament schedule coming up next week.