By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
Los Fresnos sports a 9-4 record, with only one loss coming against Rio Grande Valley teams, but Marco Hinojosa thinks it’s been an uneven season for the Falcons.
“The season has been up and down,” he said. “At times we play great and at times we play not so great. But the kids are working hard and are hungry for a playoff birth.”
It’s a team with nine wins and only one loss, coming 71-65 against Edinburg Vela. Hinojosa thinks team unity is the Falcons’ strength this season.
“The guys play very well together,” Hinojosa said. “It’s a tight-knit group. The thing I like the most from this group is that they are very unselfish.”
Also having guards Hugo De La Cruz and Alex Garcia return from early season injuries has helped the Falcons remain one of the Valley’s top squads.
“Alex and Hugo are back and playing well,” he said. “Of course, it helps having them back on the floor, but it’s a team effort and confidence that has us playing well at times.”
ROAD SHOW
The Hanna Golden Eagles hit the road last week to play in the New Braunfels Tournament, where they played Region IV teams Laredo Alexander, New Braunfels Canyon and San Antonio Warren.
“We were satisfied with the hustle and fearless play against taller and more athletic teams,” coach Todd Barckholtz said. “If we can take the next steps and learn from those three games, we feel it will pay off come district time. We have about six or seven more games before we start playing for keeps. It was a measuring-stick type of game to try and see how we match up individually as well as five on five. So all three games were challenges to see if we could hang with them.”
Hanna lost to Laredo Alexander 76-50, New Braunfels Canyon 62-47 and San Antonio Warren 62-33.
“We now know what it is like to play regional and state competition,” Barckholtz said. “And the kids say they want to go back next year and give them our best shot. That is what I like to hear as a coach. Not backing down, knowing that they will face difficult games with no gimme wins.”
SUPER SENIORS
A strong senior class helps coach Neil Schuster with the big picture during his second year at Lopez.
“I think I’m fortunate just in the way that I have a senior class in general that does a good job,” Schuster said. “I don’t have to micromanage like I did last year. There was a lot more of that going on, where I had to make sure that they were doing what they were supposed to do, and this year they understand what they’re supposed to be doing when it comes to stretching, pregame routine and what our expectations are offensively and defensively.
“These seniors have taken up a bigger leadership role. When somebody says line up, they don’t question it.”
Schuster attributes this to familiarity with what he wants from the players after a full year playing for him. Having players who can take leadership during practice and in games helps him concentrate more on the on-court product this season.
Joshua McKinney covers high school sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.
Los Fresnos sports a 9-4 record, with only one loss coming against Rio Grande Valley teams, but Marco Hinojosa thinks it’s been an uneven season for the Falcons.
“The season has been up and down,” he said. “At times we play great and at times we play not so great. But the kids are working hard and are hungry for a playoff birth.”
It’s a team with nine wins and only one loss, coming 71-65 against Edinburg Vela.
Hinojosa thinks team unity is the Falcons’ strength this season.
“The guys play very well together,” Hinojosa said. “It’s a tight-knit group. The thing I like the most from this group is that they are very unselfish.”
Also having guards Hugo De La Cruz and Alex Garcia return from early season injuries has helped the Falcons remain one of the Valley’s top squads.
“Alex and Hugo are back and playing well,” he said. “Of course, it helps having them back on the floor, but it’s a team effort and confidence that has us playing well at times.”
ROAD SHOW: The Hanna Golden Eagles hit the road last week to play in the New Braunfels Tournament, where they played Region IV teams Laredo Alexander, New Braunfels Canyon and San Antonio Warren.
“We were satisfied with the hustle and fearless play against taller and more athletic teams,” coach Todd Barckholtz said. “If we can take the next steps and learn from those three games, we feel it will pay off come district time. We have about six or seven more games before we start playing for keeps. It was a measuring-stick type of game to try and see how we match up individually as well as five on five. So all three games were challenges to see if we could hang with them.”
Hanna lost to Laredo Alexander 76-50, New Braunfels Canyon 62-47 and San Antonio Warren 62-33.
“We now know what it is like to play regional and state competition,” Barckholtz said. “And the kids say they want to go back next year and give them our best shot. That is what I like to hear as a coach. Not backing down, knowing that they will face difficult games with no gimme wins.”
SUPER SENIORS: A strong senior class helps coach Neil Schuster with the big picture during his second year at Lopez.
“I think I’m fortunate just in the way that I have a senior class in general that does a good job,” Schuster said. “I don’t have to micromanage like I did last year. There was a lot more of that going on, where I had to make sure that they were doing what they were supposed to do, and this year they understand what they’re supposed to be doing when it comes to stretching, pregame routine and what our expectations are offensively and defensively.
“These seniors have taken up a bigger leadership role. When somebody says line up, they don’t question it.”
Schuster attributes this to familiarity with what he wants from the players after a full year playing for him. Having players who can take leadership during practice and in games helps him concentrate more on the on-court product this season.
Joshua McKinney covers high school sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.