BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
The Weslaco East Lady Wildcats demonstrated their ability to get stops throughout Tuesday’s game against Brownsville Rivera, limiting the Lady Raiders to just 26 points. But East’s offense was the antithesis of its defense, and the Lady Wildcats limped to just 13 points.
East coach William Kromer did not mince words after the loss.
“There is absolutely no excuse to play this poor,” Kromer said to The Brownsville Herald after the game. “And don’t think for one minute I’m not going to reassess what I’m doing and what this team is doing, to say the least.”
Kromer has calmed down since that time and watched film, looked at the stats and has a better understanding of what’s ailing his underperforming team.
“My girls are emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted,” said Kromer, whose team played back-to-back-to-back six-game tournaments. “I’m not trying to make excuses for their performances, other teams are in the same boat. It just seems like the more I requested their improvements, the less it was going to happen. (Tuesday) was as bad as it’s going to get.”
Wednesday’s practice was not one of punishment or anger for the Lady Wildcats (11-12), but one focused on rediscovering fundamentals and the purpose behind their play.
During Wednesday’s practice, the Lady Wildcats went back to the fundamentals.
“I took out a shoebox, turned it upside down and dusted everything off and put it back in,” Kromer said. “It was that kind of practice. We’re trying to figure out what we’re even doing here. The kids responded. I’m balancing the need to practice vs. the need to execute because we can’t run plays.”
Things are trending upwards for East regarding injury. Point guard Mig Cepeda returned Tuesday after a three-week absence from a broken wrist. Post Yaritza Marin returned as well.
“I expected them to be a little rusty,” Kromer said, “But I thought they would produce more than they did. I played them a lot of minutes and I’m not sure if either of them scored.”
With District 31-6A competition beginning Tuesday, East has little time to rediscover their offensive capabilities. But Kromer hopes a reduced workload resets his team’s mentality.
“It may kill me, but I’m going to rest my kids and hit the items that need to be addressed and get them home and get them rested,” Kromer said. “This has nothing to do with their bodies, and all with the mind.”
BACK TO LAREDO
The McAllen High Lady Bulldogs will travel to Laredo for a second time in as many weeks in order to round into shape for district competition. McHi will play Laredo United South on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before facing Laredo LBJ on Saturday at noon.
“We just try to get them to play as much as we can during the first game and then rest them up a little for the second game,” McHi coach Roy Gonzalez said. “We’re trying to get everybody healthy and do some fine tuning before the games start to count towards the postseason.”
The Lady Bulldogs (7-13) approach district play with one player suffering injury. Brianna Coffee is out with a concussion. Gonzalez says he hopes to have her back early next week. Though District 30-6A competition begins Tuesday, McHi will have an open date, meaning an opportunity to scout opposing teams.
“We’ve been watching some people and watching some film,” Gonzalez said. “We’re just getting ready game by game.”
PROGRESO TOURNEY
There is one upper-Valley tournament for girls basketball teams this weekend at Progreso High School. Eight Valley girls teams will compete, including Progreso, Monte Alto and Santa Rosa. Games begin 9 a.m. Friday.
The championship game is 5:30 p.m. Saturday.