By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s senior class has been successful, and it is hoping to add to its legacy.
Lady Chargers seniors Briana Cortez, Krista Lopez, Katy Garcia and Haley Allen have won 115 games overall, including a playoff win in each of the last three seasons. Now, they’re ready to add to that total in their final high school basketball season.
Brownsville Veterans faces a familiar postseason opponent, Laredo Alexander, at 7 p.m. tonight in the area round game at Corpus Christi Carroll.
The Lady Chargers face the Lady Bulldogs for the third consecutive season in the same round of the playoffs. Brownsville Veterans is hoping for a better result this time around, as Laredo Alexander has ended the Lady Chargers’ run the past two years.
“We feel like we have unfinished business to take care of,” Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz said.
Regardless of the result of its next game, the senior class’ record and dedication speaks for itself.
“I’m grateful for that senior class,” Paz said. “With Briana and Krista and their work ethic, they are both very quiet, but they play hard. Katy and Haley, they’re selfless. They don’t get to go into a lot of games, but they never complain, they always come back the next day ready to work. That shows a commitment to the team.”
The senior class has won nearly 29 games per season and made the postseason in each season except for its freshman year.
“It feels like a great accomplishment,” Garcia said.
Allen was happy to be a part of something special.
“It feels too good to be a part of the team,” she said. “It’s good to have the opportunity to be a part of a good team. They’re good people on and off the court.”
The legacy they leave behind is one of success.
“It feels really good,” Lopez said. “We have a lot of new girls on the team. I guess knowing we were a good team; they have confidence for next year to be better than they were this year.
“We’re really close on and off the court, we want to keep the confidence up for next year.”
The senior class has a bond that has memories that will last beyond graduation.
“We’re definitely a family,” Cortez said. “I’ll remember the bonds and the moments we’ve shared.”
Even with earning another postseason trip, the feeling doesn’t change, but the motivation is greater for the senior class.
“It’s still special,” Cortez said. “This is our final year, so I think we all really want to win this year.”
The Lady Chargers coach didn’t hesitate when he described his senior class.
“Leadership, hard work and selflessness,” Paz said. “What they bring to the table helps us push forward our culture. These girls, the way they play, everyone can follow suit.
“They laid a foundation of hard work, dedication and success.”
But none of the seniors wanted to focus on their legacy or the possibility of their final game. They’re ready to face Laredo Alexander one more time.
“Defense is our main focus,” Cortez said. “I think we’re better prepared, so I think that gives us more confidence.”
Lopez agreed.
“We’re a lot more confident,” she said. “We’re ready.”
Garcia also wasn’t ready to finish her final season.
“We’re not done playing,” she said. “We want to keep playing.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.