BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
The story of the Rio Grande City Lady Rattlers’ season has been one of inconsistency. Sporting a young starting five without the presence of a senior, the team has seen its youth be a blessing and a curse.
But during Monday’s Class 5A bi-district game against Brownsville Pace at PSJA North High School, Rio played one of its most focused games of the season. Thanks to stout perimeter defense and 29 points from sophomore post Jocy Amaya, the Lady Rattlers won 55-33 to secure their first playoff win in program history.
“I kept talking to the kids about the opportunity for history,” coach Gustavo Valenciana said. “We missed out on our goal for a district championship, but we I said, ‘We can still get a trophy if we win. Next year gets tougher. Don’t leave it to chance.’”
“It was a very, very special moment for us in the locker room after the game,” he continued. “The kids were anxious, but excited. I was anxious, too.”
Rio advances to the area round to play Laredo Cigarroa at Zapata at 7 p.m. Friday. The matchup doubles as a chance for the Lady Rattlers to test their mettle against an incoming district opponent.
Laredo Nixon, Martin and Cigarroa will join District 31-5A in the fall due to UIL realignment.
“Our district gets really crowded now,” Valenciana said. “I think this will be a good opportunity to see where we’re at and how good we really can be beginning next year with a veteran team.”
Cigarroa will prove a formidable foe. The Lady Toros went 14-0 in District 29-5A to win the district title. Cigarroa is 30-6 overall and are 10-2 against Valley teams (with losses to Harlingen High and Weslaco High).
Valenciana scouted Cigarroa’s bi-district contest against Alice and was impressed with the Lady Toros’ size, speed and ability to press. In an effort to bring his team up to speed (literally) against a faster Cigarroa squad, the Lady Rattlers are practicing against the boys team.
“Perhaps I don’t give my team enough credit sometimes,” Valenciana said. “I had time to go back and watch film today, and we played even better than I remember we did. We just had this level of energy that sometimes isn’t always there for us. We’ll certainly need that against Cigarroa if we want things to go our way.”
WHO’S LEFT
There are 10 Valley-girls teams competing in the area round. Alphabetically, they are Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Edinburg IDEA Quest, Edinburg Vela, Harlingen High, Hidlago, Mission Veterans Memorial, PSJA North, Rio Grande City, Sharyland High and Weslaco High.