BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
SAN JUAN — Weslaco Panthers coach Gabe Valdez has had his share of good basketball teams over the last 13 seasons.
Valdez has led his team to six district championships and to the playoffs eight of the last 10 years, he said.
The last two seasons have been particularly impressive. The Panthers are back-to-back district champions. And, in the playoffs, Valdez and his crew reached the area round both years.
Unfortunately, that’s where the story has ended for the Panthers. They’ve lost to two good teams, McAllen Rowe and Laredo Alexander, but they were stopped nonetheless.
“That (playoff losses) gives you motivation, though, and takes your forward,” said third-year varsity player Braxton Bloomquist, a junior. “We’ve been shut down in the second round of the playoffs, but we’re looking go further this year.”
If Tuesday night was any indication of what they’re capable of, they just might be a team that takes Valdez deeper into the postseason.
The Panthers are tall and quick. They are athletic, but play with good basketball instincts. Unfortunately for a young PSJA High team on Tuesday night, Weslaco (3-0) entered the Bears’ gym with purpose and easily beat them 78-32.
Weslaco was sparked by Bloomquist, Justice Free and Kalil Fino-A-Laseif with 10, 11 and 11 points respectively. The Panthers half-court trap was disruptive, forcing the Bears into 24 first-half turnovers and triggering a fast break that built Weslaco an insurmountable first-quarter lead.
Valdez said that this year he will count on 6-foot-2 guard Bloomquist as a creative scorer, 6-foot-3 Free as a rugged rebounding post and Fino-A-Laseif as a 6-foot-3 all-around guard. But he added that several players will play key minutes, and any one may lead the team on a given night.
“We are making progress. We still have lots of things to do. We have lots of components that we can put together,” said Valdez. “It looks promising. We have a good core coming back, and we have some players up from JV. So we have a good outlook for the year.”
Weslaco will get tested this weekend as it hits US Highway 281 north for a four-hour ride to play in the South San Antonio High School tournament. Valdez said his team’s length and quickness will allow them to employ a half-court trap and other pressure defense to get wins. The Panthers expect to be tested in District 31-6A with the likes of Los Fresnos and the Harlingen schools.
Valdez did not indicate he was particularly motivated just by moving further in the playoffs, but he did say that he is enjoying coaching this team. And he added that teaching and watching young players improve continues to keep him focused.
“I have great kids that come through the program every year,” he said. “A lot of people you don’t coach as much when you have talent. I feel the opposite. I like to coach kids that like to be coached. I’ve been very fortunate.”