BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — Before Tuesday night, District 31-5A was a jumbled mess.
Eight of the nine teams were in position to make a run at the playoffs, including suddenly hot Sharyland Pioneer, which sat in fourth.
The district standings might still be muddled, but the Diamondbacks did what they could to clear up the playoff picture by staying hot behind senior guard Jordan Wilson’s 13 points, holding serve at home and downing Rio Grande City 58-48 Tuesday night.
Wilson led a trio of Diamondbacks in double figures. Pioneer was too quick for Rio Grande City most of the night, building double-digit cushions on multiple occasions.
“This was a huge win for us. A huge win,” Pioneer coach Rene Gonzalez said. “Every game from here on out for us, especially since we started 0-4 in district, is huge for us. That’s what I’ve been preaching to these guys. Every district game we are going to treat like a playoff game.”
The win boosts Pioneer’s playoff chances as the team’s record moves to 6-5 in district and 12-12 overall, which is good for third place after Tuesday’s games. Pioneer will travel to Sharyland High on Friday for another huge match up. A win there would go a long way toward claiming a playoff spot.
If Pioneer can play like it did in the first half, that could bode well.
The Diamondbacks sprinted out to an 18-6 lead in the first quarter, cashing in turnovers for fast break points and easy baskets. Pioneer’s superior speed helped force seven Rio Grande City turnovers during the first period and hold the visitor to just three field goals. In the second quarter, it was more of the same, although Rio Grande City was settled down and began to score. Still, Pioneer led 37-21 at half.
After intermission, the Rattlers’ guards came alive. Frank Gonzalez, Izrael Lambert and Andy Garcia combined to score the team’s 14 points and cut the lead to 45-35 after three periods. And at the start of the final quarter, 6-foot-8 Rodrigo Nunez (15 points, 11 rebounds) spearheaded a 13-6 run that got Rio Grande City to within three (51-48) with 2:30 left as Pioneer went cold.
But Rio couldn’t finish, and Pioneer hit key foul shots down the stretch to preserve the victory.
“We let down a little bit. They hit a couple of threes in a row and we just had to get back down to playing the defense we played in the first half,” Wilson said. “We expect everybody to come at us hard every game because the district is so tight. Everybody is fighting for a playoff spot.”
For Rio Grande City, it was a missed opportunity. The Rattlers (4-7, 15-13) got close and were never out of the game, but coach Homer Garr said the team made too many errors in the critical last two minutes of the game that spoiled its chances.
“I just tell them keep their heads up and keep playing,” Garr said. “We’ve been so close so often and we shoot ourselves in the foot. We were playing hard. The kids are sharing the ball, and we’re growing.”
Pioneer’s Andrew Olgletree had 11 points and Andre Garza added 10 more. Big man Mike Madrigal (6-foot-4) guarded Nunez most of the night and ended up with 8 points, 7 boards and 2 blocks.