BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
McALLEN — McAllen Rowe put a cap on its district title-winning season on Tuesday by finishing the District 30-6A schedule undefeated.
Rowe knocked off second place McAllen Memorial, 59-55, to reach 12-0.
“It’s always a rivalry whenever we play a McAllen school,” Rowe coach Jose Luis Yebra said. “The last few years, Memorial has been really talented. We take a lot of pride in playing them as tough as we can.”
One of the biggest reasons the Warriors advanced through 30-6A unscathed is the kaleidoscopic play of sophomore Derek Luna.
“I knew he could play very well,” Yebra recalled of Luna’s first few days with the team last year. “I have been watching him since travel ball, but what he has done, right now, it’s amazing. From having a great year last year, to this year leading us again. It’s amazing the things he has done. He is very mature for his age. He looks like a senior to me, with the way he is performing and helping the team.”
Luna is averaging 22.5 points, 7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3 steals per game. His points per game average ranks second in the Valley.
In several of those statistical categories, Warriors teammates rank above him. Senior guard Adrian Bernal leads the Valley with 6.6 assists per game, yet Luna is somehow able to dish out 5.3.
“The other teams always focus on the ballhandler,” Luna said. “So, whenever we see the opportunity, we dish out and get our teammates a score.”
Often, Bernal will earn an assist after receiving a pass from Luna, or vice versa. Sophomore forward Darrin Everage is hauling in 9.3 rebounds per game, and freshman center Jose Yebra is pulling down 9.9 boards per game.
Bernal, a senior, has been starting since his freshman year, and he has played alongside some talented Warriors.
“Alex Keith was good. Daniel (Sotuyo) could score. Kaleb (Garza) could play,” Bernal said. “I don’t know exactly where Derek fits in, but I know if he keeps working hard, he can be among the best that have ever come here.”
Luna can make defenders miss and hit big shots. He can strike from deep, or he can take it to the lane. But, according to Yebra, Luna’s commitment to getting better is what makes him stand out.
Last year, after the season, Luna examined his game and realized he needed to work on his defense.
“On a scale of one to 10, I am at like a seven,” Luna said.
He wants to get to 10 during the upcoming offseason.
“His defense has improved,” coach Yebra said. “He still has work to do, but he’s gotten better defensively. It’s a smart thing for him to do, especially because it has to come from your heart, from within. He’s worked hard at it, and he is still working hard at it.”
Luna’s raw athleticism allows him to stay in front of some of the opponents’ best ballhandlers. He is focused on refining small aspects of his game that come from studying and repetition, such as timing and instincts. His steal total continues to rise as he finds new ways to flip the game’s odds in the Warriors’ favor.
The team’s playoff journey begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when Rowe travels to Texas A&M International University to take on District 29-6A’s fourth seed, Del Rio.
“We need to focus on talking to each other,” Luna said. “We need to practice hard during the week, and we need to play good defense.”