ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Returning to the state playoffs this season is an important accomplishment for two District 32-6A boys teams.
San Benito is back in the postseason for the first time since 2014. Harlingen South is playoff-bound again for the first time since 2017.
One date remains for district competition next Tuesday. San Benito is at Los Fresnos and South plays at home against Brownsville Hanna.
All four playoff spots for boys and girls already have been determined, although postseason seedings may change depending upon the final day’s results.
For the Greyhounds, a playoff berth has been a long time coming.
“It means a lot to our kids and our coaches,” San Benito coach William Huerta said. “We were so close last year (missing fourth place by one point), and I think that left a bitter taste in our players’ mouth. We had a good offseason and also had a good preseason schedule to prepare us.
“The offseason and preseason built a unity among the team and helped the guys work harder during the (district) season,” Huerta added. “But we still have one game left in the regular season and we want to finish the season strong and on a good note (with a win) before heading to the postseason.”
Harlingen High took fourth place in 32-6A last year with 16 points. San Benito and South each wound up with 15 points, so it was frustrating for both the Greyhounds and Hawks to be left out of the postseason.
“Making the playoffs means we get to complete one of our goals that we set for this season,” South coach Julian Robles said. “Last year, we barely missed the opportunity, but we knew from the offseason that this was the year we would go back.
“Our hard work has paid off this season,” Robles added. “I believe we have shown what our program is capable of these past few years. I think we’ve shown we can compete with the best in the RGV.”
ll the 32-6A teams play their final district games next Tuesday and will have a bit of a break before the playoffs start March 28.
32-6A UPDATE
Here are the latest District 32-6A boys standings: Brownsville Rivera (7-2, 21 points), Brownsville Hanna (5-4, 16 points), Harlingen South (5-4, 15 points), San Benito (5-4, 14 points), Los Fresnos (3-6, eight points) and Harlingen High (2-7, seven points).
Boys playoff qualifiers: Rivera, Hanna, South and San Benito.
Here are the most recent 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (8-1, 23 points), Harlingen South (7-2, 22 points), Hanna (6-3, 17 points), Harlingen High (4-5, 12 points), Rivera (2-7, seven points) and San Benito (0-9, no points).
Girls playoff qualifiers: Los Fresnos, South, Hanna and Harlingen High.
LIONETTES RANKED
The La Feria Lionettes are ranked 15th with a 19-6-1 record in the most recent Texas Girls Coaches Association Soccer Top 20 Poll. No other Valley team is in the Class 4A rankings. Midlothian Heritage is the No. 1 Class 4A team in the rankings with an 18-1-3 record.
In the Class 6A Top 20 for girls teams, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (15-1) is No. 11 and McAllen High (17-3-3) is No. 17. There are no Valley girls teams ranked in the Class 5A Top 20.