KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
LA FERIA—La Feria will head into the 46th annual Tommie Wiseman tournament with a little swagger and a clean 4-0 record. The Lionettes will meet Edinburg Economedes today at 10:30 a.m to tip off tournament play.
A total of 16 teams will take the court later today. Defending champion PSJA North will not be in this year’s tournament. Sharyland High, Brownsville Pace, Brownsville Jubille, Valley View, PSJA Memorial, McAllen Rowe, Edinburg Vela, Rio Hondo, Rio Grande City, PSJA High, Mercedes, Browsnville Rivera, Brownsville St. Joseph and Zapata are all in this years tournament.
“It is a really good tournament to be a part of especially because of the tradition behind it,” said La Feria coach Angel Martinez. “We have good teams coming in this year. The good thing is getting everyone together and hosting the tournament and hoping people enjoy the tournament. We are looking forward for everyone getting games in as we all get closer to district play.”
The Lionettes had some questions coming into the new season at the guard position as they looked to replace both Kyla Lowe and Karina Diaz, who both graduated last year and directed the Lionette offense.
“Right now I’m missing both Lowe and Diaz, so the hard part is getting the younger guards ready.” La Feria coach Angel Martinez said.
La Feria, however, just may have found their answer in junior Sabrina Castaneda, who is continuing to have success coming off an injury shortened season last year.
“Sabrina was a sophomore last year, and this year, she has stepped into a position that Kayla excelled at and be at that level,” Martinez said. “It is hard because, last year, she had an injury and missed some time at that position.”
This year, Castaneda is fully healthy and has given Martinez the confidence that she can run the offense.
As far as the four and five position, seniors Aaliyah Stewart and Jeno Ochoa provide the size for the Lionettes and are both three-year letterman’s heading into their senior year.
Elsewhere in the tournament field, Rio Hondo is 7-2 on the year under first-year head coach Victor Sauceda. The Lady Bobcats will take on Edinburg Vela at 3 p.m.
“I’m looking for our senior leadership and play to keep us moving in the right direction,” Sauceda said. “We have played some tough competition so far and I’m looking for us to continue to get better in all aspects of our game as we head into district play.”
Pace will tipoff against Sharyland High at 9 a.m. in Gym A, while Jubilee Brownsville will meet Valley View in Gym B at the same time. Rivera takes on Mercedes at 4:30 p.m. in Gym A and St. Joseph has a date with Zapata at 4:40 p.m. in Gym B.