By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The wait is over.
The District 32-5A boys basketball game that figures to decide the league championship takes place at 7:30 p.m. today when Brownsville Veterans Memorial plays host to Brownsville Pace.
The Vikings and Chargers share the top spot in the 32-5A standings with 11-1 records. Each team has one district game remaining next week, and today’s winner clinches at least a 32-5A co-championship.
“We know it’s going to be a tough one,” Pace coach Jose Luis Ramirez said. “Vets is a hard team to beat at home, but with the title on the line, it’s going to be a battle for the crown.
“We are looking forward to another great game between two great programs,” Ramirez added.
It will be a rematch of the first-round district game played Jan. 21 at Pace that was won 68-57 by the Vikings.
Pace held sole possession of the 32-5A lead until losing at home 61-42 to Donna High on Jan. 31. Since then, the Vikings and Chargers have been tied atop the district standings.
“It’s one of those intense intercity rivalries,” Brownsville Veterans coach Larry Gibson said. “The players from both teams know each other well, and they want to play their best against each other.
“To me it’s just like North Carolina vs. Duke,” Gibson added. “I call it ‘The Battle of Military Highway.’ I can’t wait for it.”
Gibson said playing the Vikings poses some challenges for his team.
“We’re concerned with their physicality and their speed,” he said. “The last time we played them we had 28 turnovers. We don’t want that to happen again.”
Each team closes out its district schedule next Tuesday. Pace is at Edcouch-Elsa and Brownsville Veterans is at Donna High.
The Class 5A playoffs are scheduled to start Feb. 24.
TAPPS PLAYOFFS
The Brownsville St. Joseph Academy Bloodhounds defeated Corpus Christi John Paul II 71-31 on Tuesday to qualify for the TAPPS Division II playoffs.
Leading the way for the Bloodhounds were John Martinez with 26 points, Josh Martinez with 24 and Rafa Varela with 10.
SJA opens the TAPPS playoffs at home at 2 p.m. Saturday against Houston Frassati.
“It’s a great feeling (to qualify for the playoffs),” Bloodhounds coach Sam Lucio said. “The team has been working hard all season to play in games like we had Tuesday. One of our goals this year was to get back into the playoffs. To accomplish that is a great feeling.
“But we know we still have some work to do, and we look forward to the opportunity to play in a playoff game at home,” Lucio added. “One of the main reasons we have been playing better is our team defense has improved a lot this year.”
32-6A UPDATE
The Los Fresnos Falcons have clinched at least a share of the District 32-6A title thanks to Tuesday’s 75-36 win against San Benito.
It’s the Falcons’ sixth straight district championship.
With two game dates left in district, Los Fresnos is 8-0, Harlingen High is 6-2, Harlingen South is 4-4, San Benito is 3-5, Brownsville Hanna is 2-6 and Brownsville Rivera is 0-8.
Los Fresnos, 28-3 on the season, is the Rio Grande Valley’s top-ranked team.
The Falcons next play host to South at 7:30 p.m. today.