The Valley’s three girls Class 4A district champions have at least one thing in common as the UIL playoffs begin.
Hidalgo, Raymondville and Riverview each have a prolific scorer that, at a moment’s notice, can unleash a reign of terror upon opponents. Jayline Garcia (Hidalgo), Elizabeth Torres (Raymondville) Mia Ramos (Riverview) have combined for 107 goals in their respective districts throughout the season.
Hidalgo, the 30-4A champs, opens play at 6 p.m. Thursday at Alice. Meanwhile, 31-4A victors Riverview will play at 6:30 p.m. Thursday against IDEA Edinburg at the IDEA Sports Park in Brownsville. Raymondville, the 32-4A champions, host Rio Hondo at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The Monitor’s All-Area Offensive Player of the Year a year ago, Garcia, a junior, led the Valley for the second straight season in scoring, blasting 46 goals (she missed one game while another was forfeited to Hidalgo) as the Pirates went undefeated en route to their seventh district title in program history. IDEA North Mission’s Melany Rubio was also a big scorer for the second-place district squad, seventh in the Valley with 32 district goals.
Since the playoffs last year, two distinctive events changed the Pirates’ approach to games this season. First was a blistering loss to Corpus Christi Calallen last year in the playoffs. Second was a game against IDEA North Mission, without Garcia, that the Pirates won. There would be no sitting back and watching her tip-toe around – or through — the defenses for that critical battle for first place.
Check out the bi-district playoff schedule here!
“We wanted to change that,” Hidalgo head coach Francisco Alday said about the rest of the team letting Garcia do all the work. “The girls learned that they can do great things. When we faced North Mission, they knew they needed to push is a little harder and they did.”
Bavina Estrada and teammate Frida Salazar scored 12 and 10 goals, respectively, during district play and their development along with Garcia’s offensive wizardry gives the Pirates multiple options offensively.
“Just Jayline along gives you options,” Alday said. “She attracts a lot of defenses to her side. Teams have even tried to triple team her. But now we have speed on both sides. We learned a lot against Calallen (last year) that we need everybody to put a lot of themselves into those types of games and help keep the pressure of Jayline especially if we are trying to make it to the regional tournament.
“Some teams will hunker down on defense against Jayline, but now we have more options and we use them.”
Who were the Valley’s top scorers? The list is here!
Torres is not just Raymondville’s top scorer with 33 district goals, but she’s also the leader in assists.
“When we saw her as a freshman, we put her in right away as striker,” head coach Alex Delgado said. “She’s unbelievable. She can do it on her own and she can get her teammates involved as well.”
Delgado is in his fourth year at the helm of the Bearkats, who captured their first district title in program history following a pair of No. 3 seeds the past two seasons.
“A scorer like her is one of the best weapons you could have. We have trust in this girl who can do it against any defense, She puts opponents on notice. You have to fear this girl because she will put goals on you,” Delgado said. “She can break down defenses, pass into the open lanes and you can put whatever on her coattails and she’s spectacular.”
Ball control and defense have been keys for the Bearkats. The team has allowed just eight goals all season.
“In order to be relevant we need to have a strong defense, but offensively we have a lot of weapons. If you double team her, she’ll find someone. You just have to pick your poison.”
Torres finished with 33 goals during district play.
Delgado said the team is “totally different” this year in their approach to the playoffs, against longtime rival Rio Hondo.
“You can see the difference between this year and last year, when we thought we had an opportunity to take to next step but we were nervous,” Delgado said. “It’s totally different this year – you can see it see it in Liz and all the girls. We know we are prepared and know what it takes.
“The girls are also excited about it being against a big rival Rio Hondo. We’re ready.”
Ramos, a senior, has 105 goals during her illustrious career, limited by COVID-19 during her sophomore year when she scored 10 goals.
Boys and girls head coach Rodolfo Rodriguez added the girls coaching job this season. The Rockets were undefeated in district play for the second straight year, reaching the playoffs for the first time last season. They defeated Lyford 12-0 in the bi-district round before falling to Santa Gertrudis in the area round.
“It’s great having such a prolific scorer on the team,” Rodriguez said. “Knowing you have a player that can make such a huge difference on the field is an advantage that any coach wished they had.”
Rodriguez said last year’s experience is something the team will carry over to this playoff season.
“I think the girls are much more prepared this year than they were last year,” Rodriguez said. “They were star struck and that caused some mistakes and mindsets have been now worked with to be prepared to deal with all sorts of challenges we get.”