By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
Raymondville’s Jayson Cantu helped lead the Bearkats to a District 32-4A championship this season and was the district’s Co-MVP.
He is also the Valley Morning Star’s 2021-22 All-Star Boys Basketball Most Valuable Player.
‘It is a great reward and something that I have always been looking forward to,” Cantu said. “It would not be possible without my teammates and my coaches. They helped me out every day. It is not a ‘me’ sport, it is a team sport, so thank you to my teammates.”
Cantu is one of the best post players in the East Valley. He averaged 16.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, and led the Bearkats in every major statistical category this season.
The senior was the first player in Raymondville history to score more than 1,000 career points and helped lead the team to the 32-4A crown, their first district title in 16 years.
“Everything we did the last four years revolved around that young man right there,” Raymondville coach Rick Tamez said. “I just cannot say enough about what he brings to the team, as far as leadership and the intangibles of being on the floor.”
Tamez said Cantu is a well-rounded big man.
“He can shoot the 3 or take you to the paint, too. He is a big threat to anybody,” he said.
Cantu was a five-sport athlete at Raymondville, and on Friday he signed to play baseball at Our Lady of the Lake University.
“Any sport I play, I try and be a leader any way I can,” he said. “I try and show the youngsters how to hustle every play, on both sides of the ball, not only offense, but defense wins games as well.”
Offensive Player of the Year
Cj Olivarez, Santa Rosa
Olivarez was the key offensive player for Santa Rosa this season. He was co-MVP of District 32-3A with teammate David Bazaldua and is the All-Star offensive player of the year for the 2021-2022 basketball season.
“It feels good knowing all the hard work I put in during my four years paid off,” he said. “My season went pretty good. I had some ups and downs, but overall I enjoyed it.”
Olivarez averaged 18.5 points and five assists per game this season as the Warriors grabbed an undefeated District 32-3A title and a bi-district playoff win.
Olivarez said the best part of his offensive game this season was creating open space and providing open shots to his teammates.
“He is one of our generals on the court,” Santa Rosa coach Rene Duque said. “Cj was the one that dictated the whole offense. He was our vital point; his work ethic was superb. He would call us to shoot around at about 6:30 in the morning and would stay after practice while we did paperwork.”
Duque said he is going to miss Olivarez and the rest of the seniors next year. Olivarez thanked his teammates.
“I could not have done this without my teammates, coaches, my family and my youth team, the McAllen Ballers,” he said.
Defensive Player of the Year
Jeremiah Rivera, Harlingen South
The Hawks’ senior guard was tasked with guarding the best offensive perimeter player for opposing teams this season and he did, with success. Rivera is the All-Star defensive player of the year.
“Playing defense meant a lot to me,” Rivera said. “It was my strongest point. I took a lot of pride in playing defense. Coach Mo would always stress about playing defense as a team. Nobody on the team liked getting scored on.”
Rivera, recovering from a Lisfranc injury he sustained during the football season, was not 100 percent as he successfully shut down some of the best opposing guards this season.
South finished second in the tough District 32-6A and won a playoff game against Edinburg Economedes.
“I loved the challenge,” he said. “I just enjoy it, especially when someone is super good. If someone is averaging 25 points per game and I hold them to way less, that feels pretty good at the end of the game.”
Rivera was awarded with co-defensive player of the year honors in District 32-6A. As a team, the Hawks only gave up 43 points per game in district play.
“With the type of district that we have and all of the heavy hitters in that district, I think the only deciding factor that would separate us from the other team is trying to defend,” Hawks coach Brian Molina said. “We spent a lot of time watching film and defending at practice, and it carried over into the games.”
Molina called Rivera the team’s defensive leader.
“He always had the task of defending the best player on the court,” he said. “No matter what position he played, I think he took on that challenge and took pride in that challenge. He is the type of player that could do anything. The bigger the stage, the better he played.”
Newcomer of the Year
Luis Rodriguez, Harlingen High
The freshman guard received newcomer of the year honors for 32-6A this season and is also the All-Star newcomer of the year.
“Honestly, it was a little unexpected, but I know I can do more,” he said.
Rodriguez averaged 5.7 points per game this season. He scored 17 points in a win against Donna North and, in big win against Brownsville Rivera, he dropped 21 points.
“I was mentally prepared for it, and I think that was the biggest thing,” he said. “I did not feel pressure to take those shots, that is just who I am. I am going to continue to shoot those shots the older I get.”
Rodriguez said the reps he received in the spring and summer before his freshman year prepared him for rigors of varsity basketball.
“Luis had a big impact on our team as a freshman,” Cardinals coach Clayton Cretors said. “He started multiple games throughout district. He hit some big shots for us in crucial games that put us over the top and helped secure the ‘W.’”
Cretors is excited about Rodriguez’s future with the team.
“He is such a gym rat, and we see him improving daily,” he said. “Going forward he will be one of our keys to being successful.”
Coach of the Year
Michael Alvarez, Rio Hondo
No team in the East Valley went farther in the playoffs than Rio Hondo this season. The Bobcats made it three rounds deep, the first time going that far in a decade.
“It is a great honor,” Alvarez said. “It is really a testament to the kids and the work that they put in, as well as my assistant coaches. There are a lot of great coaches in the Valley, so I feel lucky to be named coach of the year.”
Rio Hondo finished third in a competitive District 32-4A this season. A lot of senior-heavy teams helped prepare the Bobcats for their deep playoff run, Alvarez said.
“We were playing our best ball late in the season,” he said. “We started 0-3 in district, so we just took it one game at a time and started to play playoff-caliber basketball. It was exciting for the kids to go three rounds deep, and we matched up well with who we were seeded with.”
Alvarez will now focus on next season and the challenges that his team will face in a new district.
“It is going to be different,” he said. “We have some really good programs that are going to be in our district. It is not going to be a cakewalk for us. There might even be a target on our back because of what the kids accomplished this season.”
Valley Morning Star 2021-22 All-Star Boys Basketball Team
Superlatives
Most Valuable Player
Jayson Cantu, Raymondville
Offensive Player of the Year
Cj Olivarez, Santa Rosa
Defensive Player of the Year
Jeremiah Rivera, Harlingen South
Newcomer of the Year
Luis Rodriguez, Harlingen High
Coach of the Year
Michael Alvarez, Rio Hondo
First team
Jermaine Corbin, San Benito
Ethan Jeradiah, Rio Hondo
Steven Ortegon, Harlingen South
Ryan Sanchez, Harlingen High
Ely Terry, San Perlita