RGVSPORTS.COM
The Valley’s most talented high school players will take to the court Saturday for the sixth annual All-Valley Showcase presented by RGVSports.com and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
The All-Star basketball games will be played April 2 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo. The East vs. West girls tip off at 1:30 p.m. followed by the East vs. West boys at 3:30 p.m. The Vipers will also conclude the regular season against the Los Angeles D-Fenders at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for $20 and grants entrance into both all-star games as well as the Vipers game. Tickets are available at the Vipers Pro Shop at 4500 N 10th St. in McAllen, or by calling (956) 972-1144.
All four teams are composed of 15 players, with the west team made up of players from Roma to Donna, with the east team composed of players from Weslaco to Port Isabel. In between the All-Star games, there will be a boys and girls 3-point shootout.
Coaching the teams are three members of the Vipers’ basketball operations staff. Deleon Hines will coach the girls east team, Chris Hines the boys and girls west teams and Kurt Couvion the boys east team.
The Vipers Foundation will also award two $500 scholarships — one going to a member of the boys and another to a girls player participating in the all-star game.
The boys East team will see the return of Luke Bradford (Harlingen South), Hugo De La Cruz (Los Fresnos), Justice Free (Weslaco High), Leo Lara (Santa Rosa), Nick Mora (Weslaco High).
The boys West team will see a host of new faces as only three players from last year’s team make a repeat appearance. Those players are Andrew Cantu (Edinburg High), Ryan Garza (Edinburg Vela) and Hector Ruiz (Edinburg Vela).
The girls East team sees plenty of familiar faces as six players returns from last year’s squad. Those players include a pair from Brownsville Veterans Memorial (Brianna Cortez and Jordan Rudd), two players from Harlingen High (Marissa Gasca and Sami Quilantan), as well as Weslaco High’s Jazlynn Muñiz and Los Fresnos’ Kelsi McDonough.
Returners from last year’s girls team include Mayda Garcia (McAllen Rowe), Samantha Gutierrez (La Joya Palmview), Anna Marshall (Sharyland High), Belle Palacios (PSJA North), Jayla Santa Maria (Edinbug High) and Ashley Smith (Mission Veterans Memorial).
Garza, Edinburg North’s Kobe Patterson and Santa Rosa’s Leo Lara are slated to compete in the boys 3-point shootout. For the girls 3-point shootout, Gutierrez, Muñiz and Smith are due to participate.
Boys West All-Star Team
Armando Alaniz, La Joya Palmview; Andrew Cantu, Edinburg High; Kobe Patterson, Edinburg North; Alec De La Cruz, Edinburg Vela; Brandon De La Cruz, Edinburg North; Ryan Garza, Edinburg Vela; DJ Johnson, McAllen Memorial; Alex Keith, McAllen Rowe; Mike Mares, PSJA High; Michael Madrigal, Sharyland Pioneer; Hector Ruiz, Edinburg Vela; Jacob Salinas, La Joya Palmview; Jonathan Sanchez, McAllen Memorial; Daniel Sotuyo, McAllen Rowe; Jordan Wilson, Sharyland Pioneer
Boys East All-Star Team
Luke Bradford, Harlingen South; Andrew Carrizales, Los Fresnos; Juan Cedillo, Harlingen High; Hugo De La Cruz, Los Fresnos; Justice Free, Weslaco High; Matt Garcia, Santa Rosa; Steven Garza, Brownsville Pace; Darren Gonzalez, Brownsville Lopez; Ricky Jimenez, Mercedes; Leo Lara, Santa Rosa; Nick Mora, Weslaco High; Mike Reyes, Brownsville Porter; Rey Rincon, Mercedes; Darian Thuku, Brownsville Veterans; Aaron Villarreal, Brownsville Veterans
Girls West All-Star Team
Jocy Amaya, Rio Grande City; Tiffany Chapa, Edinburg North; Mayda Garcia, McAllen Rowe; Maddie Garza, Sharyland High; Samantha Gutierrez, La Joya Palmview; Janie Herrera, Edcouch-Elsa; Ebony Johnson, McAllen Memorial; Anna Marshall, Sharyland High; Jaida Muhammad, Edinburg Vela; Belle Palacios, PSJA North; Silvia Perez, Edinburg Economedes; Krissynthia Rocha, Roma; Jayla Santa Maria, Edinburg High; Sarrah Serrano, PSJA North; Ashley Smith, Mission Veterans
Girls East All-Star Team
Darcy Cardenas, Brownsville Rivera; Briana Cortez, Brownville Veterans; Imelda Garcia, Brownsville Lopez; Marissa Gasca, Harlingen High; Breanna Gonzalez, Harlingen South; Chylee LeFevre, Weslaco East; Camryn Lopez, La Feria; Alyssa Marquez, Mercedes; Kelsi McDonough, Los Fresnos; Nadie Mendoza, Brownsville Pace; Jazlynn Muñiz, Weslaco High; Mia Paz, Brownsville Hanna; Brianna Peña, Weslaco High; Sami Quilantan, Harlingen High; Jordan Rudd, Brownsville Veterans.