By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
For a fifth consecutive year, RGVSports.com and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers are teaming up for the All-Valley Showcase.
The All-Star high school basketball games will be played April 4 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, with the East vs. West girls tipping off at 1:30 p.m. followed by the East vs. West boys at 3:30 p.m. That night, the Vipers, who are battling a playoff spot in the NBA Development League, will close out the regular season by hosting the Los Angeles Defenders at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for $20, which allows entrance to both all-star games and the Vipers-Defenders game. Tickets are available at the Vipers Pro Shop at 4500 N 10th St. in McAllen, or by calling (956) 972-1144.
“I think the name of the game says it all,” Vipers president Bert Garcia said. “It’s an opportunity for our kids to show their talents on a much higher stage. It’s an opportunity for them to play against some of the best in the Valley in front of their family members and coaches.
“And God-willing, somebody gets noticed, because in the past we’ve seen some scouts at the game. So it’s a good opportunity to get noticed before they go off for the summer.”
In between the All-Star games, there will be a boys and girls 3-point shootout. Adidas will provide this year’s uniforms.
“The fact that you have kids playing on the same court as the (Houston) Rockets, Golden State (Warriors), Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s a surreal feeling for them to have and it brings excitement,” Garcia said.
Louis Twigg, who interns in the Vipers Basketball Operations department, will coach the West team for both the boys and girls. Jake Hogberg, also of Vipers Basketball Operations, will coach the East squads.
As part of the festivities, the Vipers Foundation will randomly award two $500 scholarships — one to a boys player, another to a girls player participating in the April 4 showcase.
The East boys team features four players who competed in last year’s showcase in Hugo De La Cruz (Los Fresnos), Alex Herrera (Brownsville Hanna), Leo Lara (Santa Rosa) and Michael Vasquez (Brownsville Lopez).
The West boys bring back Patrick De La Torre (Sharyland High), Michael Espinoza (Hidalgo), Hector Ruiz (Edinburg Vela) and Frankie Sanchez (Hidalgo).
De La Cruz and Vasquez are expected to represent the East in the 3-point shootout, going up against their West counterparts in Sanchez and Edinburg Vela’s Ryan Garza.
The girls West team have experience on their side with Natalie Alaniz (Edinburg North), Cynthia Martinez (PSJA North), Belle Palacios (PSJA North), Kassandra Rocha (Roma), Ariel Rodriguez (Edinburg Vela), Ashley Smith (Mission Veterans) and Emily Suarez (Edinburg Economedes) back in the fold.
Martinez and Suarez are also scheduled to represent the West in the 3-point shootout.
The East girls bring back Brianna Cortez and Jordan Rudd, teammates at Brownsville Veterans, in addition to Weslaco High’s Angela Villarreal.
Jazlynn Muniz (Weslaco High) and Rudd will represent the East team in the 3-point shootout.
BOYS EAST ALL-STAR TEAM:
>> Luke Bradford, Harlingen South
>> Juan Cerrillo, Harlingen High
>> Hugo De La Cruz, Los Fresnos
>> Justice Free, Weslaco High
>> Alex Garcia, Los Fresnos
>> Alex Herrera, Brownsville Hanna
>> Leo Lara, Santa Rosa
>> Isaiah Martinez, La Feria
>> Ed Messbarger, Brownsville Hanna
>> Nick Mora, Weslaco High
>> Jimmy Morton, Harlingen South
>> Elijah Rhodes, Harlingen High
>> Andres Salgado, Brownsville Pace
>> Isaiah Torres, Brownsville Veterans
>> Michael Vasquez, Brownsville Lopez
BOYS WEST ALL-STAR TEAM:
>> R.J. Arrambide, Donna High
>> Andrew Cantu, Edinburg High
>> Jose De La Garza, Sharyland High
>> Patrick De La Torre, Sharyland High
>> Jordan Garcia, PSJA High
>> Ryan Garza, Edinburg Vela
>> Aurelio Gonzalez, Edcouch-Elsa
>> E.J. Guajardo, Donna High
>> Jaycobb Hinojosa, Mission Veterans
>> Michael Espinoza, Hidalgo
>> Oscar Rangel, McAllen High
>> Hector Ruiz, Edinburg Vela
>> Leo Salazar, Mission Veterans
>> Frankie Sanchez, Hidalgo
>> D.J. Talamantez, McAllen Memorial
GIRLS EAST ALL-STAR TEAM:
>> Ruayda Bouls, Harlingen South
>> Taylor Cano, Brownsville Hanna
>> Marissa Gasca, Harlingen High
>> Brianna Cortez, Brownsville Veterans
>> Jav’ana Gonzalez, San Benito
>> Susana Guevara, Brownsville Pace
>> Kelsi McDonough, Los Fresnos
>> Jazlynn Muniz, Weslaco High
>> Rebekah Perez, Lyford
>> Sam Quillantan, Harlingen High
>> Andrea Rodriguez, Rio Hondo
>> Jordan Rudd, Brownsville Veterans
>> Emily Susan, Harlingen South
>> Kelcie Swink, Port Isabel
>> Angela Villarreal, Weslaco High
GIRLS WEST ALL-STAR TEAM:
>> Natalie Alaniz, Edinburg North
>> Mayda Garcia, McAllen Rowe
>> Samantha Gutierrez, La Joya Palmview
>> Jasmine Long, Mission Juan Diego
>> Michelle Marquez, Weslaco East
>> Anna Marshall, Sharyland High
>> Cynthia Martinez, PSJA North
>> Belle Palacios, PSJA North
>> Kassandra Rocha, Roma
>> Jayla Santa Maria, Edinburg High
>> Ariel Rodriguez, Edinburg Vela
>> Ashley Smith, Mission Veterans
>> Emily Suarez, Edinburg Economedes
>> Summer Vento, Mercedes
>> Laurynn Williams, Donna High