By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

A few months ago, the University Interscholastic League released its new enrollment numbers for the upcoming reclassification.

The numbers released have Class 6A at 2190 and above, Class 5A between 1150-2189, Class 4A at 505-1149, Class 3A at 225-504, Class 2A at 105-224 and Class 1A at 104 and below.

After some debate and speculation, schools will finally get to see which district they will be placed in for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years during the UIL reclassification and realignment meeting today in Edinburg.

The biggest change the UIL has made for the realignments is dividing Class 5A schools into two divisions for football. Enrollment for Division I will be 1840-2189 while Division II is 1150-1839. Four schools in Brownsville Independent School District could see the most change.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial (1,959 snapshot enrollment), Lopez (2,120), Pace (2,099) and Porter (2,112) were in District 32-5A for the last two years and should stay together in the new District 16-5A, Division I based on enrollment. However, their district foes will most likely be different. Donna North (2,310) moves up to Class 6A, but Donna High (2,195, although it was said to be a miscalculation and is expected to be lower) is expected to remain in 5A. Joining those five teams could be three schools that move down from Class 6A: PSJA Memorial (1,952), PSJA Southwest (1,925) and La Joya Palmview (2,162). But the new district is likely to expand to 10 teams with Rio Grande City (2,132) and Mission Veterans Memorial (1,933).

“There’s a lot of excitement about realignment,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said. “We anticipate being in a large district with the possibility of up to nine district football games. The challenge will be tremendous, but we’ll all be in the same boat and all the games will matter.”

With several new district opponents, coaches look forward to new challenges.

“Of course, it’s always exciting when you go up against programs you’re not familiar with,” Porter coach Carlos Uresti said. “I think it gets the kids excited to go up against new schools and a challenge for the coaches.

“It’s a challenge, but like anything else you just have to get to work and get the kids ready.”

Especially since some of these teams were playoff opponents in past seasons.

“I like the change in district,” Pace coach Danny Pardo said. “We’ve seen them in the playoffs, but now they’re in our district. I like it. I like the fact that we’ll see them during the regular season … I’m excited.”

The other two Brownsville schools, Hanna (2,745) and Rivera (2,421), are expected to remain in Class 6A and in District 32-6A with Los Fresnos (3,386), Harlingen High (3,012), Harlingen South (2,358) and San Benito (3,088). Weslaco High (2,670) and Weslaco East (2,239), which are currently in 32-6A, could move to 31-6A to replace the loss of schools which moved down a class.

Port Isabel (692) is expected to remain in Class 4A and in District 16-4A, Division II, with Orange Grove (531), Progreso (560), Raymondville (595), Rio Hondo (629) and West Oso (613).

Regardless of class, changes are coming, and while some coaches are looking forward to the shift, others have a different outlook.

“We kept our Southmost rivalry moving forward with Lopez,” Uresti said. “On the contrary, it might start new ones moving forward with the new teams. PSJA Southwest returns to our district from two years ago so that’ll be fun. (Head coach) Mike (Evans) and I go way back to junior high in Brownsville. We played against each other in junior high and high school growing up.”

Increased travel costs for longer road trips as well as fewer non-district opponents are two issues for coaches.

“The travel will be a little more … I don’t like traveling that much,” Pardo said. “Playing nine teams, you don’t have a chance to mess around with lineups (in non-district). We don’t have much control over it, so we just have to get ready and go. In a big district, if you start out bad, you still have a chance to turn it around and make the playoffs if you win the right games.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Weslaco East gave Rivera all it could handle, but it was worth it in the end.

The Lady Raiders earned their first district win of the season, but needed some clutch shots to pull away after the Lady Wildcats rallied to tie the game in the final quarter during the 50-38 victory in a District 32-6A girls basketball game Tuesday at Rivera.

Rivera (1-11 in District 32-6A) was in control through three quarters, but it suddenly found itself tied at 32 after Weslaco East (1-11) used a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Janie Martinez got it started with a bucket and Janette Morales added a three-point play. But the Lady Raiders regrouped and outscored the Lady Wildcats 18-6 the rest of the way that included a stretch of three straight 3-pointers by Mayra Martinez, Kourtney Shears and Roxana Rodriguez. Rodriguez added a three-point play a little later to help seal the win.

“For the girls, it’s a big relief,” Rivera coach Willie Brown said. “We’ve been looking forward to this for a long, long time. We felt it was going to come some time this year. We’ve battled the flu, injuries … it’s been one thing after another.”

“I’m proud of them for hanging in there and doing what they needed to do.”

Jacqueline Montes led the way for Rivera with 18 points, including 16 in the first half and added four rebounds and three steals.

“We just worked hard and played as a team, we kept pushing hard and didn’t give up,” Montes said of the fourth quarter turn around. “Coach told us to calm down and we’ve got this … so we pushed hard to get the lead back and we did.”

The teams went back-and-forth in the opening quarter until Martinez hit back-to-back 3s for the Lady Raiders and a 12-6 lead. Morales hit a bucket to get within four, but Martinez finished with eight points in the quarter and Montes had the other six points as Rivera took a 14-8 lead after one.

After a layup by Morales to start the second quarter, the Lady Raiders went on a 7-0 run fueled by a three-point play and a bucket by Montes for a 21-10 edge. After a bucket by Kathryn Cadriel got Weslaco East within nine, Martinez had a layup and Montes had another three-point play to get the lead to 14. Montes totaled 10 points in the quarter as Rivera lead by 13 at the break.

“Mayra was in foul trouble, but she was huge for us,” Brown said. “Jacqueline was huge with points and rebounds and Kourtney came back from injury and was huge too in crucial situations.”

Martinez finished with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, five rebounds and two steals and Shears added 10 points, five rebounds and five steals for the Lady Raiders.

The Lady Wildcats outscored the Lady Raiders 8-4 in the third quarter as Morales had five points, including a three-point play to shift the momentum before making a run at the start of the fourth.

“We stopped scoring,” Weslaco East coach Chris Kromer said after his team tied the game early in the final quarter. “We have fight and discipline … my team works hard. The energy in practice doesn’t match the results (in games) … and that’s the hardest thing to swallow.”

Morales led Weslaco East with 21 points, including 13 after halftime, and added eight rebounds and a steal. Rionna Garcia finished with seven points, four rebounds and a pair of steals for the Lady Wildcats.

It’s been a tough season for Weslaco East, but the future could be brighter.

“This team needs to win badly,” Kromer said. “I don’t know, if I knew that, I would do that, but all I know to do is what I always done … work hard, stay positive and pray. There is no quit on this team. We’re just young and we have to keep positive because their best years are coming.”

Brown said he had to settle his team down, but trust them to finish in the fourth quarter.

“I think in the third quarter we were trying so hard to add on to the lead that we got careless with the ball and got in a rush,” he said. “We had to have faith and just let them go play. They made the right decisions, took the right shots and that was huge.

“It’s a learning process and hopefully this will spring board this junior ball club and have more to look forward to.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Rivera’s Ruben Chapa’s college choice was an easy one.

The Raiders’ cross country standout will continue his running career at a familiar place among his former teammates — Bethel University — after making it official during a signing ceremony Friday at Rivera.

Chapa is the sixth cross country athlete from Rivera to run for Bethel and he’ll join five former Raiders’ teammates in the fall, who all run for the NAIA school in Tennessee. It’s been a recognizable pipeline from Brownsville to McKenzie, as Chapa becomes the seventh athlete to continue to run at the collegiate level in Bethel. Jesus Garza of Pace, who was one of the first recruits from Brownsville, is also a part of the men’s cross-country team.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Chapa said. “Bethel gives us a chance to compete for another four years and get an education.”

For Rivera coach Arturo Hurtado, it has been a great situation for both sides for the past few years. The long-time coach, now in his 38th year in coaching, went to visit Bethel University coach Brandon Kilburn this past summer. Kilburn was impressed with one of the first athletes that was sent his way and makes sure to keep an eye on Brownsville during each recruiting season. Now in his ninth season at Bethel, Kilburn adds another recruit from Rivera in Chapa.

“It feels great as a coach,” Hurtado said. “(Chapa’s) my seventh runner in the last three years to get signed to Bethel University. The coach was impressed with one of the first runners that we sent there and keeps asking about our kids. He’s a very nice guy and the kids love him … it’s a good fit.”

For Chapa, it’s not as overwhelming to go to an unfamiliar place with so many familiar faces.

“It makes it easier, it’s a new place, but I know the teammates I’ll be running with,” he said. “It will be a smooth transition.”

For now, Chapa is planning to just run cross-country for the school, but he said it was a possibility to also compete for the track & field squad.

The senior cross-country runner already has a plan in place for his studies. Chapa plans to study law enforcement to become a probation officer some day and minor in education. After school, he’d like to serve the country in one of the branches of the military.

While Chapa has yet to visit Bethel University, he intends to go this summer ahead of the fall semester. At least his home away from home won’t be much of a change with so many teammates ready to welcome him to the next level.

The Rivera coach is happy the opportunity has worked out for Chapa and many of his other athletes. Hurtado serves as a contact to Rivera, but also at the other Brownsville schools as well.

“It’s like a family over there,” Hurtado said. “The coach was so happy (with the athletes that have gone there) and that’s why the rest of the guys get recruited. They tell him about the next guys and so on. If I don’t have any runners, I tell him I can get runners from other schools, too. It’s been a great deal.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

LOS FRESNOS — Both Los Fresnos and Hanna were fighting to stay in the postseason race.

The Lady Falcons got the upper hand and used a strong second half to pull away for a 41-20 victory over the Lady Golden Eagles in a District 32-6A girls basketball game Friday.

“In the second half, we got a little spark and we were able to work together as a team,” Britney Ruiz said. “It’s all about team work, hard work. We’re expecting to get that playoff spot, so we’re going to continue to practice hard and hope for the best.” Ruiz scored 10 of her 12 points after the break and added nine rebounds and a steal to lead Los Fresnos (7-4 in District 32-6A) and stay in fourth place with three games to play. It was a tough shooting night for both teams, but Hanna (4-7) struggled to get into an offensive groove, fell behind early and wasn’t able to make a comeback as it fell back in the district standings.

“Britney is a really hard worker, she’s one of our senior captains. I think she executed her role (Friday),” Los Fresnos coach Rebecca Valdez said. “She boxed out and rebounded, so I’m happy with her performance.”

The Lady Falcons got off to a quick start in the opening quarter. Ari Gallardo got them started with a 3-pointer to open the game and added a bucket soon after. Ruiz added a putback during the mix as Los Fresnos began with a 12-0 run. Odalys Gonzalez ended the drought for Hanna with a layup, but that’s all it would get as the Lady Falcons led 12-2 after one.

“We picked the wrong night to play our worst basketball of the season,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “Nothing against Los Fresnos, but we beat ourselves in the first quarter, we didn’t shoot well.”

After a Los Fresnos bucket, Paz got the Lady Eagles going with a three-point play and Jackie De La Rosa hit a pair of free throws to get within 14-7. Jessica Fuentes hit a free throw and added a putback to push the Lady Falcons lead back to 10, before Hanna’s Ariana Arceneaux hit a layup. Los Fresnos got a 3 from

Jasmin Garcia to extend the lead to 20-9 at the break.

The Lady Falcons started to pull away in the second half. Ruiz hit a pair of free throws to make it 22-9, but Paz answered with a steal and a bucket to get within 22-11. Gallardo hit a 3 for Los Fresnos to push the lead back to 14. Gallardo and Ruiz each had four points in the third quarter as the Lady Falcons had a 17-point edge through three.

“We had some looks, but we didn’t shoot the ball very well,” Gonzalez said. “I thought we had a good game plan defensively, but the game of basketball is funny. We couldn’t hit our shots and a lot had to do with Los Fresnos’ defense. The basketball gods weren’t in our favor (Friday).”

Hanna tried to come back as Paz opened the final quarter with a three-point play, but Fuentes answered with a three-point play of her own. Los Fresnos got six points from Ruiz and used free throws down the stretch to keep the Lady Eagles at bay and seal the district victory.

Gallardo finished with 14 points, three rebounds and a pair of steals and Fuentes added nine points and 11 rebounds and two steals for the Lady Falcons.

Paz led Hanna with 12 points, four rebounds and four steals and De La Rosa added four points, two rebounds, a couple assists and a steal.

Despite the loss, the Lady Eagles feel they can get back on track and make a playoff push.

“These girls have a lot of fight left, I’m not going to count them out,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to continue to fight during these next three games … we’ll be all right.”

Los Fresnos is in control for the fourth postseason spot after three straight district wins.

“We talked about the second round (of district) and how if we wanted to get that playoff spot,” Valdez said. “We had to fight every game … this was just another battle where we came out on top. I’m proud of my girls and their work ethic since we started the second half. They really want this, so I’m excited.

“Our mentality is to keep fighting … we’ll fight to the end and not give up.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Hanna and Harlingen South battled in a crucial game to keep pace in District 32-6A postseason race.

The Lady Golden Eagles used a pair of runs during the third and fourth quarters to pull away from the Lady Hawks and earn a 51-42 win in a District 32-6A girls basketball game Tuesday at Hanna.

“We changed defensively,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “We were running a 1-2-2 and they were getting us on the block, so in the second half we ran more of a traditional 2-3 zone and our girls were more aggressive and getting in the passing lanes. That allowed us to convert easy opportunities on offense … that really helped us.”

Mia Paz led Hanna with 22 points, including 13 in the first half, and she added three rebounds and three steals as the Lady Eagles kept pace in the postseason race for the fourth and final spot. The win moves Hanna (4-6 in District 32-6A) into a tie with Harlingen South (4-6) with four games to play. Both teams are behind Los Fresnos, who was a game ahead prior to Tuesday night’s games, for fourth in the district standings.

Hanna led 27-25 at the break, but took the lead for good in the third quarter. Harlingen South took the 29-27 lead on a bucket by Jamie Ambriz, but Paz hit a three-point shot to regain the edge. After a Lady Hawks bucket retook the lead, Paz started an 8-0 run with a pair of free throws. Jackie De La Rosa hit a 3 and added a free throw and Ariana Arceneaux hit a pair from the charity stripe as the Lady Eagles opened up a 38-31 advantage. Paz finished with seven points in the quarter as Hanna had a seven-point lead heading into the fourth.

“We had some key turnovers, two or three right in a row that really hurt us,” Harlingen South coach Kelly Garrett said. “Defensively, we didn’t do a very good job stopping their offense. We had some breakdowns and they scored some easy baskets on us and they shouldn’t have.

“It helped us to get the ball into Carmen (De Angel), but we didn’t do a very good job after halftime.”

Harlingen South’s Carmen De Angel had a three-point play to get her team within 40-36, but the Lady Eagles began a 6-0 run on a layup by Ryann Wood. Paz added a jumper and Odalys Gonzalez hit a layup to push the lead back to 10. The Lady Hawks got within nine points on a free throw, but didn’t get any closer.

The defensive effort on De Angel was key for Hanna. De Angel finished with 16 points, but only five were after halftime.

“It was big and there’s always one girl that every team has that you need to stop, for Harlingen South it was De Angel,” Luis Gonzalez said. “It was a group effort, everybody chipped in on defense. Offensively, everyone got involved. We weren’t relying on just Mia, that helped take the load off.”

Hanna started quickly in the opening quarter to grab the lead. Paz hit a 3 to give the Lady Eagles a 5-2 lead, but Harlingen South’s Briana Lozano got her team within three points after a layup. Hanna went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a couple buckets by Paz to build a 15-4 advantage. De Angel hit a pair of free throws to end the drought, but De La Rosa answered with a 3 to extend the lead to 10. Paz netted nine points and the Lady Eagles led by eight after one.

The Lady Hawks got back into it in the second quarter. After Hanna opened the quarter with a bucket by Odalys Gonzalez, a 3 by Wood and a 13-point lead, Harlingen South went on an 11-0 run to cut it to two. Dolores Mendoza started with a putback and De Angel got a bucket and later a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 23-21. Paz hit a bucket to stop the drought, but a couple free throws by De Angel kept the Lady Hawks in the game.

De La Rosa had nine points, six rebounds and a few assists, Odalys Gonzalez finished with eight points and a pair of blocks and Wood and Arceneaux combined for 10 points and 14 rebounds for Hanna.

De Angel finished with seven rebounds and Ambriz added seven points, four rebounds and a pair of steals for Harlingen South.

It was a tough loss for Harlingen South, who closed the gap to two points by the break, only to be outscored 24-16 in the second half.

“Little things add up,” Garrett said of what led to her team’s loss. “Boxing out … someone misses their girl and we paid for it. We have to go harder and put the ball in. We got them in some foul trouble, put we couldn’t put our free throws in.”

For the Lady Eagles, it doesn’t get any easier with a date with Los Fresnos on the road in another crucial game coming up Friday night.

“It’s always big to get a district win, but we look at game-by-game,” Gonzalez said. “If we want to get in the playoffs, we have to beat them on Friday night. All we want is a chance and we have a chance against Los Fresnos to try to get that fourth spot and that’s all I can ask for.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

St. Joseph Academy battled TAPPS top-10 ranked Central Catholic (San Antonio) through three quarters, but the momentum shifted toward the visitors in the final quarter.

The Bloodhounds trailed by just four points, but cold shooting and foul trouble caught up to them and allowed the Buttons to pull away in the fourth for a 46-34 win during a TAPPS 6A District 2 boys basketball game Saturday afternoon.

“I think their size got to us, we didn’t do a good job of boxing out in the fourth quarter,” St. Joseph coach Sam Lucio said. “Our shots stopped going in … the momentum shifted quick. They were making their free throws and we didn’t. It’s hard to play defense when you have four (fouls) … we were trying to catch up and I’m telling them to keep the pressure up … it was tough there at the end for us.”

In the close-knit game, Central Catholic (19-9, 1-1 TAPPS 6A District 2) started the final quarter with a bucket and a three-point play from Henry Hilker to extend its lead to 37-28. The momentum gave the Buttons some breathing room and St. Joseph (15-9, 0-1) couldn’t capitalize. The Bloodhounds’ shots stop falling and when they went over the foul limit early in the quarter, Central Catholic took advantage with some clutch free throw shooting and gave head coach Bruce McConaghy his 200th career win. St. Joseph got within eight points over the final eight minutes, but never got any closer.

“The kids are the ones winning the games, I just happen to be on the bench,” McConaghy said of the milestone. “Two hundred is nice, but it’s not that earth-shaking … there’s a lot of guys with 200 wins, it’s nice though. Anytime you come down here and get a win, it’s good because they’re so well coached. It was a tough game … it could have gone either way until about three minutes to go.

“Henry hits some shots and that was really the difference (to start the fourth quarter).”

The Bloodhounds started the game on a 5-0 run on a 3-pointer by Pete Silverio and a jumper by Camilo Trevino. The Buttons got on the board with a pair of free throws by Clayton Thompson and soon got within 7-6 on a putback by Hilker. St. Joseph answered with another jumper by Trevino to go up 9-6. Thompson hit a jumper to keep it close, but Central Catholic trailed 10-8 after one.

The teams traded baskets to begin the second quarter until Hilker hit a free throw to give the Buttons a 13-12 edge. The Bloodhounds regained a 15-13 lead with a 3 by Carlos Esteve. But it didn’t last long as Hilker tied with a pair of free throws and then hit a 3 to give Central Catholic an 18-15 advantage. Trevino hit a jumper to get St. Joseph within one, but the Buttons hit a free throw and held a 19-17 lead at the break.

Central Catholic opened the third quarter with back-to-back layups by Thompson and St. Joseph answered with a jumper by Trevino to make it 23-19. Then Alex Conrad hit a pair of free throws for the Buttons, but Esteve hit a 3-pointer to pull within 25-23. Central Catholic responded with a 4-0 run, but the Bloodhounds received back-to-back buckets from Trevino to keep them close. A 3-pointer by Hilker pushed the lead to 32-26 before a putback by Cesar Garcia kept St. Joseph within four at the end of the third.

Trevino led the way for the Bloodhounds with 14 points, six rebounds and a block. Esteve had eight points; including a pair of 3s, and two steals and Garcia added five points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

Hilker had a game-high 16 points, including a pair of 3s, and five rebounds, Thompson had 12 points and seven rebounds and Conrad and Sam Gallardo combined for 15 points and 17 rebounds for the Buttons.

Central Catholic dropped its district opener to Antonian Prep (San Antonio) but still have work to do even after the win.

“Our three teams in district are very competitive,” McConaghy said. “We have to beat Antonian by more than seven and beat St. Joseph again to give ourselves a chance to win district.”

It was a tough loss for St. Joseph to start district, but it must have a short memory.

“We can’t let one loss effect us the rest of the season, we just have to go back to work,” Lucio said. “There was a lot of good we can take from this game, they are one of the best teams in San Antonio. I thought our defense was really good, the ball just didn’t go in for us (Saturday) … and that happens in basketball.

Free throws and rebounds are what win you games, not that we did a bad job, but we have to get better. The little things come up big in the end.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

St. Joseph Academy wasted no time showing Lyford how strong it can be on defense.

The Lady Bloodhounds’ defense, led by Caroline Del Pozo, piled up 20 steals and built a first half lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 54-34 victory over the Lady Bulldogs in a non-district girls basketball game Friday.

Del Pozo finished with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and a team-high six steals to lead the way on defense as St. Joseph stifled Lyford’s offense in the first half.

“Coach always reminds us that defense is extremely important so when we went out there we said defense is key for (Friday’s) game,” Del Pozo said. “This helped the girls come together and it was definitely a confidence booster.”

In the opening quarter after the team’s traded baskets, the Lady Bloodhounds went on a 12-0 run that was highlighted by a jumper by Maria Del Pozo, a layup in transition by Lauren Salazar and a putback by Allison Stachowiak to give them a 14-2 advantage. The Lady Bulldogs’ Cassey Amaya answered with a 3, but that was it for Lyford as St. Joseph was too tough defensively and took a 17-5 lead after one.

“Our weapon has to be our defense,” St. Joseph coach Nora Zamarripa said. “Our defense has to dictate our scoring and that’s what we’ve been focusing on … up the tempo and forcing turnovers.”

In the second quarter after the Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Perez hit a pair of free throws, the Lady Bloodhounds went on an 8-0 run as Stachowiak hit a jumper from about 12 feet and Salazar had a three-point play to give them a 25-7 edge. Lyford couldn’t get going on offense and only managed a couple free throws as St. Joseph continued its aggressive defense and took a 29-9 lead into the break.

“We weren’t taking care of the ball, we weren’t able to run our offense,” Lyford coach Teresa Gutierrez said. “Coach Zamarripa has them running a tight defense, they were up on us the whole time, so we got a little tentative with the ball. I think we were a little flat (in the first half).”

The Lady Bulldogs finally got on track in the third quarter. Jessica Mendez opened the second half with a 3 and after Caroline Del Pozo hit a jumper for the Lady Bloodhounds, Lyford used a 6-0 run to get within 31-18. St. Joseph answered with back-to-back jumpers by Tania Garcia and a layup by Caniela Martinez for a 37-20 edge. The Lady Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run to cut it to 12, but Maria Del Pozo hit a pair of free throws to end the third.

The Lady Bloodhounds kept up the pressure in the fourth quarter. Caroline Del Pozo started with a 3 and Gisele Sampayo hit a layup to push the lead to 44-28. Mendez hit a pair of free throws as Lyford tried to comeback, but St. Joseph went on a 10-4 run highlighted by back-to-back buckets from Garcia to seal the win.

Stachowiak finished with 11 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks and Garcia added 10 points — all in the second half — and five boards for the Lady Bloodhounds.

Mendez finished with seven points, four rebounds and a pair of steals and Jackie Santillana also had seven points, four rebounds and three steals for the Lady Bulldogs.

Unfortunately, the season has been up-and-down for Lyford.

“We always come out flat and then in the second half we’re better,” Gutierrez said. “The inconsistency has been a little weary, but I think we’ll be ok in district.”

As St. Joseph continues TAPPS district play next week, it hopes to continue to use its defense as one of its strongest weapons.

“I think our defense can make a big impact, but we have to be smarter so we don’t get in foul trouble,” Zamarripa said. “We need to focus on our rebounding. Defense can be a constant because some nights that ball isn’t going to fall when you shoot … and we think that that can help us.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

PORT ISABEL — Port Isabel is at its best when it uses its defense to generate offense. Zapata found that out on Thursday.

The Lady Tarpons totaled 18 steals and used a key run in the third quarter to pull away from the Lady Hawks for a 65-48 victory in District 32-4A girls basketball action.

“I think (our defense) is effort. The girls do a good job of fighting and staying with it,” Port Isabel head coach Hannah Burleson said. “They have a lot of tenacity, we play pretty hard. On defense that accounts for a lot of it. Being able to force turnovers and capitalizing on them on the offensive end is something we’ve worked on and hopefully is gradually improving.”

Gabby Murchison led the way with 14 points, nine rebounds and a pair of steals, but it was her work in the paint on defense and on the offensive glass that helped Port Isabel fend off a Zapata team that closed within six points in the third before a 10-0 run essentially put the game out of reach.

“I owe it to my coach … she has pushed me harder and is making me a better ball player,” Murchison said. “(The win) was a team effort, it doesn’t matter who scores, it’s a team effort.”

The win gives Port Isabel (4-4 in District 32-4A) a victory to start the second half of district play within striking distance of the fourth playoff spot. Zapata falls to 1-7 in District 32-4A.

“I think Gabby has unlimited potential,” Burleson said. “For our team to win we have to get certain things out of every player. It was huge (Tuesday) she had a good offensive night … I can always count on her on defense and to rebound. She always plays hard, I know she’s always going to go out and give a good effort.

“For her to stay with it and play hard inside, it showed a lot of mental toughness.”

It was back-and-forth in the opening quarter. The Lady Hawks got a layup from Cassy Peña and a pair of free throws from Jolissa Paredes while the Lady Tarpons got a bucket from Murchison and a jumper by Ryley Galvan to a 4-4 tie. A little later, Sabrina Garza hit a layup to push the Port Isabel lead to 10-6, but Elaine Lopez answered to pull Zapata within 10-8. Later Murchison got a three-point play to start a 7-2 run to finish the quarter and 6-point edge through one.

In the second quarter, Samantha Chapa had a steal and a finish for the Lady Tarpons, but Kaelynn Gonzalez hit a 3-pointer to keep the Lady Hawks close at 19-14. Port Isabel went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by a Sabrina Gonzalez steal and bucket and a 23-14 lead. A bucket by Selene Garza got Zapata with 26-20, but the Lady Tarpons finished the half on a 11-4 run including a layup by Ava Gomez and another three-point play by Murchison for a 37-24 advantage at the break.

The Lady Hawks started the third on a 4-0 run with buckets Peña and Selene Garza to get within 37-28. A putback by Galvan and a 3 by Gonzalez gave Port Isabel a 42-32 edge before a bucket by Peña got Zapata within eight. However, the Lady Tarpons used another aggressive defensive effort to reel off 10 straight points and seize a 16-point lead after three.

“That’s the story of our season,” Zapata coach Hector Garcia said. “We cut it down to seven and whew … those runs were the difference.”

The Lady Hawks got within 12 points in the final quarter, but no closer as Port Isabel earned the district victory.

Selene Garza finished with 14 points and four rebounds, Peña had 13 points and four rebounds and Paredes added 10 rebounds and four steals for Zapata.

“We’re just young and we couldn’t get it together,” Garcia said. “Their pressure got to us and we missed a lot of free throws at the end … just missed opportunities.”

Sabrina Garza also finished with 14 points, four boards and three steals and Galvan added 10 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Lady Tarpons.

Burleson hopes the momentum carries forward as her team tries to earn a postseason berth during the second half of district play.

“We know where we stood (midway through district) and how we finish is going to determine the success of our season,” she said. “All of our goals are attainable if we take care of each game, one at a time.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Hanna’s Mia Paz reached a milestone against Rivera, but Rivera didn’t make it easy.

Paz hit a pair of free throws with 3:19 left in the second quarter to tally 2,000 career points, but the Lady Golden Eagles needed a strong second half to beat the Lady Raiders 59-48 in a District 32-6A girls basketball game Tuesday at Hanna.

“I wanted to just get it over with,” Paz said of her achievement. “I know the girls were trying to get me the ball. I thank them for that and supporting me, but I really wanted the win.”

After just six points in the first half, Paz scored 13 after the break (seven in the third quarter) to finish with a game-high 19. She added three rebounds, three steals and a block as Hanna (3-5 District 32-6A) erased a slight deficit and kept Rivera (0-8) winless in 32-6A.

“I’m proud of Mia’s accomplishment, it goes to show what hard work and dedication can do,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “She has 2,000 as a junior, so the sky’s the limit for her … if she continues to play hard, she can accomplish a lot of great, great things.”

It didn’t without a fight for the Lady Eagles. After Ryann Wood and Karen Garcia hit back-to-back jumpers, Paz nailed a runner to cap a 6-0 burst that opened the scoring in the first period. Mayra Martinez sank a jumper to get the Lady Raiders on the board, but Garcia nailed a 3-pointer to push Hanna’s edge to 9-2.

Kourtney Shears converted a pair of free throws during a 4-0 Rivera spurt, but Paz countered with two free throws of her own during a Hanna move as the Lady Eagles finished the period with a 17-7 lead.

The Lady Raiders started the second quarter on a 6-0 push, including back-to-back layups from Montes to get within 17-13. After a free throw by Ariana Arceaeux for the Lady Eagles, Shears hit a runner to close the gap to two for Rivera. On Hanna’s next possession, Paz was fouled and hit two free throws to record her landmark number. Play was stopped and she was recognized with a special basketball to mark her accomplishment. When the action resumed, the

Lady Raiders got consecutive buckets from Ashley Hinojosa for a 21-20 lead and Rivera maintained the edge at halftime 24-22.

As soon as Paz scored her 2,000th point, it seemed as though a weight was lifted off Hanna as it came out ready to go in the second half.

“Our defensive pressure helped, we were just more aggressive … I think that was the difference in the second half,” Gonzalez said. “I think with the 2,000-point thing, the girls were out of their comfort zone. But once Mia got the record, I think the girls settled in and in the second half they played better defense and that led to better scoring opportunities.”

A 10-2 Lady Eagles run opened the second half beginning with a Paz 3 followed by another her teammates followed her lead. With an aggressive defensive effort, Hanna started to get points off turnovers in transition and it was the boost the hosts needed. The Lady Raiders couldn’t keep up and along with three triples from Jackie De La Rosa, the Lady Eagles outscored Rivera 24-8 in the third for a 46-32 advantage.

“We came out with more confidence, we knew we had to come out in the second half and play better,” Paz said.

Paz opened the fourth quarter with a 3, but later Montes got a three-point play and the Lady Raiders went on a 9-2 run to trim its deficit to 53-46. Paz promptly hit another trey and Hanna sank some key free throws down the stretch to keep Rivera at bay.

“We didn’t come out and execute (in the third quarter), we didn’t do the things we talked about at halftime,” Rivera coach Willie Brown said. “After we refocused at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter, we started playing like we know we can play. But we had dug ourselves in such a hole, we couldn’t get over the hump.”

Montes finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, Martinez had nine points and three rebounds and Susan Baez added six points and three rebounds for the Lady Raiders.

For Rivera, it hopes to build off the positives.

“I told the girls I was proud of them because they battled back, didn’t quit and proved to themselves they can play,” Brown said. “I can’t ask for anything more than that. We need to play with more consistency and stop the lulls.

“We didn’t win the ball game, but the girls put it all on the line.”

Garcia finished with 11 points, a pair of rebounds, two assists and a couple of steals, De La Rosa had nine points, five rebounds and three steals and Arceaeux added nine points and 13 rebounds for the Lady Eagles.

Hanna hopes to take the momentum forward in the second half of district to push for a postseason berth.

“We have to show up to practice and take it one game at a time,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to enjoy this victory and Mia’s 2,000 points, but we just have to continue to work hard … I see great potential with this group of girls.”
For the night though, it was to celebrate a great accomplishment.

“It’s unbelievable experience,” Paz said. “To get 2,000 points in only three years … I just thank my teammates for everything, the coaches for supporting me through this journey. I’m just glad I got it with them.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Hannah Meyers has been an offensive force for Brownsville Veterans Memorial and she stepped up in a crucial game against Donna High.

Meyers finished with 25 points, including nine in the first quarter to get the Lady Chargers off to a fast start and that carried throughout in a 58-37 victory over the Bravettes in a District 32-5A girls basketball game Friday at Brownsville Veterans.

“We had a good practice (Thursday) and I was doing the same thing in practice,” Meyers said of her offensive output. “I knew we had to come out hard to beat them … we had to make a statement.

“We’re growing as a team, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

The senior forward had five rebounds, a pair of assists, three steals and a couple blocks and helped Brownsville Veterans (7-0 in District 32-5A) stay unbeaten in district play as it got out in front in a hurry in the opening quarter and forced Donna High (5-2) to play catch up the rest of the way.

“Hannah has the best post moves, boys or girls, in our school … she has the best footwork,” Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz said. “In the past when we needed a tough basket, we’d go to her in the post. But this year she is playing more freely on the outside. She gets to use more moves to attack … she has adapted her game very well.”

The Lady Chargers jumped out to a 15-0 lead in the first quarter as Meyers had nine points, including back-to-back buckets as they used an aggressive defense — that piled up 21 steals on the night — to stifle the Bravettes’ offense and force turnovers. Nicole Rodriguez hit a pair of layups for Donna High to end the drought, but Lizzie Garza also had back-to-back baskets during the stretch for Brownsville Veterans as it took a 15-4 edge after one.

“The reason we got that win is because of our defense,” Paz said. “In the first quarter, we got that lead because of defense, it created that separation. We’ve been working hard on defending better. We want to score points, but we have to play good defense.”

It was a tough start for the Bravettes.

“We didn’t move the ball at all … we tried to dribble through everything,” Donna High coach Kevin Kromer said. “We didn’t run any of our press break correctly. We looked like we lost our mind for that first quarter.”

The Bravettes regrouped a little and opened the second quarter with a 3-0 run, but a bucket by Meyers made it 17-7. Taty Epperson answered with a put back for Donna High, but Garza had a steal and a finish to push the lead to 21-9. The Bravettes went on a 4-0 run, but Meyers hit a 3-pointer to make it 24-13. Donna High outscored Brownsville Veterans 15-12 in the second, but trailed 27-19 at the break.

The Lady Chargers weren’t finished yet and started the third quarter with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a 3 by Destiny Contreras and a three-point play by Meyers to push the advantage to 37-19. Miranda Sandoval hit a layup to stop the streak, but the Bravettes couldn’t find a rhythm on offense and were outscored 16-5, as the Brownsville Veterans’ lead was 19 after three.

Rodriguez had a put back to get Donna High started in the fourth quarter, but Meyers finished another three-point play to push the lead back to 20 midway through the fourth and the Bravettes and Lady Chargers traded buckets the rest of the way.

Sandoval and Brianna Quesada each finished with six points apiece and combined for seven rebounds for Donna High.

Kromer said the Bravettes played a very uncharacteristic game on Friday night.

“I think it was just nerves,” he said. “We didn’t respond to the big game mentality. We’re disappointed, but we’re learn from it.

“I think we applied too much pressure to ourselves.”

Garza finished with nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and five steals and Contreras added six points, five rebounds and three steals for Brownsville Veterans.

Paz said he was proud of the way his team played defense against Donna High and that it’s crucial to the postseason.

“That’s going to dictate our playoff success,” he said. “The way we’re maturing on defense will take us a long way. We want to win district, but we want to have playoff success.

“We’re going to have to play defense to compete at the next level.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.