By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Brownsville Veterans Memorial had a season to remember last year.

While winning a school record 30 wins, the Lady Chargers captured the District 32-5A title without a blemish in district play (14-0) and advanced to the area round of the postseason for the fourth straight season.

However, it’s more about what Brownsville Veterans lost in the offseason if it hopes to repeat the feats from a year ago. Jordan Rudd, the two-time All-Metro MVP has graduated and the Lady Chargers must find a way to replace her scoring average and her leadership.

Two returning starters, senior Hannah Meyers and sophomore Lizzie Garza, will attempt to do both. Meyers averaged 12.7 points per game and Garza averaged 11.3. Both are former All-Metro Newcomers, Meyers (in 2015) and Garza (last year) and have shown that leadership on the court and during practices.

“Hannah has been more vocal, while Lizzie is still quiet and does everything by her actions,” Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz said of his team captains this season.

Sophomore Alex Parchmont is expected to be in the starting lineup and help the Lady Chargers as a defender and on the boards.

“She’s a great compliment to Lizzie and Hannah,” Paz said.

Despite the loss of Rudd, the Brownsville Veterans coach said that his team’s goals remain unchanged, that includes building on the programs success by continuing to work hard on both ends of the floor.

Paz knows his team has a target on its back, but he welcomed the challenge with the experience and young talent that return on the Lady Chargers’ squad.

“We’re not changing our expectations … it’s about playoff success,” he said. “It’s still our goal to win district, but hopefully we can win that first playoff game and get to that second round (once again) … hopefully even further.”

LOS FRESNOS LADY FALCONS

Los Fresnos began a new era in the offseason.

Long-time head coach Kim Edquist retired after a successful 33-year career last season, including the past 27 with the Lady Falcons, winning seven district titles and reaching the postseason 17 times.

Los Fresnos fell just shy of the playoffs during the last two season in District 32-6A and new coach Rebecca Valdez plans to get the Lady Falcons back where her predecessor made her mark.

“The girls here work so hard. They believe in the word effort, every day they just get after it,” Valdez said. “Having that helps everything else fall into place.”

Los Fresnos returns three players that should make a big impact this season. Senior Britney Ruiz averaged 8.1 points per game last year and is one of the team’s best defenders. Also a team captain, Ruiz will be looked to for her leadership during her final season.

Junior point guard Jovanna Adame averaged 5.8 points as well as 3.5 assists a year ago and will be looked to run the show on the court. Sophomore Ariadna Gallardo was the team’s top scorer at 17.5 points per game last season and an All-Metro first-team selection as well as the district’s top newcomer.

New to varsity squad is Dominque Clemons, who will be looked to score and rebound, but also provide solid defense for the Lady Falcons.
Valdez feels her team can be in the mix for the top spot in District 32-6A.

“We’re striving for the district title, I truly believe my girls can compete for that title,” she said. “I just think they need that confidence and to believe in themselves.”

HANNA LADY GOLDEN EAGLES

After an inconsistent season, especially in District 32-6A, Hanna looks to bounce back and make a push toward a postseason berth.

With junior Mia Paz — last year’s All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year — returning and leading the way, it’s quite possible.

“We have a lot of experience coming back,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “We’re looking for a playoff berth, but we know it’s not going to be easy, our district is tough top to bottom.”

Paz averaged a little better than 20 points per game a year ago, but the team was up-and-down defensively.

Along with Paz, two seniors, Jackie De la Rosa (six points and three assists per game) and Ryann Wood (four points and eight rebounds) return to the starting lineup.

The Lady Golden Eagles will also look to senior Reischeel Ocampo and junior Ariana Arceneaux to help the squad. Along with Wood and Arceneaux, another post player is Odalys Gonzalez that gives Hanna plenty of height in the paint.

A point of emphasis for the Lady Eagles coach has been on the defensive side, where he believes his team must improve.

“We have to play better defense, that’s been our Achilles heel the last couple of years,” Gonzalez said. “Offensively we can compete with anyone, but we have to improve our defense. If we do that, I think we’ll be a very dangerous team when it’s all said and done.”

PACE LADY VIKINGS

Pace is fresh off a postseason berth in District 32-5A that took it to the area round in Eddie Lozano’s first season as head coach.

After losing a talented handful of seniors, the Lady Vikings must find a new identity as a team.

“Our returners are trying to get in sync with our incoming girls,” Lozano said. “We’re almost there (after early season game and tournaments). We’re a very young team, but there is talent there and hopefully we can get it together when district starts.”

Pace returns juniors Lexy Arce (five points/two assists/three steals per game) and Rosa Salinas (four points/seven rebounds/two blocks) who will be expected to score and provide leadership to a younger squad this season.

The Lady Vikings will rely on a pair of seniors, Jade Rodriguez and Jasmine Rosales, a junior Stephanie Saenz and a sophomore Sofia Espinoza to play expanded roles on the team this season.

Even with a younger team this season, the goal to reach the postseason doesn’t change.

“The goal is always the playoffs, if your mindset isn’t there, it’s not right,” Lozano said. “We’re going to practice and play every day to make our goal.”

RIVERA LADY RAIDERS

Rivera faces an uphill battle in the tough District 32-6A. The Lady Raiders were winless in district play last year, but should rebound this season.

With a very young squad last season, Rivera is hoping that extra year of experience will help. The Lady Raiders are a junior-heavy team with the trio of Jacqueline Montes, Kaylyn Samano and Susan Baez expected to make an impact this season.

“We’re looking for someone to lead us,” Rivera coach Willie Brown said. “We haven’t had the leadership in the past two season’s (like in year’s past), but we have a very strong junior class.”

Junior Kourtney Shears also returns and sophomore Roxana Rodriguez will also be looked to provide valuable minutes this year.

Brown’s teams known for their defensive prowess will continue to use that to spark its offense. So far in the young season, it has worked and it has shown in the win column, already an improvement over last year.

The Rivera coach said the team must cut down on its turnovers to reach its potential this season.

“We looking for consistency,” Brown said. “When we don’t turn the ball over, we play well. We already play good defense, we just have to learn not to give it back … when we do, we win and when we don’t, we don’t.”

LOPEZ LADY LOBOS

Lopez hopes to find what pieces it has been missing.

It started midseason last year when Adam Castañeda took over for Lupe Perez. Castañeda, now in his first full season with the Lady Lobos is trying to turn the program around. It started with a better offseason and now it’s trying to find the right mesh of girls to play well together after the team went winless in District 32-5A last season.

“We’re a young team and we have a lot to prove,” he said. “We’re trying to get good chemistry and consistency on offense, but they’re buying into the system … we’re looking to being a lot more competitive (this year).”

Senior guard Nora Espinoza is the team’s top scorer and junior Briana Matamoros also returns as one of the team’s top defenders and rebounders. Sophomore Samantha Valdez is expected to start at point guard and move Espinoza to the two-guard position with the hope to get her more scoring opportunities.

A pair of freshmen, Brenda Savariego and Zayra Esquivel, is expected to fill some key roles for the Lady Lobos this season.

Castañeda said Lopez has a different attitude this year and the team chemistry has drastically improved over last year.

While competing for a postseason berth is always a goal, the Lady Lobos coach hopes to restore the program to what it once was.

“We’re looking forward to this year and proving some teams wrong,” Castañeda said. “I would love to get them into the playoffs, especially for the seniors who haven’t had much success during the last three years.”

PORTER COWGIRLS

Porter hopes to improve this season in District 32-5A with a new coach on the sidelines as Crystal Schmalzried takes over for Tony Saavedra.

The Cowgirls have very little experience returning, but Schmalzried said her team has a great attitude and a work ethic even though it’s a young team that is trying to learn some of the fundamentals of the game.

Porter has a mix of upper and lower classmen in the starting lineup led by seniors Paloma Garcia and Mary Ann Lara. A pair of sophomores Micaela

Garcia and Adamari Arteaga and freshman Katherine Salas round out the starting five.

Senior Karime Sulvaran and sophomore Desiree Treviño are expecting to provide important minutes off the bench for the Cowgirls.

It seems as though the new coach is already trying to change the culture of the program.

“I expect consistent effort and great attitudes from my players this season,” Schmalzried said. “To never to give up, regardless of the score. I hope to set new standards for the program making it a privilege to play. I hope to instill some discipline, determination, and a fighting spirit in these kids.”

ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY LADY BLOODHOUNDS

St. Joseph Academy is in a rebuilding mode with a new coach, a new system and players set to take on larger roles this season.

The Lady Bloodhounds lost its top two scorers in guards Valeria Tapia and Diana Garcia, both All-Metro first teamers; and new coach Nora Zamarrippa takes over for Cynthia Martinez.

St. Joseph has just one starter, senior Lauren Salazar, and one part-time starter, Camryn Gloor, that return and plenty of players that moved between the varsity and the JV last year. Senior Milandra Bosolo, juniors Carolina Del Pozo, Gisele Sampayo and Tania Garcia, and sophomores Allison Stachowiak and Camila Martinez have all moved up to varsity full-time and are learning what their roles are for the team.

“I’m really impressed with their effort to come and learn a new system,” Zamarripa said. “They work hard and play hard, but they’re trying to adjust to change. I’m thankful for the opportunity … I have a super group of young ladies. There’s talent there, but it’s a matter of learning and putting it all together, but I’m enjoying the process.”

Three freshmen, Maria Del Pozo, Rebekah Rodriguez and Juliana Trevino will also be in the mix learning a new system under Zamarrippa.

The new St. Joseph coach is optimistic about her new squad and what their potential could be.

“It’s a matter of gaining confidence,” Zamarripa said. “They are all learning … it’s a new offense.

“But I love how they compete.”

PORT ISABEL LADY TARPONS

Port Isabel also has a new coach on the sidelines, but it should be playing a similar style of basketball.

New coach Hannah Burleson takes over for Blake Ramsey and hopes to lead the Lady Tarpons back to the postseason using a similar defensive-minded scheme.

“We’re pretty young for the most part,” Port Isabel coach Hannah Burleson said. “But the girls have been extremely eager, excited, they’ve worked hard from the beginning. We’re more of a defense-oriented team … our defense generates our offense. We don’t have size, so we use our speed to work to our advantage.”

Port Isabel returns senior Ava Gomez, juniors Sabrina Garza (who was an All-District selection last year) and Gabby Murchison, and sophomore Ryley Galvan.

A pair of freshmen, Allison Gonzalez and Sabrina Gonzalez, who looks to get the nod in the starting rotation, will also play valuable minutes in their first varsity season.

The first-year coach said that the postseason would always be the goal and thinks her team could be in the mix toward the end of the season.

“If we play our style, I think we should be competitive in every game,” Burleson said. “(If we play that way) I think we should be contending for the playoffs.”

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 led at the break, but it wasn’t hitting its free throws against St. Joseph Academy.

The Lady Tarpons concentrated on free throw shooting during the intermission and that extra work came in handy as Gabby Murchison had nine points in the second half, including some big free throws down the stretch, to help the Lady Tarpons hold off the Lady Bloodhounds 47-43 in a non-district girls basketball game Friday.

Murchison scored a game-high 13 points, including 7 of 12 from the foul line (5 of 8 in the second half), grabbed nine rebounds and had four steals for the Lady Tarpons.

“I know that every time you go up for a free throw, you have to relax and block out the crowd, it’s mental,” Murchison said. “I knew we had to push it in the second half, we had to be aggressive and keep shooting. (This win) builds our confidence and we’re ready for (district play).”

Port Isabel led at halftime, but St. Joseph rallied in the third quarter. A jumper by Maria Del Pozo got the Lady Bloodhounds within six. But after trading buckets, a jumper by Rylen Galvan put the Lady Tarpons back up 33-24. St. Joseph then went on a 7-0 run to pull within two, but a layup by Murchison pushed the Port Isabel lead back to four. Right before the buzzer, Gisele Sampayo had a put back that kept the Lady Bloodhounds within four heading into the final quarter.

A jumper by Allison Stachowiak got St. Joseph within 40-37 during the fourth quarter, but Port Isabel went on a 4-0 run to push the lead back to seven. Later a pair of buckets by Lauren Salazar got the Lady Bloodhounds within three, but Murchison hit another free throw to extend the lead back to four and seal the victory for the Lady Tarpons.

“We pressed the whole game and Gabby is very versatile for us … people don’t expect her to be that quick,” Port Isabel coach Hannah Burleson said. “We stayed after it from end-to-end defensively, it was a very physical game. Our girls played hard and I think having a lot of heart and competing will get you there on close games.”

St. Joseph couldn’t get any closer than three with a few costly turnovers on some late possessions.

“We’re very inexperienced and under pressure we still turn the ball over at the most inconvenient times,” St. Joseph coach Nora Zamarripa said. “Until we learn to cherish the basketball and value it, we’re going to continue to struggle.”

Port Isabel slowly built a lead in the first half. After Sampayo tied the game at 6 with a jumper, the Lady Tarpons went on a 4-0 run before Sampayo hit a bucket, but St. Joseph trailed 10-8 after one.

In the second quarter, Sabrina Garza had back-to-back steals and a finish to put Port Isabel up 14-10. Buckets by Stachowiak, Camila Martinez and Milandra Bosolo kept the Lady Bloodhounds close, but Murchison had a layup and Ava Gomez hit a pair of free throws as the Lady Tarpons took an 8-point lead at halftime. Garza had 11 of her 12 points before the break.

Salazar and Stachowiak each finished with 10 points and combined for 11 rebounds and six steals for St. Joseph.

The Lady Bloodhounds outscored Port Isabel in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a halftime deficit.

“We came back, we did some really good things, but we missed a lot of shots that we shouldn’t have missed,” Zamarripa said of her team’s second half performance. “We’re still challenging them to box out and rebound … when they learn that, they’re going to be really good. We need to play smarter (late in the game).”

Galvan finished with nine points and 11 rebounds and Sabrina Gonzalez added six points and three steals for the Lady Tarpons.

Even with a less than stellar performance at the foul line, Port Isabel heads into district play having won four straight.

“Our free throws need some work … they’re 90 percent mental, but those will come,” Burleson said. “It’s huge, this is four in a row for us and for our girls, mentally. I think this is right where we need to be … I don’t think we’ve peaked yet, but we’re climbing to where we need to be at the right 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

Mia Paz found her shot and Hanna used that offensive production to pull away from PSJA Southwest.

Paz scored a game-high 24 points, including four 3-pointers, and the Lady Golden Eagles used a first-half offensive outburst and a rebounding advantage to build a lead and outlast the Lady Javelinas 68-35 in a non-district girls basketball game Tuesday at Hanna.

“I started off slow, but I had to be more confident in myself to shoot the ball,” Paz said. “That was the confidence I needed (after hitting her first 3) … as soon as I made one shot, I knew I would keep it going.”

Hanna used a pair of runs to end the first and second quarters and outrebounded PSJA Southwest 41-24 to build a double-digit lead in the first half and kept pulling away after the break.

“We shot the ball decently, but a lot had to do with our second and third-chance opportunities,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “Mia shot the ball well and we had girls that are active on boards and that really helped us with our second-chance opportunities.”

The Lady Javelinas took an early lead in the opening quarter as Ingrid Cano hit a layup for a 5-2 lead. The Lady Eagles’ Jackie De la Rosa hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 7 and then Reisheel Ocampo followed with a 3 as part of a 9-0 run to finish the quarter as Hanna took a 16-7 lead.

Paz got a hot hand in the second quarter as a 3-pointer pushed the Lady Eagles lead to 19-9. After the Lady Javelinas’ Lizbeth Melendez hit a pair of free throws to get the deficit back to 10, Paz hit another 3 to start a 12-0 Hanna run to finish the quarter. Paz had nine points in the second; all off 3-pointers, and the Lady Eagles took a 35-13 edge at the break.

“That’s a good shooting team,” PSJA Southwest coach Milton Galloso said of Hanna. “It’s a well-rounded team … everyone shot real well. They shot lights out. We tried to work out our defense to man-to-man, but we couldn’t focus on just one, we had to focus on all five (on the court).”

In the third quarter, Paz wasn’t done yet. She had a 3-point play that pushed the lead to 41-17, but Cano had a layup and Melendez followed with a pair of free throws and a bucket for a 6-0 run for PSJA Southwest to cut it to 20. Melendez scored 11 points in the quarter, but Paz scored seven and kept Hanna in front, 47-28.

The Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Javelinas 21-7 in the final quarter to seal the victory a week before the start of district play.

De la Rosa finished with 12 points, Karen Garza had 11 points, Ariana Arceneaux pulled down 11 boards and Paz added five steals for Hanna.

Melendez finished with 18 points and five rebounds and Kim Bucio added six points and seven rebounds for PSJA Southwest.

The Lady Javelinas couldn’t find their rhythm on offense enough to keep up with Hanna’s output.

“I though we did a decent job (defensively), but on our offensive end we have to capitalize,” Galloso said. “We have to make our free throws and make the (close) shots. We just couldn’t click (on offense).”

For the Lady Eagles, Gonzalez was happy for the win, but he knows there’s still work to do ahead of district.

“I’m proud of the girls,” he said. “They played great, but we’re still trying to get better, day-by-day, practice-by-practice, game-by-game because next Tuesday is our first district game. I don’t think we’re there yet.

“If we shoot the ball well and play good, tough defense … if we limit our turnovers, we can be a very dangerous team.”

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 — Los Fresnos knew it was in for a tough task and Lake Travis once again showed why it is the reigning state champion.

The Falcons didn’t help themselves with a pair of turnovers and the visitors from Austin took advantage, getting on the board early and often to build a first-half lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 42-7 victory in a Class 6A Division I regional semifinal game Saturday at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.

Los Fresnos senior quarterback Charles Chapa scored a touchdown on a 14-yard run early in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons couldn’t get going on offense early as a pair of first-half interceptions stopped two potential scoring drives. Los Fresnos moved the chains throughout the game, but punted six times and turned the ball over on downs twice after failing to take advantage of a few long drives that ended in Lake Travis territory. The Cavaliers capitalized on those shortcoming, built an early lead and never looked back.

“They punish you every time you make a mistake,” Los Fresnos head coach Patrick Brown said. “And they punished us every time we did something. They got after us and we dug just a monster hole that we could never get out of. It was a tough task, but it sure was fun having them on our field.”

Chapa threw for 55 yards and ran for 62 yards and a score and junior running back Albert Banuelos had 101 yards on the ground for Los Fresnos.

For the second consecutive year the Falcons (9-4) saw their season end at the hands of the Cavaliers (11-2), who move on to the regional final again.

Brown took responsibility for the loss, but hopes his team can use this game for motivation before next season.

“The third round isn’t good enough,” he said. “We have to start setting the bar higher. That’s what we talked to our young kids about when they don’t want to do a rep in the weight room or they don’t want to get up early in the summer … they need to remember games like this. This is not acceptable, losing like this … we got our butts beat. I should have done a better job.”

Lake Travis opened the game with a quick score in the first quarter. On its opening drive, senior quarterback Matthew Baldwin capped it with a 2-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with 10:15 left in the quarter.

After a Los Fresnos interception, the Cavaliers took advantage as Baldwin found junior receiver Garrett Wilson on a 27-yard strike for another score and a 14-0 edge with 6:52 left in the first.

The Falcons were forced to punt on their next series and again Lake Travis answered. Its next drive ended with a 22-yard touchdown run by Brayen Roeder and a 21-0 cushion with 3:24 left in the first.

Los Fresnos then drove deep into the Cavaliers territory, but threw an interception in the end zone that Lake Travis returned to its own 42-yard line. A few plays later, Baldwin connected with Wilson again, this time on a 10-yard pass that swelled the lead to 28-0 with 7:46 left in the second.

“We got a quick start, but they moved the ball on us,” Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said. “We got a couple turnovers or else I think that they would have put some points on the board earlier in the first half.”

The Falcons gambled on their next drive, faking a punt and trying to run for a first down. The conversion fell short and the Cavaliers took over at the Los Fresnos 15-yard line. One play later, Baldwin threw a fade to Wilson for a 15-yard score and a 35-0 lead with 3:36 left in the half. Lake Travis would take the lead into the locker room.

“When we get around the goal line, Garrett’s going to be a guy we’re going to look to because of his leaping ability and run after the catch at the same time,” Carter said. “They were able to connect a few times there and it was great … we’re going to need more of that as we go forward.”

Baldwin finished with 190 yards passing and three touchdowns — all to Wilson — who had three catches for 48 yards and both players were finished at the break. Baldwin added 13 yards and a score on the ground for the Cavaliers.

In the third quarter, senior quarterback Russell Thamm hit senior receiver Zane Berger on a 34-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown to push the lead to 42-0 with 4:40 left in the third.

Carter was happy his team played better than it did last week in a close 47-39 triumph over Judson.

“I’m very proud of our team,” he said. “Anytime you get a win in the third round of the playoffs … you’re excited about it.”

For Brown, he’s taken back-to-back teams to the third round, but wants to set instill a precedence for the program to set the bar even higher than three week-long playoff runs.

“We can’t celebrate a third-round run, we have to expect a third-round run,” he said. “Until we start beating some of these teams — and this goes for all Valley teams — they’re not going to respect us. You earn respect by taking it from people. Until we do that down here, then the third round is going to be good enough, but it’s not good enough for us and it should never be good enough for us.

“We have to outwork them in the offseason and the summer. We’ve got to outcoach them. That’s what we’ve got to get to, there’s no consolations in this game.”

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 — Los Fresnos came out aggressively on defense and that was too much for Pace.

The Lady Falcons totaled 27 steals, including nine by Jovanna Adame, and Ari Gallardo scored 21 points as they defeated the Lady Vikings 66-36 in a non-district girls basketball game Friday.

“I need to be the leader, but I like it,” Adame said. “We came back strong in the second half and showed what we could do.”

Adame finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and a game-high nine steals for Los Fresnos.

Los Fresnos led 32-19 at the break, but used a surge after halftime to run away from Pace. The Lady Falcons used their pressure on defense to get points off turnovers and in transition.

Using a 10-0 run to start the third quarter, including five points from Gallardo on a 3 and a pair of free throws, Los Fresnos extended its lead to 42-19. The Lady Vikings got a layup by Lexy Arce to stop the run. The Lady Falcons finished the quarter on an 8-3 run and led 51-24 after three.

“I preach in practice about effort and defense to me is all effort and I think our girls hear that day in and day out,” Los Fresnos coach Rebecca Valdez said. “We’ve had a trend where we don’t play that well in the first half. But for some reason, the third quarter is our quarter … after halftime we seem to have this extra fire in us.”

Los Fresnos started the final quarter on a 5-0 run and Arce stop the run with a free throw, but the Lady Falcons continued to use their defense and the teams traded baskets down the stretch. Los Fresnos’ pressure forced Pace into several turnovers over the course of the night and allowed it to coast to a victory.

“Right now we’re still trying to find our identity,” Pace coach Eddie Lozano said. “It’s been a journey so far … but that’s probably the best basketball we’ve played all season. Offensively we turned the ball over way too much … that’s been our Achilles heel.”

Gallardo scored 15 of her 21 points — including three 3-pointers — in the second half and added four rebounds, four assists and six steals for the Lady Falcons.

“Ari is a good shooter and she’s become a good defender with her long arms,” Valdez said. “She’s a good kid. She works really hard, she puts in the work to be good.”

The first half was a much tighter game. After Arce hit a jumper, Pace took a 4-2 lead in the opening quarter. Britney Ruiz hit a pair of free throws and then a jumper by Dominque Clemons gave Los Fresnos a 10-6 lead. Later, Ruiz added a bucket at the buzzer to push the lead to 16-7 as she scored all 10 of her points in the first.

The Lady Falcons started the second quarter on a 6-0 run to push the lead to 22-7 before a layup by the Lady Vikings’ Rosa Salinas. Adame hit a jumper to extend the edge to 28-11, but Pace’s Viv Lucio answered with a 3-pointer to make it 28-14. Later, a 3 by Coran Garcia pushed the Los Fresnos advantage to 32-18 with under a minute to play before halftime.

Salinas finished with a team-high 12 points and seven steals and Arce added nine points, seven rebounds and four steals for Pace.

The Lady Vikings finished with 18 steals on the night, but turnovers were costly.

“I like our defensive speed … we had more steals than we’ve had (all season),” Lozano said. “We’re still trying to find our identity, so hopefully this helps us moving on.”

The Lady Falcons got contributions from every player on the floor.

“I’ve been pushing the aspect of team, we can’t do it alone,” Valdez said. “Everyone has to do their job and contribute and (Friday) everybody did … overall we played together as a whole pretty well.”

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 — To be the best, you have to beat the best.

For the second straight postseason, that will be the case for Los Fresnos.

The Falcons are already familiar with Lake Travis (Austin) after losing to the Cavaliers in the regional semifinal round of last year’s Class 6A Division I playoffs. Los Fresnos (9-3) gets another shot at the defending state champions when they play host to the state-ranked Cavaliers (10-2) in a Class 6A Division I regional semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.

The Falcons have now reached the third round of the postseason in consecutive seasons, a feat it has accomplished since 2007-2008 seasons. In fact, those were the last of three consecutive seasons in which Los Fresnos went three rounds deep. The Falcons also reached the third round in 2014 under Clint Finley.

Los Fresnos and head coach Patrick Brown are trying to build a program where deep playoff runs are the norm, not an exception.

“We’re trying to get to a point where every year, no matter who steps up, the expectation is going to be the same,” Brown said. “We’re trying to build around here from year-to-year so we don’t have a drop off. That’s the difference between having a program and just having a football team. All of our middle schools are on board … when you get a big game like this, those kids see that and they want to be (a part of that someday).”

It starts with the ability to host a postseason game like this.

“People in the Rio Grande Valley deserve to see great teams like Lake Travis come down here,” Brown said. “Our community is so excited as is our school body. Even people not in Los Fresnos are fired up … we’ve already sold a lot of tickets … it’s been a fantastic deal.”

This game will have a hint of familiarity after last year’s matchup, but the Falcons know they’re in for a tough game like they were in 2016. Los Fresnos failed to score until the fourth quarter of the two teams’ previous meeting, and Lake Travis cruised to a 54-7 victory.

“I don’t think there’s a fear (like last year),” Brown said. “I promise you (we’ll) come out and play hard on Saturday.”

Lake Travis coach Hank Carter agreed with the acquaintance, but only to an extent.

“I think it helps a bit having the film from a year ago,” he said via email. “We at least have an idea how Los Fresnos wanted to attack us a year ago. I’m sure there will be several changes but it’s a good starting point.”

Some of the faces have changed, but both sidelines have plenty of talent.

Los Fresnos has senior Charles Chapa, who is a dual-threat quarterback that can get it done through the air and on the ground. Chapa has thrown for 1,873 yards and 15 touchdowns and has added 841 rushing yards and 15 scores. His top target in the passing game is sophomore receiver Nico Valencia, who has 63 catches for 870 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“We’ve got to be happy with 3-, 4- and 5-yard gains and getting first downs,” Brown said of his offense that averages 29 points per game. “Keeping their offense off the field and moving the ball down the field … we have to keep the chains moving.”

Carter said his defense, which allows nearly 24 points per game, will have to contain both Chapa and junior running back Albert Banuelos.

“Their screen and draw game is as good as we’ve seen all season,” Carter said. “I’m impressed with (Chapa) and (Banuelos) as well … both are elusive. The wide receivers do a nice job catching the deep ball and block well on runs and screens.”

Lake Travis counters with a pass-heavy game from senior quarterback Matthew Baldwin, who has thrown for 3,198 yards and 38 touchdowns. He is also the team’s top rusher with 379 yards and seven scores. Baldwin has thrown to a variety of receivers this year, but junior Garret Wilson (72 catches for 1,370 yards and 20 touchdowns) and sophomore Hudson Card (50 catches for 960 yards and 12 TDs) have been his top targets for an offense that averages 46 points per game.

“We’ve got to try to prevent these big plays … we’ve seen several trick plays (on film),” Brown said. “Lake Travis dominates special teams … they are really trouble on special teams, especially (Wilson).”

For the Cavaliers, they will be tested in the trenches against a Los Fresnos defense that allows just 16 points per game.

“Defensively they run primarily a four down defense,” Carter said. “We haven’t seen much of that lately so it will be a good test for our kids up front to adapt.”

Both teams will look to get off to a quick start and that could be a key to which team comes out on top.

“Lake Travis is going to bring the physicality and playing them last year our kids understand that they’re going to hit us and we’re not going to blow up,” Brown said. “Our kids understand it’s a tall task, we’re still going to have to play out of our shoes to have a chance.”

Added Carter: “We need to take care of the football and tackle better. Those were things that hurt us early in the ball game last week.”

The Falcons know that playing at home in front of an enthusiastic crowd could help them jump out early, but it won’t be easy against Lake Travis, which has won 10 of 11 games after dropping its season opener. A year ago, the teams met on Lake Travis’ home field, and the Falcons had their troubles early as the Cavaliers took advantage and built a big lead by the half on its way to a lopsided victory. Los Fresnos hopes to utilize its homefield advantage to get going on both sides of the ball and hopefully get on the scoreboard early. The Falcons bring plenty of confidence into this game, especially on defense, but the Cavaliers can light up the scoreboard and the unit will get its toughest test of the season. Los Fresnos needs to take advantage of its opportunities on offense and avoid turnovers. The Falcons should face the challenge better than they did last season, but Lake Travis is the defending state champion for a reason and will be tough to knock out.

Prediction: Lake Travis 31, Los Fresnos 17

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

Brownsville Veterans Memorial needed to be more aggressive in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit to Hanna.

The Lady Chargers used their defense and Hannah Meyers and Lizzie Garza combined for 15 points as they outscored the Lady Golden Eagles 25-14 in the third and Brownsville Veterans held off Hanna 59-47 in a non-district girls basketball game Tuesday at Hanna.

“We knew we had to come out strong (in the second half) to win,” Meyers said. “Working with what the defense was giving us and making sure we were cutting and passing the ball.”

Meyers finished with 15 points and Garza had 16 points as the Lady Chargers pulled away in the third quarter as Meyers had eight and Garza had seven to open the second half. The two combined for 10 rebounds and five steals.

“We weren’t getting the 50/50 balls (in the first half),” Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz said. “In the second half we saw more players on the floor and chasing down the 50/50 balls. We picked up the intensity and the hustle … I think that was the difference.”

Mia Paz led the Lady Eagles with 16 points and Ariana Arceneaux added 15 points and 17 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a poor-shooting second half.

“I don’t think we shot the ball well from the beginning to the end,” Hanna coach Luis Gonzalez said. “In the third quarter, we especially went cold, so that was the difference in the ball game. (The Lady Chargers) were more aggressive, they came out ready to play in the second half. Our shots weren’t falling and we had good looks. Most nights those shots would fall, but that’s the game of basketball.”

Hanna started the opening quarter on a 5-0 run, but a 3-pointer by Destiny Contreras and a pair of free throws by Meyers tied the game at 5. The teams went back-and-forth and the Lady Eagles’ Jackie De La Rosa hit a pair of free throws to knot the game at 11 after the first quarter.

Hanna got a 3-pointer from Paz and a 3-point play by Arceneaux to open up a 17-13 lead and then Reischeel Ocampo hit a jumper to extend the lead to 22-16. A layup by Brownsville Veterans’ Alyssa Esquivel cut the deficit to four, but Arceneaux had another 3-point play to push it to 25-18. Garza would score five straight points, including a 3-pointer to end the half and the Lady Chargers got within two at the break.

After Arceneaux opened the third with another 3-point play on a steal, Meyers hit a layup to get within one at 28-27. After Paz hit a 3-pointer to extend the Hanna lead to four points, Garza hit a pair of free throws and then hit a 3-pointer as Brownsville Veterans took a 39-35 lead. Meyers later added a 3 and keep the lead at four and the Lady Chargers finished the quarter on a 6-1 run to push the advantage to nine points by the end of the third.

“They are a great-coached team and had a lot to do with that, but the bottom line is we have to make shots to win ball games,” Gonzalez said. “I think we settled too much for the outside shot. (The Lady Chargers) attacked the basket and got us in foul trouble.

“I think we’re a better team, but we got outplayed (Tuesday).”

The teams traded buckets in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Eagles couldn’t close the gap as Brownsville Veterans hit 24 of 30 from the charity stripe during the game to seal the victory.

That is something that Brownsville Veterans, despite being a young squad this season, has done very well thus far.

“We’re getting to the free throw line more than everybody else,” Paz said. “We want to win the free throw margin … that means we’re being aggressive offensively, but we have to hit them. Those are easy points and I’m glad we picked a good night to hit them because we weren’t hitting very well from the field.”

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

Baseball season is still a few months away, but two more players have decided where to continue their baseball careers next season.

A pair of Hanna players, seniors Noe Guerrero and Cristian Gonzalez, signed to play baseball at the NCAA Division I level during a signing ceremony Tuesday at Hanna High School.

Guerrero has committed to Texas Southern University in Houston, joining Lopez’s Alex Olguin, who signed with the school two weeks ago and Gonzalez will play for the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

“It’s awesome,” former Hanna head baseball coach Eddie Garcia, who recently stepped down to be an assistant on the Hanna softball team that his daughter will be competing for, said. “They are both pretty smart too, I’m sure they are going to succeed academically and athletically. I have total confidence in them, they are both talented and can play at that level … I have no doubt.”

The pair helped the Golden Eagles to a runner-up finish in District 32-6A to Los Fresnos and the two teams will certainly battle again for the top of the standings this season. A year ago, Hanna advanced to the area round of the postseason, where it lost to Edinburg Vela in a three-game series.

Last season, Guerrero was the team’s top pitcher with a 6-2 record and a microscopic 1.14 ERA in 61 1/3 innings, he allowed 21 runs — only 10 earned — on 50 hits, walked 18 and struck out 57 and opponents hit just .209 against him. Guerrero earned the distinction as the top pitcher in the district and was the named The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Baseball Pitcher of the Year.

“It’s amazing … I never thought I would make the DI level when I was little,” Guerrero said. “After all the hard work, I realized I could do something. Last year after earning the pitcher of the year award … after playing on travel teams … I got noticed.”

Guerrero played for Banditos Baseball Club and got noticed during a summer showcase. A week later, he got an email about coming to Houston for a visit. After the right-handed hurler made his visit, he was offered a full scholarship and committed soon after.

He plans on studying biology and working in the medical field some day. Guerrero wants to see how far baseball can take him and he hopes to get drafted some day. But he’s excited to start the journey with a familiar face.

“It’s awesome because over there I don’t know anyone, but with him there it will be easier to go workout, to throw,” Guerrero said of Olguin, who he plans to room with during their freshman year.

Gonzalez, a first baseman, hit .271 last year with 19 hits, including six doubles and a triple, scored 13 runs and was second on the team with 16 RBIs. He drew 14 walks and struck out just nine times. Gonzalez had a .409 on-base percentage and slugged .385 for an OPS of .795. Gonzalez was just as good with his glove, he had a .967 fielding percentage with just five errors in 150 chances.

“It’s a relief to get it off my shoulders,” he said of his signing his letter of intent. “I’m looking forward to continuing my journey into college and hopefully be successful. I didn’t want to worry about it so I could enjoy my last year.”

Gonzalez played in the summer with the South Texas Sliders and a scout noticed him and got in contact with him to let him know the interest the school had in him. It was an easy choice to commit to Incarnate Word because his brother plays for the football team.

“It was always a college I wanted to attend, I always had that college in the back of my mind,” he said. “They have a new coaching staff and are rebuilding the program and I wanted to be a part of that.

“It was just a perfect fit for me.”

Gonzalez wants to go into medicine and Incarnate Word has a medical school as well, so it was a good fit both academically and athletically.

Garcia coached both players during the last three years and knows that each has the work ethic to be successful.

“I’m so proud of them,” he said. “It makes it all worth it … all the sweat and tears, the painful practices, it all pays off. I’m hoping that these young guys see that and it rubs off on them that it’s possible (to play in college).

“It’s a blessing for me as a coach.”

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

SAN ANTONIO — Los Fresnos wanted to prove that last year’s postseason run was no fluke, and for the second straight year, it went through Southwest (San Antonio) to do so.

Trailing 14-5 after the first quarter, the Falcons scored 35 unanswered points in the second quarter to erase their deficit and held on to defeat the Dragons 47-35 in a Class 6A, Division I area round game Saturday at Alamo Stadium.

With help from the defense — which forced seven turnovers on the day, including four interceptions by junior defensive back Isaiah Muniz — the Falcons’ offense took advantage of its opportunities to take the lead for good in the second quarter.

“I just tried to find a way to help the team out,” Muniz said with a cast covering his broken right hand that he’s had since Week 5. “It was important to keep fighting to the end of every play and every whistle.”

The Falcons (9-3) now move on to the third round of the postseason for the second straight season and once again ended the Dragons’ season in the area round. Southwest finished the year 9-3.

Los Fresnos scored on five straight drives in the second quarter. After an interception by Falcons senior linebacker Sebastian Gonzales, senior quarterback Charles Chapa connected with junior running back Albert Banuelos on a screen pass for a 23-yard touchdown as Los Fresnos pulled within 14-12 with 9:05 left in quarter.

Southwest fumbled on its ensuing kickoff return and Chapa gave the Falcons a 19-14 lead less than a minute later on a 24-yard scoring run. After the Dragons punted, Los Fresnos capped off its next drive with another run from Chapa, this one a 6-yarder, to put the Falcons ahead 26-14 with 3:50 left in the half.

After Southwest fumbled once again on the kickoff return, the Falcons needed one play to pad its lead. Using some trickery, Falcons senior receiver Robert Ramirez took a handoff from Chapa before throwing a 27-yard strike to sophomore receiver Nico Valencia for a touchdown and a 33-14 advantage.

After a Muniz interception, Chapa found Ramirez on an 18-yard pass for a score and a 40-14 cushion with less than 30 seconds left in the half. That margin held up going into halftime.

“The film we watched on Southwest, they come out like gangbusters … and they came out with some big plays,” Los Fresnos coach Patrick Brown said. “In (District) 32-6A, every game was a war, so our kids weren’t fazed.”

That was especially true for Muniz, who earned his picks playing man coverage against Southwest’s offense.

“There’s no help over the top … it’s an island,” Brown said. “Usually you get your picks from a zone defense with guys coming over the top, to get picks off a man look like that is unbelievable … Muniz sure had a big game.”

In the second half, Southwest tried to comeback. In the third quarter, junior running back Cade Stott ran for a 7-yard touchdown to pull within 40-21 with 9:30 to play. But turnovers would continue to plague the Dragons, as they saw possessions end on a pair of interceptions and a turnover on downs.

Los Fresnos took advantage as its lead swelled to 47-21 with 11:45 left in the fourth quarter after Chapa hit Valencia on fade route for a 10-yard score.

Chapa finished with 165 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 58 rushing yards and two TDs. Two of those scoring passes went to Valencia, who finished with nine catches for 111 yards.

Southwest got a pair of rushing touchdowns between an onside kick in the fourth, a 13-yarder from senior running back Martin Torres III and a 14-yarder from senior receiver Andres Arredondo. It wouldn’t be enough, however, as Muniz sealed the win for Los Fresnos with his fourth interception of the game with a little more than a minute to play.

“We got out of sorts in the second quarter and played the game they wanted us to play rather than the game we wanted to play,” Southwest coach Matt Elliott said. “We got back to our roots (in the second half) and started moving the ball.”

It was a different game early on. Los Fresnos got on the board first with a 31-yard field goal by junior kicker Adrian Torres for a 3-0 lead with 9:44 left in the first.

Southwest answered on its first drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Damian Lopez to sophomore receiver Makhi Johnson to take a 7-3 lead with 7:35 left in the quarter.

After the Falcons turned the ball over on downs inside the Dragons’ 2-yard line, the Los Fresnos’ defense forced a safety as Southwest’s punter stepped out the back of the end zone on a punt attempt to trim Southwest’s lead to 7-5 with 2:22 left in the first.

Los Fresnos fumbled on the first play of its ensuing offensive series and the Dragons took advantage as Stott ran for a 57-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 14-5 with 1:25 left in the first.

Southwest’s early momentum wouldn’t last, and the end result was disappointing for the Dragons, as they suffered the same fate as last season against the same team in the second round.

“The Falcons happened, that’s what happened … they have a good football team,” Elliott said. “Their coach does a tremendous job with those guys and hats off to them. Our kids were excited to play in this game, but maybe too much when it started.

“I could have probably done a better job (Saturday), but that’s why there’s a winner and a loser.”

Los Fresnos moves on, but has a tough task facing defending 6A Division I state champion Lake Travis again in the third round, but will do so on its home turf at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.

“I guarantee our kids will show up and play as hard as they can possibly play,” Brown said. “And we’ll see what happens.”

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

SAN ANTONIO — St. Joseph Academy knew it needed to keep up with the All Saints Episcopal (Fort Worth) offensive output for a chance to play spoiler.

Unfortunately, the Bloodhounds’ offense didn’t get going quickly enough and the defense struggled to contain the Saints’ offense in a 47-14 loss to All Saints in a TAPPS Division I playoff game Friday at Bob Benson ‘66 Stadium.

St. Joseph (7-5) received plenty of offense from senior quarterback Kai Money, who finished with 258 yards and two touchdowns through the air with scoring passes to senior receiver Miguel Guearra and junior receiver Pablo Zolezzi. Money added 69 yards on the ground, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with All Saints (11-0), which scored on its first five drives of the game.

“All Saints is for real,” St. Joseph coach Tino Villarreal said. “Obvious there were things we could have done better … I was proud of how we adjusted in the second quarter. Against a team like that, even on a level playing field, it’s hard to beat them. It’s almost impossible if you dig yourself a hole like that.

“I’m proud of our guys. We never quit, we fought hard.”

As St. Joseph strived to find its rhythm on offense in the opening quarter, All Saints was firing on all cylinders. Senior quarterback Shaun Taylor threw for four touchdowns in the first, hitting four different receivers for scores.

Taylor found junior receiver Sammy Keith on a 22-yard strike to take a 7-0 lead with 10:50 left in the first. Sophomore running back Jacob Matlock found the end zone after two carries on the second drive, capped with a 1-yard plunge over the goal line and a 14-0 lead with 8:43 left in the first.

As the Saints’ defense kept the Bloodhounds at bay, Taylor kept rolling. He hit junior running back T. Loffland on a 19-yard touchdown pass on the next possession and then hit senior receiver Brendan Harmon on a 99-yard catch-and-run. Taylor then found senior receiver Jaylon Robinson with 34 seconds left in the first to jump to a 35-0 lead.

St. Joseph got on the board with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Guearra in the second, but the 2-point conversion failed and the Bloodhounds trailed 35-6 with 6:35 left in the first half.

The Saints ended the half with another touchdown pass from Taylor to Robinson, this one a 28-yarder to push the lead to 41-6 with 1:19 left in the half and they would take that lead into the break.

Taylor capped the first drive of the second half with a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 47-6 with 10:26 left in the third quarter before his day was done.

“Our seniors have been playing together a long time,” All Saints coach Aaron Beck said. “Shaun knows the offense as well as the coaches do and our tempo is fast.

“Our game is hard to slow down, it really is.”

Taylor finished with 245 yards passing and five touchdowns and ran for another to lead the way for All Saints.

St. Joseph answered with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Money to Zolezzi (and Money hit senior receiver Keaton Cackley for the 2-point conversion) with 6:46 left in the third. But that’s all the Bloodhounds would get as their next two drives ended in turnovers as the clock wound down in the final quarter.

“Kai Money is a great young man and he’s a next level guy,” Beck said. “I’ve been in this game for 35 years and Tino Villarreal is as classy as anyone I’ve met.”

The Saints continue their perfect season and move on to the next round in the TAPPS playoffs.

“We’re really fortunate and our kids love to play,” Beck said. “We’ve come out and clicked every week and we’re really proud of the kids. It’s been a fun year, we haven’t lost yet and hopefully we can get past next week for a chance to play for a championship.”

Despite the loss, the Bloodhounds have continued to build their program. Villarreal feels that St. Joseph is heading in the right direction after accomplishing another goal this past season.

“We had a phenomenal season,” he said. “At 1-3, no one gave us a chance and we brought home our first district championship in 37 years. That’s the cherry on top of the Money era. We were in the second round last year, but we weren’t district champs, so that’s another step in the right direction. Now we have to figure out how to get out of the second round.

“Hats off to All Saints, I hope they win it all … they’re a well-coached group of kids and they’re (a) first class (team).”

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.