EDINBURG — The center field fence at UTRGV Baseball Stadium received some pop during the offseason with the word Vaqueros written in large, green cursive lettering. The different shades of green make for a nice touch under the sun during day games and under the lights at night.

The newest addition to the center field fence at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Just above the bullpens in left and right field are large orange letters spelling UTRGV evenly spaced out with palm trees in between, giving the stadium a true Valley feel.

Last season, the team took turns painting the steps inside the stadium orange to add some flair, and now there’s orange plastic covering along the railing down first- and third-base lines.

Weeks before opening day this season, the UTRGV athletics department unveiled upgrades to the clubhouse at UTRGV Baseball Stadium featuring new lockers with padded seating, tile flooring with a UTRGV logo painted in the middle and a fueling area for baseball players.

It’s all part of putting the players first, says sixth-year head coach Derek Matlock, which has translated to a winning program and turned the UTRGV baseball team and the Rio Grande Valley into a place players want to play ball. Matlock and the UTRGV coaching staff have done a lot of the work around the stadium themselves.

“We’re a players-first program,” he said. “All of our focus every day is on our players and I think that gets out in summer baseball and kids telling other kids, ‘You can come play for our guys, our coaches get after it and they love us and they take care of us.’ I think it does spread and I think it’s happened with a couple players that have come here and played and said, ‘We don’t have an atmosphere like this. This is big time.’ So I think the atmosphere and, of course, the culture of being a players-first coach really makes kids want to play here.”

The Vaqueros will play three games this weekend in Edinburg against Houston beginning at 6:30 tonight, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and at noon Sunday as part of the Al Ogletree Classic. Tickets can be purchased at GoUTRGV.com/Houston or in-person at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium box office.

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley infielder Erick Martinez (3) celebrates with teammate Jacob Sanchez (16) after defeating Houston Christian in a game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on Sunday, Feb.19 2023, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez

The turnaround has led to an uptick in attendance during Matlock’s tenure, proof of which can be found memorialized inside the UTRGV baseball team’s clubhouse with a drone shot of the stadium sold out for last season’s home game against the Texas Longhorns.

Edinburg Vela alumnus Isaac Lopez, who starts at second base for the Vaqueros, said the support from the community has made it an attractive place to play, not only for homegrown talent but also for players from cities and states everywhere.

“It’s awesome not just for the Valley guys, but for the guys coming in from different cities and states. They see the support we have from our community and it makes us want to put on a show for them, because they come out for us,” Lopez said.

College baseball players around the Western Athletic Conference and state of Texas have taken notice and transferred to UTRGV. Some have made instant impacts on this year’s squad.

Zerek Saenz played three seasons at New Mexico State and was an All-WAC first-team selection in 2021 as a junior, leading the Aggies in batting average, hits, triples, runs scored and walks. With one year left of eligibility, a run-in with former UTRGV baseball player-turned-volunteer analyst Jacob Hirsh at independent baseball league tryouts during the summer helped convince Saenz to bring his talents to UTRGV.

He’s now starting in center field for the Vaqueros and has nine hits, 12 runs scored, five RBIs and two home runs in eight starts this season.

“When I first got here I was, like, ‘Wow, I love this place.’ It’s only an hour away from South Padre Island, and I’ve never been this close to the beach before,” Saenz said. “Whenever I saw the culture and the fans everywhere when we would go watch volleyball and basketball games, the culture is just a lot different than New Mexico State. I just love this place so much, and I just love to be around fans that like to be part of the team, as well.”

Senior Roberto Gonzalez led Incarnate Word in hits, doubles and RBIs last season, playing in all 52 games. After transferring to UTRGV, Gonzalez has been leaned upon as the team’s designated hitter with seven hits and six RBIs in eight games this season.

Adrian Torres transferred from WAC school Grand Canyon to UTRGV and has made six starts in left field so far, and right-handed pitcher Alex Havlicek is in his first year with the Vaqueros after transferring from Sam Houston.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Kade York, left, throws to 1st base top of the 5th for a double play against Central Michigan’s Marquis Jackson, right, during a college baseball game at UTRGV baseball field ,Sunday, Feb.26, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

Shortstop Kade York went from junior college in Arizona to being an everyday starter for the Vaqueros this year. He’s recorded hits in eight straight games and said being a part of the program is something special.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it. It’s very new to me, but this is one of the most fun groups of guys I’ve ever been around,” he said. “They’re electric, always excited, and it’s a family now.”

The Vaqueros (6-2) are slated to welcome the Cougars (3-5) to the RGV with a three-game series beginning tonight. It’s Houston’s first trip to the Valley since Feb. 15, 1995.

EN ESPAÑOL

UTRGV announced plans to broadcast three Saturday baseball games in Spanish on Vallevisión Channel 8, a Televisa television station that transmits from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and can also be seen in the Rio Grande Valley.

Fans can catch the UTRGV baseball games against Houston on March 4, Tarleton on April 1, and Grand Canyon on May 13 on Vallevisión, with each telecast starting at 6:30 p.m. Hector Zapata and Luis Rubio will team up on the call for all three games.

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McALLEN — McAllen Memorial senior Thomas Domian was a three-year starter at left tackle on the Mustangs’ offensive line, a group known for running over, around and through opposing defenses.

Domian signed Thursday at McAllen Memorial High School to take his game to the next level at Blinn College in Brenham. Blinn is a National Junior College Athletic Association school that competes in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.

“Blinn is getting the same player that McAllen Memorial had — a tough student-athlete that puts it all on the line, no matter what,” he said.

Domian is a three-time all-district first-team selection, was voted the District 16-5A DI offensive lineman of the year in 2021 and named to the Texas Sports Writers Association 2021 Class 5A all-state second team.

He was The Monitor’s 2021 All-Area Offensive Lineman of the Year during his junior season and was named to The Monitor’s 2022 All-Area first team as a senior.

Domian stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs in at 295 pounds, competes in the shot put and discus, and was on the Memorial powerlifting team prior to this season. He puts it all together to be powerful yet nimble enough to dominate defenses in the running game while moving step-for-step with pass rushers.

Mustangs offensive line coach Robert Jasso called Domian a coach on the field due to his understanding of O-line play.

“I’m protecting the blindside of the quarterback, so he’s trusting in me, the coaches are trusting in me to make sure our quarterback stays safe and doesn’t get hurt. As the O-line, you control the game and that helps me,” he said. “We control the game, we set the tempo, and in my opinion, it’s the best position to play.”

Domian is the youngest of three brothers to suit up for the Mustangs’ football program. His older brothers, Tres and Daniel, helped pave the way, which motivated their younger brother to take what they did and push it farther. Tres played left tackle for the Mustangs and is the reason the younger Domian wore No. 70.

“My two older brothers, I would have to say, influenced me the most because I wanted to be better than them and more successful,” he said.

Domian started playing football in the third grade, made trips to San Antonio every other weekend to play in leagues in junior high and now will be attending Blinn with the hopes of going from junior college to Division I after a year or two.

He will study kinesiology at Blinn after earning all-state all-academic second-team honors as a senior.

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EDINBURG — Sharyland Pioneer powerlifter Ketny Nicoleau went 4-for-4 in breaking squat, bench press, deadlift and total weight records, in that order, at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Region V Division I Meet on Wednesday at Bert Ogden Arena.

Nicoleau squatted 405 pounds, bench-pressed 215 and deadlifted 385 for a total of 1,005 pounds, breaking previous regional highs of 370, 200, 355 and 885, respectively.

“I put in a lot of hard work and it paid off,” Nicoleau said with happy tears rolling down her face after breaking her fourth record of the day.

Sharyland Pioneer’s Ketny Nicoleau gets a hug from her coach as she broke the regional squat record during a Region V Girls Powerlifting Meet at Bert Ogden Arena Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

Nicoleau was among dozens of Rio Grande Valley powerlifters at the Region V Division I Meet who punched their ticket to the THSWPA Division I State Meet on March 15 and 18 in Frisco.

All eyes were on Nicoleau during each record-breaking attempt. What went through her mind prior to each lift was what matters most to Nicoleau, but during the lifts her focus was on locking it up.

“To be honest, I tell myself that God’s with me and he gives me strength. I’m doing this for him at the end of the day,” she said. “The support system I have goes through my mind — my parents, my coaches, my friends, it’s really a lot that goes through my head, but once I’m on the platform, it’s like, ‘Get it up!’”

Powerlifters qualified for the state meet in three ways: finishing in the top two in their respective weight class at the regional meet, reaching the weight class’ automatic qualifying total at the regional meet or being one of the top two lifters in their respective UIL classification at the regional meet.

Points are awarded for the top five finishes in this manner — 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1. Each lifter goes through three different sets of lifts — squat, bench press and deadlift. The total weight combined from the three lifts determines the winner.

Los Fresnos won the Class 6A regional team title with 54 points, including five first-place finishers. Edinburg High and Weslaco High tied for second in 6A with 23 points apiece.

Victoria West claimed first in Class 5A’s big school division with 36 points, followed by Weslaco East with 33 and Brownsville Veterans with 22.

Los Fresnos was led by first-place finishes from Clarissa Rodriguez (97 pound weight class), Tyler Martin (105 pounds), Hailey Martin (114 pounds), Anette Cardenas (123 pounds) and Kimberly Almazan (198 pounds).

Los Fresnos Tyler Martin pushes through on her lift during a Region V Girls Powerlifting Meet at Bert Ogden Arena Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

Weslaco East was the only other team with more than two first-place winners in Natalie Martinez (114 pounds), Nayeli Barrera (198 pounds) and Brianna Galvan (259-plus).

Edcouch-Elsa 132-pounder Georgina Alaniz joined in on the record-breaking fun by setting new regional highs of 450 pounds on squat, 405 pounds on deadlift and a total of 1,075.

The two-time state champ Alaniz and teammate Mia Gonzalez (165 pounds) helped lead Edcouch-Elsa to the Class 5A small school regional title with their first-place finishes, which added 14 points to the Yellow Jackets’ team total of 42. PSJA Memorial finished second with 23 points and Roma took third with 20 points.

Edcouch-Elsa’s Georgina Alaniz squats at the 2022 THSWPA State Championships in March 2022. Alaniz is a two-time state champion. Joel Martinez

“I’m very proud of my girls. We brought, like, 26 girls to regionals, compared to sophomore year, our actual team was 12 lifters and we competed at every single meet and we placed,” Alaniz said. “I’m proud of my team, proud of my coaches, everybody, we’re all here as family together.”

San Benito’s Jaslyn Estrella starred in the 259-plus class with a 1,205 total, 255 pounds more than the second-place finisher. She squatted 525, benched 270, deadlifted 410 and is headed to the state meet in two weeks as the top-ranked lifter in her weight class in Division I.

“I’ve had a lot of bumps in the road, but it feels good to be here,” Estrella said. “I just wanted to hit new personal records, and I think I did good. My nerves do tend to get to me, but I pushed them aside because I had to do what I had to do.”

San Benito’s Jaslyn Estrella powers through her lift during a Region V Girls Powerlifting Meet at Bert Ogden Arena Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

Victoria East’s Alyssa Sauceda ran away with the 181-pound weight class in the big school division with a 1,210 total that included setting a new bench press record at 290 pounds.

The THSWPA state meets are scheduled to run March 15-18 at the Comerica Center in Frisco.

Class 6A state qualifiers will compete in the afternoon of March 15. Class 5A DII qualifiers will lift the morning of March 18, with Class 5A DI slated for that afternoon.

A complete list of state qualifiers from Region V Division I can be found at RGVSports.com.

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FALFURRIAS — Santa Maria, the last Rio Grande Valley boys basketball team left standing in the UIL state playoffs, had its season come to an end in a 65-42 Region IV-2A quarterfinal loss to Port Aransas on Tuesday at Falfurrias High School.

The matchup between the two playoff teams pitted the No. 22 Cougars against the No. 15 Marlins, according to the latest Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 2A top 25 rankings.

Port Aransas came out flexing its muscle with a distinct size advantage and shooting from deep for a 13-4 lead after one.

Santa Maria responded with a furious second-quarter rally with 18 points. Cameron Wood sparked the cmeback with seven points during the second. Chris Ibarra helped slice the Port Aransas lead to 24-22 at the half after being fouled on a 3-point attempt and knocking down all three free throws.

It was all Marlins after the break, however. Port Aransas put together an 18-point third quarter and a 23-point fourth to bring an end to Santa Maria’s season.

Ibarra finished with a game-high 18 points and Wood chipped in with nine. Juan Morales, Matias Saldivar and Kiani Zamaniego all scored four points.

Port Aransas’ Kris Jones finished with 15 points and Jaden Harris had 14.

Port Aransas moves on to the Region IV-2A semifinal round this weekend in Buda.

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EDINBURG — UTRGV baseball made light work of a Houston Christian team coached by former Houston Astros and New York Yankees player Lance Berkman with a sweep in its season-opening series last week.

On deck was a No. 27-ranked Central Michigan squad, according to last week’s Collegiate Baseball Division I Poll, coming to the Valley for a five-game series from Tuesday through Sunday.

After playing even through the first four head-to-head matchups, the Vaqueros broke the tie with a convincing 8-1 victory over the Chippewas in Sunday’s series finale at UTRGV Baseball Stadium to win the series 3-2. The Vaqueros are now 6-2 overall.

“There were some really negative moments no doubt with our defense, but that stuff’s going to happen to you,” UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock said about errors in the two losses in the series. “We lost two games because we couldn’t pick the ball up, and that’s the pride of this program. We led the WAC in defense last year, we take pride in that. This field here, it ain’t easy to play on. It’s a dirt field, it’s older, got a few lips and we take pride in playing here and we didn’t do a good job and we got to get it fixed. We played a clean game today, threw strikes and that gives us a chance to win the game. What a good job by the whole team, offense from the top of the lineup to the bottom, just great pitching.”

Trailing 1-0 during the top of the fifth inning, UTRGV middle infielders Isaac Lopez and Kade York teamed up for the play of the game. The second baseman Lopez made a diving stop to his right and flipped the ball from his glove while on his stomach to the shortstop York for the tag at second. York caught it with his bare hand and threw to Brandon Pimentel at first base in time for the inning-ending double play.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Isaac Lopez, right, throws to Kade York,left, after a diving stop a the top of the 5th for a double play against Central Michigan during a college baseball game at UTRGV baseball field ,Sunday, Feb.26, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

“That was routine for us,” York said with a smile.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Kade York, left, throws to 1st base top of the 5th for a double play against Central Michigan’s Marquis Jackson, right, during a college baseball game at UTRGV baseball field ,Sunday, Feb.26, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

In the bottom half of that same inning, the Vaqueros offense broke through.

Incarnate Word transfer Roberto Gonzalez singled to lead off the fifth, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a groundout. York then brought him in with a base hit up the middle to tie the game at 1. Center fielder Zerek Saenz followed up with a double to score York from first to make it 2-1.

Lopez drew a walk and right fielder Montclair Cain blasted a triple to right center field to bring in two more UTRGV runs. Brandon Pimentel hit an RBI groundout to shortstop to score Cain for the Vaqueros’ fifth run of the fifth inning.

Lopez added one more run with an RBI during the seventh inning, and a York double scored Steven Lancia and Edinburg Vela alumnus RJ Ochoa during the eighth for the Vaqueros’ eight runs.

York finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run. The Edinburg Vela alumnus Lopez went 2-for-3 with one RBI, one run and one walk. They both have eight-game hitting streaks to start the 2023 season.

“For me, when I’m struggling, a bunt for a hit is what I’m going to do, and when I do that, all of a sudden I become the best hitter. When I believe in myself, when my team believes in me, it’s easy,” York said.

Saenz scored two runs and had one RBI off 3-for-5 hitting and Cain had two RBIs off two hits, including the triple.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Colten Davis, releases a pitch against Central Michigan during a college baseball game at UTRGV baseball field ,Sunday, Feb.26, 2023, in Edinburg,Texas. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez

UTRGV starter Colten Davis (1-0) was in command of the first six innings against CMU, limiting the Chippewas to one run off four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Edinburg Vela alumnus Nico Rodriguez earned the save by pitching three shutout innings, finishing with five strikeouts while allowing two hits and one walk.

The Vaqueros are back in action with three games against Houston this weekend in the Al Ogletree Classic beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg. Game 2 between UTRGV and Houston is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The series finale is slated for noon Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. The games can also be streamed online on ESPN+.

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EDINBURG — On a day UTRGV sophomore guard Iyana Dorsey crossed the 1,000-point scoring mark for her career, it was her defense that helped save the day for the Vaqueros.

Dorsey came up with a block and a steal that turned into a layup on back-to-back defensive possessions in overtime to help lift the Vaqueros 65-61 against the Sam Houston Bearkats on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg.

It was also Senior Day for UTRGV, which honored Halie Jones, Tiffany McGarity, Burcu Soysal, Jena’ Williams and student assistant Ashleigh Lopez prior to tipoff. The Vaqueros improved to 11-16 overall and 5-11 in Western Athletic Conference play.

“It was just a gutsy performance. Sam Houston can really sit down and guard, they’re physical and faster than greased lightning, and all those things put together, but I thought we were tougher in the fourth quarter,” UTRGV head coach Lane Lord said. “We outrebounded them, played really good team defense and made a couple plays when we had to late.”

The Vaqueros entered the fourth quarter down by eight but erased that deficit to force an extra five minutes of action. Dorsey scored six of her game-high 20 points during the fourth quarter and overtime, along with the two key defensive stops when she had four fouls.

A free throw during the second quarter by Dorsey put her over the 1,000-point mark for her career after two seasons at Tarleton and this season with UTRGV.

“I just remember Coach Lord saying, Don’t get in your head,’ because I play with a lot of emotion, so when something goes bad for me it’s hard for me to just kind of let it go, but I knew to win this game that’s what I needed to do,” Dorsey said. “I was not really lucky but got lucky on those last ones, didn’t get a foul or anything. I played as hard as I could and it worked out in our favor.”

And on Senior Day, each of Jones, McGarity, Soysal and Williams chipped in after receiving ceremonial starts.

“Every one of them contributed today,” Lord said. “Burcu probably had her best game in the first half, Halie was outstanding, Jena’ was outstanding, Tiff did some really good things, too, so couldn’t be any sweeter.”

Jones was pivotal to UTRGV’s success late. She scored 10 points, came away with five rebounds, three steals and the highest plus-minus of the game at plus-19.

“It was so fun. I’d choose this any day over a blowout game,” Jones said. “It really challenges who you are as a person, as a player and as a team, and it’s nice to know going into our last two games in conference that we can overcome adversity anytime.”

Williams finished with nine points and five assists, Charlotte O’Keefe had nine points and six boards, and McGarity had six.

The Vaqueros will hit the road for their final two games of the regular season. UTRGV will face Utah Valley at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Orem, Utah, and California Baptist at 8 p.m. Thursday in Riverside, California. The games can be streamed online on ESPN+.

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FALFURRIAS — McAllen High returned one player from its Elite Eight and Sweet 16 teams from 2021 and 2022, yet found a way to qualify for the postseason as the No. 4 seed from District 31-5A.

They then knocked off District 32-5A champion Harlingen South in overtime during the bi-district round Tuesday before falling 57-30 against the Corpus Christi Veterans Eagles on Friday at Falfurrias High School.

The Bulldogs’ season ends at 19-18 overall.

“They exceed our expectations as a coaching staff. The way the season started, with all these kids and only having one returner from last year’s group, I thought it was going to be a rough year,” McAllen High head coach Ryan Flores said. “We started off rough, but these guys, I got to commend them — they’re very coachable, they work hard in practice and do all they can for me on the court, and this is the result. I can’t be more proud of these guys for their effort and the energy they bring every single day.”

McAllen High’s Mario Villegas (2) drives to the basket against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Sean Mondragon (15) in a Region IV-5A area round play game at Falfurrias High School on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Falfurrias. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez

Senior guard Erasmo Alvarado was the only returning contributor and led the Bulldogs with 11 points against the Eagles. Mario Villegas scored seven points and Dylan Benavidez had six.

Alvarado will graduate with eight playoff wins under his belt the past three seasons.

“With these guys, even though they were young and inexperienced, (Alvarado) was the one that I usually expected a lot more. I used him as an example all the time. ‘You’ve been here, you’ve been in tough games, you need to help me on the court and with the younger guys,’” Flores said. “Erasmo kind of just led us, especially in the Rowe games, in the first round against Harlingen South. We’re not supposed to be here. All this is extra experience, and I’m just glad we end the season with us making the playoffs and being bi-district champs.”

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FALFURRIAS — Edinburg Vela hung tough against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff in its Region IV-5A area-round playoff matchup, but the Hornets’ size proved to be too much to handle late as the SaberCats lost 53-37 on Friday at Falfurrias High School.

The District 31-5A champion SaberCats end their season 25-14 overall and 16-2 in league play.

“It was a tough matchup. I think their size overwhelmed us a little bit in finishes we were accustomed to finishing. They altered those shots, and that had an effect in the game,” Edinburg Vela head coach Lucio Rodriguez said.

The SaberCats had good looks early that rimmed out or took Hornets bounces, leading to a 13-point Flour Bluff lead entering the fourth quarter. The SaberCats put together one last run to pull within seven at 38-31 with four minutes left in the game before Flour Bluff pulled away.

“It’s a make-or-miss game. That’s the name of the game and we missed our good looks today that we usually make, but that’s part of the game — you make some, you miss some,” Rodriguez said.

Edinburg Vela’s Axel Garza finished with a team-high 18 points. EJ Avelar had seven, Aiden Lopez scored six and Sam Sepulveda chipped in four off the SaberCats’ bench.

Edinburg Vela will return four of its five starters next season along with key reserves and will look to build off this year’s district title and valuable playoff experience.

“It’s going to be a process. There’s a lot of stuff we have to work on, like every year,” Rodriguez said. “These guys, I hope they’re committed to the offseason and the progress that we need to make to get past the second round next year.“

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Pharr native Victor “The Brick” Martinez has climbed the mixed martial arts ladder and is set to fight Saturday on the UFC Vegas 70: Krylov vs. Spann fight card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Martinez (13-4) will fight in a three-round lightweight bout against Jordan Leavitt (10-2) during the prelims, which are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The main card, headlined by light heavyweights Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann, starts at 6 p.m. The prelims and main card can be streamed on ESPN+.

Martinez will enter the octagon Saturday as a winner of seven fights in a row. Eight of his 13 wins have come by knockout with three first-round finishes.

Victor “The Brick” Martinez

Martinez landed a UFC contract by beating Jacob Rosales by unanimous decision on Dana White’s Contender Series on Sept. 21, 2021. He set a Dana White’s Contender Series lightweight record in that fight with 144 significant strikes landed.

Martinez trains out of Team Ferreira BJJ in Pharr, which is owned by UFC fighter Carlos Diego Ferreira. He also trains with Fortis MMA and coach Sayif Saud out of Dallas.

He’s previously fought under the South Texas Fighting Championships, Combate Americas and Fury Fighting Championships banners.

Twitter: @bybryanramos – Email: [email protected]

EDINBURG — Edinburg Vela graduated all five starters and the team’s top 10 scorers from last year’s District 31-6A championship squad.

An entirely new group of SaberCats stepped into key roles this season and found a way to uphold the winning tradition set at Edinburg Vela by bringing home the District 31-5A championship.

“It’s a new group on the floor, so I’m proud of what they were able to accomplish this year. They bought into what we’re trying to do. They bought into their roles, they bought into being a team and they were able to see the fruits of their labor with a district championship,” Vela head coach Lucio Rodriguez said.

Add a bi-district win to the fruits of their labor for this year’s Edinburg Vela team that is coming off a 54-47 playoff victory against Brownsville Pace on Tuesday in Round 1.

Now, Edinburg Vela is preparing for an area-round test against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at 6 p.m. today at Falfurrias High School. McAllen High also is set to play against Corpus Christi Veterans in an area-round playoff game at 8 p.m., also at Falfurrias High School.

“We’re a young team and there were a lot of spots open, so we had to fill a lot of shoes. At the beginning of the season, we had a lot of games against tough teams, so we took those losses to grow as a team to get better so we can compete in our district and the playoffs,” junior guard EJ Avelar said.

Edinburg Vela’s EJ Avelar (10) drives to the basket against PSJA North in a District 31-5A game at PSJA North High School on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Pharr. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez

The SaberCats put together a 23-15 overall record and a 16-2 mark in league play to win District 31-5A.

Junior forward Axel Garza has come into his own as a versatile threat who can play down low, but also has the skills to bring the ball up the floor and hit teammates for good looks. He can also shoot from deep, including a pair of big 3s during an 8-0 fourth-quarter scoring run by himself in the win against Pace on Tuesday.

He’s averaging 15.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He credited Rodriguez for giving the SaberCats a solid foundation of which to build.

“I wasn’t always like this — I was a chubby, little post,” Garza said. “It was toward my sophomore year, I kind of grew and kept working on my handles. It allowed me to help my team out and, little by little, they kind of put their trust in me and said, ‘You’re our best scorer, here’s the ball,’ so I try to take pressure off of them and help us out anyway I can.”

Avelar ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game while also grabbing 4.3 rebounds. He’s also taken the role of Vela’s defensive stopper on the perimeter, often tasked with guarding the opposition’s top scorer.

Sophomore guard JP Olivarez is in his first year with the SaberCats after transferring from Edcouch-Elsa. He’s put up 8.8 points and 3.8 assists a night. The way he knifes through defenses to attack the paint and draw attention to himself opens things for everyone else on the floor wearing a Vela jersey.

“I try to put them in the best position to get the ball in the hole,” he said.

Edinburg Vela’s JP Olivarez (3) attempts a basket against PSJA North in a District 31-5A game at PSJA North High School on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Pharr. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martine

Jonathan Campos is the only senior starter on the team and mans the center position along with Aiden Lopez, which allows Garza to play inside and out. Sam Sepulveda is scoring 6.5 points per game and gives the SaberCats another solid option at the guard spot.

The SaberCats will have to be at their best when they face Flour Bluff in the area round. The Hornets (25-11, 8-2) finished third in District 29-5A and defeated Laredo Martin 47-28 in Round 1 to set up the area matchup against Edinburg Vela.

“They’re an aggressive team. They got some bigger guys, so we’re going to prepare and we’re going to be ready,” Avelar said.

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