KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN— The start of the new year rings in a new challenge for the San Perlita Trojans and the Harlingen Cardinals.

Both teams, which entered the new season with high expectations and in search of the postseason once again, will tipoff today at 2:30 p.m. at Harlingen High.

Neither San Perlita nor Harlingen has begun district play but today’s matchup will be a rare treat for basketball fans. The Cards are directed by first-year head coach Clayton Cretors, who took over longtime coach Greg Yates who retired last season.

Harlingen High is currently 12-10 on the year, but has lost two straight to Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial and McAllen High. Big Red does have some signature wins under their belt, however, knocking off Edinburg High, Pace and beating Edinburg Vela twice.

“The team is working hard and is a very enthusiastic bunch,” Cretors said. “We are dealing with some injures right now, which is giving some opportunities to non-starters. Hopefully, this extra experience will help us during district play.”

A few key pieces for the Cards have been Eric Quilantan, Mike Vasquez and Mike Castillo. The trio will have their hands full as they welcome in the Trojans, whose run-and-gun offense is led by senior Tige Johnson.

“We are expecting a competitive game,” Cretors said. “San Perlita is a team that is battle-tested and is very well coached. They have a very talented player in Johnson, who is a great rim protector and knows how to put the ball in the hoop.”

The Trojans are hungry for another shot at a 6A squad after taking down San Benito earlier this season and will prepare for Hanna on Saturday.

Along with Johnson are fellow senior EJ Nieto, sophomore Ely Terry and junior James Herrera. The Trojans are currently 16-6 on the year and, like Harlingen High, have a few big wins under their belt, beating Santa Rosa and West Oso earlier in the season.

“Coming into the season, there was a lot of question marks with the team since half of the team was brand new to the varsity level,” said Trojans coach Nataniel Garza. “There were a lot of roles that needed to be filled but up to this point, I am extremely proud of my team on how hard they play and compete each day.”

On the girls’ side, Rio Hondo will meet their toughest challenge yet in defending District 32-4A champion Hidalgo.

Both teams enter tonight’s matchup with 2-0 records, but Rio Hondo comes in with a little motivation and confidence.

Earlier this year, Rio Hondo won the Tommie Wiseman Tournament and had a strong showing at the Los Fresnos tournament this past weekend.

“Hidalgo is a perennial powerhouse in basketball,” said Rio Hondo coach Victor Sauceda. “They have been good for as long as I can remember. In order to be considered on their level, you have to beat them. I feel our tournament and non-district schedules have made us battled-tested and prepared us to face a team like Hidalgo.”

The Lady ’Cats will travel to Hidalgo tonight, with the tipoff set for 6:30 p.m.

Other games in 32-4A include boys and girls doubleheaders with Port Isabel is at Raymondville and Progreso at La Feria. In District 32-3A action, the Lyford teams will face Pharr Vanguard, with the Lady Bulldogs on the road and the Bulldogs playing host. Elsewhere in the district, the Santa Rosa boys will host Weslaco IDEA Pike.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Harlingen South senior Mikela Mireles first stepped onto a volleyball court when she was in seventh grade, trying out a new sport that her mom once played.

Mireles also played basketball and softball, and little did she know volleyball would become her passion and first love.

“I started playing in middle school, and I did it just to try it,” Mireles said. “My mom played it, and I gave it a shot and I fell in love with it. I just had a feeling when I played volleyball. It just was so much fun, and it made me happy.”

Mireles fueled Harlingen South in 2019. The hard-hitter accounted for 725 kills, 540 digs, 41 aces and 36 blocks, helping to guide South to a second straight playoff appearance and a second straight bi-district title.

Thanks to the strong season, she has been named the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Volleyball Most Valuable Player for a second straight year.

“This means the absolute world to me, knowing that all the work has paid off,” Mireles said, “and I never thought I’d be here. When I first started playing it was just for fun, and now I’m looking forward to playing at the next level.”

Last year, Mireles was tabbed MVP as a junior, racking up 602 kills, 513 digs, 35 aces and 30 blocks. This year, she improved on each of those statistics and cemented herself as one of the most feared hitters in the Rio Grande Valley.

“I was shocked when I saw how many kills I had this year,” Mireles said. “This year we finished games a lot quicker than we did last year, but we also played more games. It was a lot of hard work, and I knew I needed to step up as a senior to help get my team to where we needed to be.”

The road to back-to-back MVPs wasn’t an easy one for Mireles. Her sophomore year, she suffered a torn ACL in the middle of district play that sidelined her for the rest of the season.

South coach Anissa Lucio used one word to describe Mireles.

“She is determined, that would be the first word I would use to describe her,” Lucio said. “She is a competitor, and when she torn her ACL, to see her struggle and go through that and to see her comeback was amazing. She never looked back. She didn’t think of her injury, she just wanted to get better each day and she did that.”

Mireles helped revive the Lady Hawks’ volleyball program throughout her time there. During her sophomore year, South missed out on the postseason and won only two district games. While grey skies loomed, the big picture was in place for Mireles and the Lady Hawks.

“At first we weren’t sure, but once we saw Coach Lucio and how she did things, we knew that she knew what she was doing,” Mireles said. “We just followed in her footsteps and listened to what she had to teach us, and it all worked out.”

Valley Morning Star 2019 All-STAR Volleyball Team

Superlatives

Most Valuable Player

Mikela Mireles, Harlingen South

Setter of the year

Mya Aguirre, Harlingen South

Newcomer of the year

Juli Bryant, Harlingen High

Libero of the year

Karla Medina, Lyford

Offensive player of the year

Sierra Salinas, La Feria

Coach of the year

Criselda Rubalcaba

First team

Elanie Coronado, Harlingen High; Evelyn Yanez, Harlingen South; Karime Rojas, San Perlita; Modesta Garcia, San Perlita; Kayleen May, Lyford; Juliet Salce, Santa Rosa; Zoe Garcia, Harlingen South; Hailey Rodriguez, San Benito

Second team

Kelsey Pizarro, Rio Hondo; Aliceana Thompson, Raymondville; Jeno Ochoa, La Feria; Alexandra Ramirez, Harlingen High; Clarisa Gonzalez, Lyford; Desiree Guerra, Santa Rosa; Megan Kinney, San Perlita; Alexis Rhyner, Rio Hondo

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Harlingen South senior Mya Aguirre was described as the glue that held everything together.

The savvy veteran excelled at the setter position for the Lady Hawks, helping to set up the offense and feed one of the Rio Grande Valley’s top hitters in Mikela Mireles.

Aguirre wasn’t just a setter, but a utility weapon on the court for Harlingen South. Her 2019 season was her best yet, as she recorded 497 assists, 408 kills, 411 digs, 25 aces and 15 blocks.

Aguirre’s ability to read the defense and set up the offense, and the ability to do multiple things on the court helped her earn the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Volleyball Setter of the Year award.

“It means a lot to win this,” Aguirre said. “Setters don’t get recognized too often so we don’t get the attention, and I’d like to say we do a lot. Hitters get the attention for anyone watching volleyball, so the appreciation for setters goes out the window,” Aguirre said. “Speaking for all setters, though, we are what set up the hitters for them to get that amazing kill. I think that recognizing the setter position is special.”

Coach Anissa Lucio utilized her talent and put her in a position to help direct the offense.

“She was the glue that kept us together,” Lucio said. “She touched every ball for us as a setter, and when she came to the front row she was a hitter for us and we wanted to feed her the ball. She did everything. On both offense and defense, she found a way to contribute.”

One of Aguirre’s standout moments was Oct. 1 at Harlingen High. Aguirre took the court with the flu and did not disappoint. She helped the Lady Hawks sweep over their crosstown rivals and delivered 13 kills, nine assists and 15 digs in a win her team regards as the flu game.

Aguirre’s effort was one of many traits she had on and off the court. Aguirre and Mireles will graduate this spring, but they have left their mark on Lady Hawks volleyball by resetting the standard.

“It will be tough losing both Mya and Mikela but I’m excited for their next chapter, and they are both actively looking to play at the college level. I really think they both will excel at the next level, and I’m ready to see what they do.” Lucio said.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Senior Sierra Salinas’ first sport is volleyball.

It is something Salinas has a great passion for, and being able to play for La Feria was a special time for her. Salinas took in her senior year and made the most of it, and the evidence was seen on the court.

Salinas has been tabbed as the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Offensive Player of the Year.

During the past few years, La Feria leaned on Myah Salas and Karina Diaz, who made an impact on the Lionettes’ program. This year was Salinas’ turn to lead the ship, and she did not disappoint.

“I have played this game for eight years,” Salinas said. “I love this game, and when I go up and get that juicy hit there is just something that lights up in me, and I love it.”

Salinas was a key piece for the Lionettes — who made a playoff appearance — collecting 56 assists, 624 digs and 369 kills.

“Offensively I felt like I did good,” Salinas said. “This year as a senior, I stepped up when it came to a leadership role. On defense, too, I was able to do well. I played all the way around, so I adjusted to that.”

Throughout the offseason, Salinas learned different techniques. She worked on her craft to help keep opponents guessing when it came to her offensive attack.

“Before I would just hit, hit and hit, so I learned to palm the ball, with a tip or off-speed,” Salinas said. “I would just hit and teams would adjust, so I knew I had to mix it up and keep teams guessing.”

Salinas carried on the tradition that was left before her and left a message for the younger girls in the program.

“It takes a lot of work to be able to carry on the tradition here,” Salinas said. “Most of the girls I played with are underclassmen, and I see the potential in them. Just the way the older girls once looked at me. After the season we had our senior goodbyes, and I just told the girls they can be great and to believe in themselves. The seniors next year need to step up, the same way I did this year.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Karla Medina was on the varsity squad for Lyford her junior year, but she was soft-spoken and just played the game.

Her senior year, however, was a different story.

Medina was one of five returners this fall, and Medina returned to her role at libero and helped guide Lyford to a 20-11 overall record and a 14-4 district record. Medina emerged as a leader on the court and turned in her strongest season, recording 179 digs, 29 aces, 118 attacks and 23 kills.

Medina has been named the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Volleyball Libero of the Year.

“It is a great privilege to win this award,” Medina said. “I didn’t know what to expect when I came in my freshman year, I didn’t play libero, but I came in and learned the position. Coach (Lisa) Lancaster taught me the position and she asked me to play the position my junior year, and I was excited and it was a privilege.”

Lancaster saw Medina grow from one year to the next and described her as an improved player form her junior year to her senior year.

“Last year she was more reserved, but this year she was more confident and was able to give the girls feedback because she had that returning role,” Lancaster said. “Last year she was second-team in our district and was a consistent starter for us, and now was able to win libero of the year and getting first-team in the district this year. So, something changed from last year till now, and she has been more successful.”

Medina’s position change from the back row to libero was a challenging one, but one she knew she could do.

“I had already played back row before, so I had experience with that,” Medina said. “Now that I was a libero I knew I was going to be in for most of the game and I would have to react a lot quicker, but I was OK with that.”

Medina, who also plays softball, took in her time as a Lady Bulldogs player but also felt the heartbreak with her senior year coming to a close.

“This being my senior year, it was heartbreaking,” Medina said. “The team that I had, we all got along and we loved each other. We had a bond, so when we got on the court we knew that we had each other’s backs. As a libero I played with all of the girls, and I loved every single one of them.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — For Criselda Rubalcaba, taking over the San Perlita volleyball program was something she wasn’t too sure about. She was nervous but felt the program needed consistency and a fresh start.

After her arrival, Rubalcaba guided the Lady Trojans to the playoffs during her first two years. This year was a banner year for her and the Lady Trojans, as they won a district title and reached the third round of the playoffs.

“I think the girls needed consistency, and I felt they needed someone they could rely on and I felt I could do that,” Rubalcaba said. “When the opportunity presented itself, I took it.”

With the strong season, she was named the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Volleyball Coach of the Year.

“It was a privilege and honor to coach these girls,” Rubalcaba said. “It is a blessing to receive this award, but all the honor and glory goes to the girls because they were the ones who put in all the work.”

In her first year, Rubalcaba went 17-14 overall with a 7-5 record, and San Perlita lost in the bi-district round of the playoffs. During her second year, the Lady Trojans took a step forward with a strong 25-6 overall record, and they went 11-1 in district play.

It was evident the Lady Trojans bought in on their new coach and put together a strong 2019 season.

“The first year was a little rough for the kids to buy in,” Rubalcaba said. “There hadn’t been too much consistency, but it was a challenge. But once they got bought in, it took time but they bought in. Over the summer is when I saw the girls take that next step. Our numbers weren’t too good, but our numbers grew over the summer.”

Rubalcaba, who is from Raymondville, has eight years of teaching experience and now two years of coaching experience.

“I was very nervous when I first started,” Rubalcaba said. “I wasn’t sure if I was the right person for the job or if I was capable, but once I got into it I was fortunate to receive help from the other coaches. They helped me anytime I struggled. There is always a helping hand in San Perlita.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

LA FERIA — Rio Hondo and La Feria entered Friday’s game looking for a 2-0 district start.

After a sluggish beginning from both teams, it was the Lady Bobcats’ hot shooting and defense that made the difference in a 34-28 win over the Lionettes.

The Lady Bobcats and Lionettes entered the second quarter tied at 9. Rio Hondo’s Amanda Gomez drilled a 3-pointer that set the tone in the period. The 3-ball became contagious, as Natalie Martinez and Eliza Rodriguez followed with shots of their own to help fuel a 12-4 run that added up to an 18-13 lead.

“I was hoping that run would continue,” Rio Hondo coach Victor Sauceda said. “We had a lot of open looks but the shots weren’t falling, and I told the girls when the shots aren’t falling we have to find another way to score. The kids did a good job on compacting the paint and it is hard to drive in, but we have to learn how to adjust because teams are going to throw different stuff at us. So we will learn from this and move forward.”

Rodriguez finished with a game-high 11 points for the Lady Bobcats, Martinez scored nine points and Gomez scored six key points and Estrella Garza also had six points.

Both offenses were stale during the third period, with Rio Hondo only netting two points and La Feria six points. Along with the cold shooting, La Feria couldn’t overcome the turnovers.

“Our girls executed the game plan and played well defensively,” La Feria coach Angel Martinez said. “Rio Hondo is a team that scores a lot of points, and we had a game plan defensively coming in and we knew what they had. They have good shooters and are a full-court defensive team and they like to bring pressure, and for most of the night we were able to handle that pressure.”

For La Feria, Alani Garza scored a team-high seven points, Sabrina Castaneda finished with six and Maggie Cavazos scored five.

Rio Hondo next shifts its focus to the Los Fresnos tournament, then they will meet Mercedes and pick district play back up against Hidalgo, which also is 2-0 in 32-4A.

“To start off 2-0 in district is great, and we want to continue this and finish strong,” Gomez said. “We want to keep getting better as the season goes on. Tonight when I was warming up I was hitting my 3s, and when I got the ball tonight I felt good when I shot.”

La Feria will look to rebound when it takes on Progreso. The loss puts La Feria at a 1-1 record early in the district season.

“I give credit to Rio Hondo, they are a good pressure team and have good defenders,” Martinez said. “We just need to execute the offense, and at times tonight we did execute on offense. We just made careless mistakes and mental mistakes with our passes, and that was our biggest thing tonight. If we can correct those turnovers, I think we win this ballgame.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville Veterans Memorial tipped off District 32-5A play with a bang.

The Lady Chargers hit their first three shots from three-point range, and their hot shooting was led by the trio of JuJu Alvarez, Bry Butureira and Lizzy Garza in a 60-32 win over Brownsville Pace on Tuesday night.

“Starting off with a win in district is important,” Lady Chargers coach Arnold Torres said. “What we wanted to do was get off to a great start, and the girls were able to do that defensively. We were able to transition into easy baskets, and that was a good starting point for the game.”

The Lady Chargers raced out to an 11-0 lead. Pace eventually found the rim and trailed 13-2.

Along with the crisp shooting came the defense that forced Pace into multiple turnovers, and Brownsville Veterans extended its lead to 22-4 to end the first quarter.

“We had been struggling with our shot the last few games,” Torres said. “So being able to hit shots early gave the girls the confidence that we needed and that translated to the defensive pressure. But it was a great start. It motivated the girls and gave them confidence.”

Garza netted a team-high 16 points, Alvarez scored 12 and Butureira finished with 10. The Lady Chargers travel to Donna High on Friday seeking a 2-0 start in district.

“Tonight’s win was fun,” Alvarez said. “That is one thing we wanted to come out and do. We had some tough preseason games along the way and we took some tough losses, but we feel it prepared us for district and we have been working hard these past few weeks.”

During the third quarter, the Lady Chargers picked up where they left off and outscored Pace 17-5. Garza led the Brownsville Veterans offense with eight third-quarter points.

Pace managed to post 16 points during the fourth quarter and shot much better from the floor. Pricilla Garcia led all scorers with 21 points. She hit four 3-pointers during the final period, netted 15 points in the quarter.

Pace now shifts its focus to Edcouch-Elsa on Friday night.

“We felt ready and prepared when we came into the game tonight,” Alvarez said. “We give each other pep talks, and I think that helped us, and it was also our district opener, too, so that got us going. When we started hitting all those 3s we felt great, and we just kept it going.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

LA FERIA — Corpus Christi Miller shook off a slow start and leaned on senior Rahene Nedd — who scored a game-high 16 points — to rally for a 50-38 win over Corpus Christi West Oso on Saturday in the championship game of the 89th C.E. Vail Tournament.

Nedd was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Teammate Luis Brian scored nine points and Malik Edwards added two in the win, and both were named to the all-tournament team.

“Winning this means my hard work has paid off,” Nedd said. “Nothing I did in the offseason went to waste, and it showed on the court. Right now I feel good, and as a leader on the court I feel I need to help set the tone.”

The Buccaneers fell behind 12-5 early and later trailed 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. West Oso got off to a strong start on offense, and AJ Lopez helped lead the attack with seven first-quarter points. He finished with a team-high 13 points.

After a lackluster first quarter, Nedd found his groove and led an 11-2 run during the final two minutes of the first half. He scored 10 second-quarter points to give his team a 33-25 lead at halftime.

“I knew that as time progressed, we would have an opportunity to gain some momentum,” Miller coach Maurice Bastian said. “West Oso is a young ballclub, so we knew we had to stick to our game plan and play hard and execute as much as possible.”

Miller didn’t slow down in the second half. They continued their hot shooting and outscoring West Oso 10-3 during the third quarter.

Miller has 11 players who also play football. Bastian is now getting a majority of his team back after the school’s football team went three rounds deep in the playoffs, and playing in the Vail gave the Bucs an opportunity to get into basketball shape.

“We are still behind, and we have only had about four practices,” Bastian said. “But as far as today’s game, we knew it would be a tough one and it was. West Oso is a neighborhood battle. We have had many classic battles with them.”

The Buccaneers are no stranger to the Vail, either. Their last trip to the finals was in 2017, when they lost 60-42 to Harlingen High. Saturday’s win marked their first Vail title since the 2012 season, when they beat Sharyland High 50-43.

“This is a historic tournament with a lot of tradition,” Bastian said. “Especially around this time. Ninety percent of my players play football, so this tournament allows us to work on some things, and we know the quality of play will always be constant. We were just happy to come down here and play.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

LA FERIA — After suffering a tournament-opening loss to La Joya High on Thursday, Rio Hondo rebounded with a win against Kingsville King and, on Friday, the Bobcats picked up right where they left off.

Jabez Villarreal continued his tear and scored a game-high 21 points, Zachariah Rios netted 19 points and John Ayala scored 11 points as Rio Hondo relied on their shooting and aggressive play to earn a 87-41 win over Monte Alto in the consolation semifinals at the C.E. Vail tournament.

The Bobcats play La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in the consolation final at noon today.

“We picked up where we left off, and I liked the intensity that the kids came out with today,” Rio Hondo coach Mike Alvarez said. “I told the kids we didn’t want to have a repeat of (Thursday), where we came out sluggish. I thought the boys came out strong and we dictated the pace of the game, and when we can do that I think we are a tough team to play with.”

During the past two games, the Bobcats got off to slow starts. But Friday, Rio Hondo jumped out to a quick 17-9 lead during the first period. Ayala, Rios and Villarreal carried the offense in the quarter as the trio combined for 18 points.

Monte Alto, however, closed the gap during the second quarter, cutting the lead to 30-22. Von Cavazos drilled a pair of 3-pointers to keep his team in the game. Cavazos finished with a team-high 11 points, and teammate Raul Mancillas scored 10 points.

“Monte Alto hit some tough shots,” Alvarez said. “Much credit to them. At times we felt like we were up by a lot but we looked at the scoreboard and we were only up by a few points. They shot the ball well in the first half. It was in the second half they got cold and we were able to take advantage of it.”

After Monte Alto cut into the lead, the Bobcats responded with a 14-4 run to end the first half and held a cozy 48-28 lead and did not look back.

“Our team chemistry is continuing to build, we just need to keep working,” Rios said. “Sometimes we go through some rough patches, but we will keep moving forward and working as a team. For me, my confidence is up when it comes to my shooting. Last year I wasn’t too confident, but as a team right now we are feeling much better.”

After Thursday’s drumming of Raymondville, Santa Rosa took a step back Friday. The Warriors lost 57-39 to Corpus Christi West Oso in their quarterfinal.

Cameron Williams netted 12 points and AJ Lopez scored 11 to help West Oso win.

The Warriors got off to a slow start, quickly falling behind 19-9 after the first period, and could not recover. David Bazaldua led the offense with 16 points, and CJ Olivarez scored 10 points. After a 25-point performance Thursday, Mike Bermea finished Friday’s game with five points.

The Warriors meet Edcouch-Elsa at 10:30 a.m. today in the consolation bracket.