DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

KINGSVILLE — Friday’s Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal game between Wharton and Hidalgo was a quirky one.

Wharton earned a 57-43 win at Texas A&M University-Kingsville thanks to a dominant 21-6 first quarter. The Tigers (30-6) were fast and aggressive, and that overwhelmed the Pirates (31-6) in that first frame.

But Wharton, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, curiously eased off the pressure the final three quarters, allowing Hidalgo, ranked No. 19, back in the game. The Pirates became the aggressors, outscoring the Tigers 28-23 in the middle quarters and twice cutting the deficit below double digits in the fourth.

Still, Wharton’s depth (10 players played at least 10 minutes, and coach Matt Brown subs in five-man waves every 2-3 minutes) proved the final blow, as well as cold shooting from the Pirates (32.6 percent) and missed chances (9 of 17 on free throws).

“I think we were just tired,” Hidalgo coach Gus Sanchez said. “You really have to work hard against that team, and I think fatigue just got the best of us.

“Shots we’re used to seeing go in were falling short.”

The first quarter ultimately proved to be the backbreaker for the Pirates.

Wharton jumped out to as much as a 17-point lead and had Hidalgo out of sorts offensively. The Pirates had nine turnovers in the period, and the Tigers turned those gifts into easy buckets at the other end.

Wharton had 23 points off Hidalgo’s 21 turnovers.

“We had to adjust to their speed,” said Hidalgo senior guard Frankie Sanchez, Gus’ nephew. “They were fast, trapping hard and quick. That surprised us.”

The sight, however, was a pleasure for Brown.

“We came out with an intensity we didn’t have the first three rounds of the playoffs,” Brown said. “It was really nice to see us come out, get going, make some shots and ease the jitters. We calmed down early and that was big.”

Hidalgo did a better job beating the trap the rest of the way, and Wharton, for some reason, pulled back on its pressure, seemingly willing to ride its initial wave to a win.

But Frankie Sanchez, the leading scorer in the Valley, kept the Pirates close, hitting tough shot after tough shot, the only Pirate eager to challenge the Wharton defense. Not even a minute into the fourth quarter, Hidalgo trailed just 44-36.

“That’s a solid team,” Brown said of the Pirates. “They play hard, play together and they’re aggressive. We knew there would be no quit in them, and they’ve got one of the best backcourts I’ve seen. No. 20 (Sanchez) still made some shots, but we tried our best. They were contested shots.”

Fittingly, Wharton had the final say. The Tigers closed the game on a 13-7 run. Sanchez ran out of gas, finishing with 19 points and five rebounds, and he had no help other than backcourt mate Michael Espinoza (11 points).

No other Pirate scored more than 4 points, whereas the Tigers had five players score at least 6, led by Jesse Garza’s 11.

“We did a better job in the second half, but they had a five-in, five-out rotation and we just have a seven-man rotation,” Frankie Sanchez said. “We got tired.”

Frankie and Gus shared a long embrace after the game, emotionally drained, the two closing a storied run for the Pirates. Each of the last two seasons, Hidalgo finished its season ranked in state and a regional semifinalist.

As this particular chapter ends for the Pirates, it had a bit more meaning for the Sanchezes.

“He’s grown from a little kid, dribbling the ball around at 6 years old, to now a grown man,” Gus Sanchez said of Frankie. “He went out like he came in. He went out blazing, attacking, not backing down. That’s the type of kid he is.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Roma has won its district’s boys team title the last 10 years in a row. But this season, coach Eddie Marquez finds himself in an unfamiliar situation.

Having lost his top six boys, two to college tennis programs, and three of his top girls, Marquez is starting from scratch.

“It’s definitely a rebuilding year,” Marquez said. “Right now we’re playing some good tennis, but we’re improving. We’ve been getting into the quarters in some tournaments, and we’re battling.

“We’re not favorites, but we might shock some people.”

At the core of the Gladiators’ program is a slew of budding sophomores that have shown promising talent.

There’s Chantal Lozano on the girls side, inexperienced but consistent in her game.

“She’s precise with her shots, and you know she’ll be someone to reckon with,” Marquez said. “She’s growing more into the game.”

On the boys side, there’s Marquez’s two doubles teams — Joel Flores, Roel Loera, Raul Ramirez and Mario Saenz. Each doubles team reached the quarterfinals of the Corpus Christi Spring Fling tournament recently before losing to the top seeds.

“The main thing is believing in themselves,” Marquez said. “You’re coming from a small town like Roma, where there’s no tennis center or private coaching. Everything comes through us. These kids don’t get the opportunities like others do.

“I take pride in what we do, and we’ve been at the top of the tennis scene the last 10 years. The kids just have to believe and buy in. That’s what it takes to re-establish the way we are.”

So far, Marquez likes what he sees. His team recently played PSJA Southwest, district champs last season, and dominated. So the signs are there.

“I like what I’m seeing, but they’re still young,” Marquez said. “These kids are good. They’ll be better. But they’re still growing.”

EMERGING

Edinburg North golf coach Joey Zamora has been pleased with his team this semester.

“It’s gone pretty well,” Zamora said. “Better than I thought. We’ve improved quicker that I thought we would.”

The Cougars have not won a tournament, but their progress means more in a district that is not as strong as years past. With powerhouses Sharyland High and Edinburg Vela departed for Class 5A, District 31-6A is now essentially a race between North and Weslaco High.

“Barring anything surprising, we should be going to regionals,” Zamora said.

The Cougars are paced by senior Phillip Garza, who qualified for regionals last year. An All-State band player on the trombone, Zamora said Garza now has goals of receiving a scholarship to play golf in college.

He certainly has the talent to do so.

“He drives the ball straight and keeps the ball in play,” Zamora said.

The Cougars are also led by senior David Deanda and sophomore Baylee Vasquez. Vasquez, Zamora said, is hitting the ball longer and “showing she can compete with the best in the Valley.

In all, Zamora said, he’s seen more of a sense of urgency in his program this year.

“For some reason, they’ve been working harder,” he said. “At the beginning, I would have to push them to work hard. It’s a long season and it’s hard to keep them motivated. But they’ve picked up the slack and its paying off.”

VELA STARS

At the Border Olympics golf tournament in Laredo recently, Edinburg Vela’s boys team dominated the field.

Vela took first place as a team with a two-day score of 650. The SaberCats were led by Alberto Uriegas (164), Andres Zamora (170), John Torres (150), Jordan Olivarez (166) and Mario Rios (207).

Vela barely edged out Brownsville Hanna, which finished second with a score of 651.

Sharyland High’s boys team finished 10th with a score of 697. The Rattlers were paced by Abel Oseguera (181), Alfredo Garza (172), Carlos Ramirez (170), Danny Lee (176) and Robert Pulido (187).

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

ROMA — They outworked them. They outfought them, outshot them and outran them. Edinburg Vela’s boys basketball team simply manhandled Laredo Martin during their Class 5A regional quarterfinal Tuesday at Roma High School.

The SaberCats won 102-48 and even that is not enough to describe how much Vela dominated. Vela (31-6) scored no fewer than 18 points in any quarter and scored as many as 37 (second quarter). The Tigers (20-16) had almost twice as many turnovers (22) as field goals (12) and did not score their first field goal until 1:47 was left in the first quarter.

Vela plays Sam Houston at 6 p.m. Friday at Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio for its regional semifinal playoff game.

“We knew exactly what was going to happen tonight, we knew exactly what to expect from Laredo Martin,” Vela coach Lalo Rios said. “Our guys responded very well.”

The SaberCats knew the Tigers were going to slow it down. They knew the Tigers did not have depth like they did. They also knew Martin did not have the speed or ballhandling like they did.

So Vela pressed from the start, forcing 10 first-quarter Martin turnovers and jumping out to a 25-7 advantage heading into the second.

By early in the second, the SaberCats were rolling, pop-shooting from 3, turning steals into layups and leading 62-20 at halftime.

Martin went seven players deep in the first half. Vela went 11.

“Games like this, you’ve got to give a lot of credit to our third team,” said forward Alec de la Cruz, who had a game-high 22 points. “They’re the ones that pound on us in practice, keep on us, and if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be in the condition we’re in.”

Six SaberCats scored in double figures, while no Tiger did so. The SaberCats scored at least 100 points for the fourth time this season, and they credit the practices, depth (they carry 15 players on varsity) and offseason training for playing at a pace that is rarely seen in south Texas.

“Practices are games for us,” said guard Ryan Garza, who had 18 points and six assists. “We know what we’ve got to do as soon as we step into the door for any game because we’ve already done it in practice.”

Rios and players admitted that last week’s area round overtime win against Corpus Christi Miller helped Tuesday’s game. Rios credited the experience and maturation gained from the contest. Players said the speed and athleticism of Miller gave them an edge for Tuesday.

“For some of the guys, I think that game (versus Miller) made this one a lot easier,” de la Cruz said. “It was kind of like playing in slow motion.”

Laredo Martin defeated Victoria East and Donna High to earn a bid to the regional quarters, but neither of those teams, coach Hecky Noyola Jr. said, had the shooting and speed of Vela.

“We wanted to come out and play slow, make them play defense, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole,” Noyola said. “We knew they had depth, but they’ve got a lot of speed and a ton of shooters.”

Vela connected on 8 of 15 3-pointers. Martin, meanwhile, scored 20 of its 48 points on free throws. The SaberCats’ bench outscored the Tigers’ 28-15.

“It’s very difficult to do what we do,” Rios said. “We train for a very long time. I don’t want to say we’ve perfected it, but we’ve done a very good job of getting ourselves to a level where we feel confident going against anybody.

“We felt if we could play our style of game, very few teams can do what we do.”

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McAllen Baseball Tournament

McAllen High Bracket
Pool A: McAllen High, Brownsville Rivera, Valley View, Sharyland Pioneer
Pool D: Mission High, Alice, Weslaco East, San Benito
Thursday
At McAllen High
G1: Pioneer vs. McHi, 11 a.m.
G3: Valley View vs. Rivera, 1:30 p.m.
G5: Rivera vs. Pioneer, 4 p.m.
G7: Valley View vs. McHi, 6:30 p.m.
At Mission
G2: Weslaco East vs. Mission High, 11 a.m.
G4: San Benito vs. Weslaco East, 1:30 p.m.
G6: Alice vs. San Benito, 4 p.m.
G8: Mission High vs. Alice, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
At McAllen High
G9: Pioneer vs. Valley View, 10 a.m.
G11: Rivera vs. McHi, 12:30 p.m.
G13: Pool A4 vs. Pool D4, 4 p.m.
G14: Pool A3 vs. Pool D3
At Mission
G10: San Benito vs. Mission High, 10 a.m.
G12: Weslaco East vs. Alice, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday
At McAllen High
G15: Pool A1 vs. Pool D2, 10 a.m.
G16: Pool A2 vs. Pool D1, 12:30 p.m.
G17: Loser G15 vs. Loser G16 (3rd Place), 3:30 p.m.
G18: Winner G15 vs. Winner G16, 6 p.m. (Championship Game)

McAllen Rowe Bracket
Pool C: McAllen Rowe, Brownsville Porter, Harlingen South, Donna North
Pool F: Sharyland High, Hidalgo, La Joya High, Mercedes
Thursday
At McAllen Rowe
G1: Donna North vs. Rowe, 11 a.m.
G3: Harlingen South vs. Porter, 1:30 p.m.
G5: Harlingen South vs. Donna North, 4 p.m.
G7: Rowe vs. Porter, 6:30 p.m.
At Sharyland
G2: Hidalgo vs. Sharyland, 11 a.m.
G4: Mercedes vs. La Joya High, 1:30 p.m.
G6: La Joya High vs. Hidalgo, 4 p.m.
G8: Sharyland vs. Mercedes, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
At McAllen Rowe
G9: Porter vs. Donna North, 10 a.m.
G11: Harlingen South vs. Rowe, 12:30 p.m.
G13: Pool C4 vs. Pool F4, 4 p.m., 4 p.m.
G14: Pool C3 vs. Pool F3, 6:30 p.m.
At Sharyland
G10: Mercedes vs. Hidalgo, 10 a.m.
G12: La Joya High vs. Sharyland, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday
At McAllen Rowe
G15: Pool C1 vs. Pool F2, 10 a.m.
G16: Pool C2 vs. Pool F1
G17: Loser G15 vs. Loser G16 (3rd Place), 3:30 p.m.
G18: Winner G15 vs. Winner G16 (Championship Game), 6 p.m.

McAllen Memorial Bracket
Pool B: McAllen Memorial, Harlingen High, Roma, Del Rio
Pool E: Mission Vets Memorial, Brownsville Hanna, Robstown, PSJA Memorial
Thursday
At McAllen Memorial
G1: Harlingen vs. McAllen Memorial, 11 a.m.
G3: Roma vs. Del Rio, 1:30 p.m.
G5: Harlingen High vs. Roma, 4 p.m.
G7: Del Rio vs. McAllen Memorial
At Mission Vets
G2: PSJA Memorial vs. Mission Vets, 11 a.m.
G4: Brownsville Hanna vs. Robstown, 1:30 p.m.
G6: PSJA Memorial vs. Brownsville Hanna, 4 p.m.
G8: Robstown vs. Mission Vets, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
At McAllen Memorial
G9: Roma vs. McAllen Memorial, 10 a.m.
G11: Del Rio vs. Harlingen High, 12:30 p.m.
G13: Pool B4 vs. Pool E4, 4 p.m.
G14: Pool B3 vs. Pool E3, 6:30 p.m.
At Mission Vets Memorial
G10: PSJA Memorial vs. Robstown, 10 a.m.
G12: Brownsville Hanna vs. Mission Vets, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday
At McAllen Memorial
G15: Pool B1 vs. Pool E2, 10 a.m.
G16: Pool B2 vs. Pool E1, 12:30 p.m.
G17: Loser G15 vs. Loser G16 (3rd Place), 3:30 p.m.
G18: Winner G15 vs. Winner G16 (Championship), 6 p.m.

STEPHEN RAY HERNANDEZ | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

EDINBURG — Edinburg North came away victorious Tuesday night against Edinburg Economedes in a matchup of two teams with unblemished District 31-6A girls soccer records.

The Lady Cougars earned a 1-0 decision in what was a thriller.

“Well, we knew it was gonna be a tough one,” Edinburg North coach Daniel Valdez said. “The girls played their hearts out tonight, but we still have a long ways to go.”

Although the game was close the entire way, it didn’t look like that early on.

Less than three minutes into the match, freshman midfielder Beth Ramos nailed a strike across the field to put the Lady Cougars on the board for what would eventually be the game-winning score.

“We expected a tight matchup and that’s exactly what we had tonight,” said Edinburg Economedes coach Robert Garcia. “We played very well, but it just wasn’t our night so we’re going to have to continue to keep fighting.”

The Lady Jaguars had an ample opportunity to tie the match with just 10:26 to go when Sofia Hernandez hammered a shot into the goal that ricocheted off the post and missed the goal line by a mere couple of inches.

Economedes continued to push until the last few seconds of the game, coming up short with a final head shot that missed the mark with 12 seconds left.

The matchup proved to be a near replica from earlier in the season when the two teams ended 0-0 in regulation before Edinburg North took the victory 3-2 on penalty kicks.

BY DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — Hidalgo’s boys basketball team reached the fourth round of the playoffs last season and returned seven players this season. The Pirates breezed through the regular season, ho-hummed their way to another district title, and are ranked No. 19 in Class 4A in the state heading into the start of the playoffs against Beeville-Jones on Tuesday.

And the key to it all may be the emergence of senior post Carmelo Reyes. Yes, senior guard Frankie Sanchez is the Valley’s leading scorer at 22.9 points per game. It’s true that Mike Espinoza tops the Valley in assists (7.5) and is third in steals (5.5). But the difference between this year’s Pirates and years past is they have a true interior presence in Reyes, who averages 16 points and 10.7 rebounds.

Reyes is a late-bloomer, having only played basketball since the seventh grade. And he may be the wild card if the Pirates (28-5) want to earn a trip to the state tournament next month in San Antonio.

“He’s just now really starting to get to know his body, get to know his length and the type of athlete he can be,” Hidalgo coach Gus Sanchez said. “He’s still a kid trying to learn the game of basketball, and he’s had to work hard, work fast, to develop into the kind of kid he is.

“The speed he’s got at that post spot is the biggest difference for us. You have Mike and Frankie pushing the ball and there’s Carmelo sprinting down the middle. It’s a tough cover. It’s troubling for other teams.”

At 6-foot-3, Reyes has the size of a post player, but runs the court like a guard. Because the game is still relatively new to him, he has mastered only the basics, but those basics are essential: shooting, chinning the ball to keep it away from pursuers, boxing out.

A good amount of Reyes’ rebounds comes off the offensive glass, allowing more chances for Sanchez and Espinoza to gun away. Some of the Pirates’ point totals this season would make the Rio Grande Valley Vipers proud: 80, 88, 89, 90, 106.

“It’s a lot easier when you have someone with size who you can rely on,” Espinoza said. “You just give him the ball and he can get you stuff. You take a shot, and if you miss he’ll go and get it. He’s a better asset, a big asset, and when you throw in the fact he’s as quick as us guards, he’s just a really good player.”

It’s not lost on Sanchez that more opportunities to score mean a greater chance at winning.

“You can design all the stuff you want, but if you can get some extra offensive rebounds, some extra shots, that’s big,” Sanchez said. “He just gives us more of a chance offensively.”

To thrive in the Pirates’ fast-paced system, Reyes isn’t asked to do much: run hard, catch the ball, keep his head up and finish around the bucket. As the season has progressed, though, the team is finding out he has more and more in his arsenal.

Reyes has gone from a post who could do little more than run the floor to a player that now has three back-to-the-basket moves in halfcourt sets.

“It’s a lot of hard work and dedication to playing basketball,” said Reyes, notorious for arriving early before practices and staying late after them to work on his game. “I give a lot of credit to my teammates, to my coaches, for doing what they need to do to make someone better. You play with guys like Frankie and Mike, you can only improve.”

Reyes and Espinoza said an eye-opener for Reyes was backing up Hidalgo’s post players, Matt Dillard and Hugo Frias, last season. Reyes had no choice but to learn how to compete with the big boys.

“Those guys were physical, bigger than him. They were rough on him,” Espinoza said. “He knew he had to step it up, and what he learned last year he had to apply this year. He had to go harder.”

Sanchez said another reason behind Reyes’ progress is because he wants to get better. Reyes asks a lot of questions. He will ask why. He studies pick-and-roll play. He loves learning about defensive alignments.

But more than anything, he loves winning. Reyes knows if the Pirates are to reach their peak, he will have to play a big role. The good news for Hidalgo is that he’s ready, and hungry, for it.

“I’m just working harder than I did last year,” Reyes said. “I want to be at a great level, especially this being my senior year. I want to affect the game more than I did last year, and to do that I knew I had to work at it.

“We’re a team of speed, and I try to be one of the fastest ones on the team. I try to start every game fast. Basketball is a fast game. If I’m able to be quick and be fast, especially early in games, that gives me an edge. Because of that, we feel we can push ourselves to a higher level. Now we just have to do that.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — Hidalgo baseball coach Karlos Carrasco wasn’t asking for much.

When Carrasco attended the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association convention in January in Waco, the third-year Pirates coach was interested where, or if, his team would be ranked in Class 4A in the state. Returning all nine starters from a team that went 27-12 last season and was one step from the state tournament should at least earn a top-10 spot, right? Carrasco hoped so, but wasn’t sure.

So when Carrasco arrived to the convention, a gathering of high school baseball coaches from all over the state, and read through, from bottom on up, the organization’s preseason top 10 poll for Class 4A, you can imagine his surprise when his Hidalgo team was the last school he read.

It is believed to be the first time a Valley athletics program, in any sport, has been ranked No. 1 in a state preseason poll.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Carrasco said. “My emotions were all over the place. I didn’t know whether to cry, scream or jump in joy. As a head coach, that’s everybody’s goal. To be ranked No. 1 in the state.”

The Pirates, who open the season at home tonight versus Edinburg Economedes, have a pair of aces in seniors Oscar Noguera (10-3 in 2014) and Allan Wilburn (9-1). They have defense and hitting in Mike Alvarez, Kike Mendoza and All-Valley Newcomer of the Year Dylan Dougherty.

They have depth, throwing as many as six pitchers during scrimmages over the last couple of weeks.

“We have a lot of kids coming back that now have experience playing in all those big games,” Dougherty said. “We’re going to go even further than what we did last year.”

The preseason poll ranking is determined by John Adair, poll director for Classes 2A-4A for THSBCA and head coach at Elkhart. In early December, Adair sends out an information packet to all head coaches in the state. Over the next six weeks or so, he collects that information and then determines the poll for each of the classes he is responsible for.

Adair said he specifically looks at the success a team had the year before and the number of players returning.

“They’ve got good pitching, and having that success with that many returners, compared to other teams in that class in the state, I felt like they were the team to beat,” Adair said of Hidalgo.

Location also plays a part. While deep south Texas fields competitive baseball teams, it is not as prominent as southeast or north Texas. Hidalgo is just one of two teams from its region, La Vernia the other, to be ranked in the preseason top 10 poll.

“You look at the regions, number of teams that have come out in the past, and it all plays into it,” Adair said. “But all that history and tradition really doesn’t mean anything for the upcoming season.

“The bottom line is you get what you feel, at that point, is the very best team. And we felt Hidalgo is that team.”

Hidalgo will rely upon its pitching and defense this season, though its hitting is what has stood out during preseason scrimmages. The Pirates know they’re marked men, and they’ve practiced and scrimmaged liked it.

Carrasco said last year he had to “baby them,” guiding players through everything from warm-up stretches to bullpen work. This year, he’s been more lenient, hoping his six seniors take control of the team.

So far, so good.

“To be the first No. 1 team from the Valley, it’s incredible. It’s an amazing feeling,” Noguera said. “But for us, it’s just a number. We have to work to prove that we’re the best. We’ve got to stay hungry.”

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========================================

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION 2015 PRESEASON POLLS

Class 6A

Flower Mound Marcus

Pearland

Atascocita

Laredo Alexander

Flower Mound

Dallas Jesuit

Coppell

Corpus Christi Carroll

Southlake Carroll

Smithson Valley

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Langham Creek, Clear Creek, Arlington Martin, Round Rock, Cy Ranch, and San Antonio Reagan.

Class 5A

College Station

CC Calallen

Hallsville

Cleburne

Rockwall- Heath

Brenham

Medina Valley

Arlington Heights

Victoria East

George Ranch

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Prosper, CC Moody, Aledo, Corsicana, Canyon, and Kingwood Park

Class 4A

Hidalgo

Iowa Park

Huffman Hargrove

Pleasant Grove

Robinson

Argyle

La Vernia

Andrews

Bridge City

Abilene Wylie

Class 3A

Bishop

Sunnyvale

West

Hallettsville

Palmer

Banquete

Idalo

Troy

Central Heights

Kirbyville

Class 2A

Douglas

Flatonia

Bosqueville

Center Point

Weimar

Refugio

Price Carlisle

Kenedy

Booker

Centerville

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

It is no coincidence that Edinburg High’s tennis players are winning more tournaments this season. It’s also no coincidence that the Bobcats’ teams are placing in more tournaments.

Last season, the Bobcats tennis program boasted 24 players. This year? Thirty-five.

“We’re doing a lot better than last year,” Edinburg High coach Steve Cavazos said. “The experience they’re bringing in is big and more kids are in the program. So that’s more to work with and more to practice with.”

Because of the growth, Cavazos has implemented more drills. He specifically emphasizes technique and footwork.

Individually, there’s also a new face in sophomore Melanie Solis, who will transfer from the junior varsity to varsity in time for district play next month.

“She has potential to go further in varsity that what she can do on the JV,” Cavazos said. “She’s moving her feet well. She’s placing the ball, she’s hitting the ball. I can’t even compare what she did last year to this year. It’s like she’s been playing for years.”

Cavazos also has a new mixed doubles team in seniors Karen Lopez and Juan Medina. Each had played singles, but did not start pairing up until January. Their first tournament competing together, they placed fourth.

“The chemistry between them is, just, wow,” Cavazos said.

Cavazos also has some familiar names leading his program. Sophomore Olivia Salazar has “shown more maturity on her part,” Cavazos said, and now has a “thinking level” that complements her “awesome skill game.”

Doubles team Summer Roxburgh and Katia Solis have also shown improvement, showing more mobility and power playing through the net.

“I think we’re going to have a good amount of kids going to regionals,” Cavazos said. “But it is tough competition and it is a mental game. That’s what we’re working on.”

MISSING A PIECE

Sharyland High’s boys golf team has placed first (twice), second and fourth, respectively, at tournaments this semester. And the Rattlers will only get better.

Sharyland High has been without one of its key players in Matthew Gonzalez, who injured his hand last month. Gonzalez is one of three returning stalwarts — Arturo Garza and Carlos Ramirez are the others — from last season.

Though the results have been positive, coach Fernando Rodriguez also sees his team struggling from Gonzalez’s absence. Gonzalez is expected to be back by the time district play starts. He recently had stitches removed and is regulated to putting only.

“We’re waiting for him to come back,” Rodriguez said. “At the same time, it gives us time to look at other players who can help us.”

Those players include Abel Oseguera, who placed fourth at the La Joya ISD Invitational last weekend, and Kevin Rodriguez, who placed ninth, Rodriguez said he is looking at as many as four players for the fourth and fifth spots on varsity.

UP NEXT

The Donna ISD Invitational golf tournament will be held this weekend at the Llano Grande Golf Course. There are two tennis tournaments this weekend. Corpus Christi will host its annual Spring Fling, and Sharyland High will host a varsity tournament.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

A popular consensus around Valley golf is that Edinburg Vela is the boys team to beat in Class 5A.

But the SaberCats have hit a bout of adversity, by their standards, placing only fourth at last weekend’s Edinburg ISD tournament at Los Lagos Golf Course.

“It’s the first time in a long time we didn’t place in the top three,” coach Miguel De Los Santos said.

The SaberCats were without their No. 3 golfer, sophomore Jordan Olivarez, but the fact remains that they started last semester stronger than they have this semester.

Execution, or lack thereof, has been the primary perpetrator.

“They know there’s work to be done,” De Los Santos said. “Our main focus is the district tournament and making it to regionals. We have time to improve on the things we weren’t too good at (last) weekend.”

It helps that Vela’s building block is John Torres, who won two of four tournaments last semester but placed fifth last weekend. De Los Santos calls Torres a “workhorse” and “strong in all aspects.” He also knows Torres is just a piece, albeit a vital one.

The SaberCats have quality depth and a strong top five. It’s just a matter of getting it all together at the same time.

“I’m really confident in these guys,” De Los Santos said. “Sometimes not at the same time, which we need to start doing, but all can shoot low numbers. It’s a matter of doing it as a team.”

DUAL STAR

Marcos Salinas has gotten his senior year off right.

The PSJA North tennis player won last weekend’s Brownsville Invitational. He’s also a standout for the Raiders’ soccer team.

Last weekend, Salinas competed in a soccer match Friday evening before outlasting St. Joseph Academy’s Fernando Alvarez for the boys singles championship in Brownsville.

“We’ve had really bad weather in tournaments and he also plays varsity soccer,” North tennis coach Kathy Garcia said. “He’s only played three tournaments, really, and he splits time. But he’s a natural. He’s one of those that’s gifted. Soccer only helps because of his footwork.”

Salinas has quick hands with a good forehand. But his strongest trait, Garcia said, is his poise.

“He’s a leader,” Garcia said. “He has an impact on the other kids and he gets them all going. He’s a very humble kid. He’s not one to brag or boast. He really keeps his composure on the court, which is big.”

And his ceiling is high.

“Going into district,” Garcia said, “he should be going in as a top seed.”

DYNAMIC DUOS

Sharyland High’s tennis program has great expectations for this season, and why not? The Rattlers have talent in pairs.

In boys doubles, senior Carlos Ramones and junior Sebas Arizola have won all three of their tournaments this year after making it to regionals last year, two of seven Rattlers to win district and qualify.

“They’ve played better and they’re learning to put points together,” coach Mike Salinas said. “They’re stronger as far as their net play.”

In mixed doubles, Salinas has senior Hector Ronquillo and Stephanie Falcon, his No. 1 players who wanted to play mixed to enhance their chances of going to state.

“It’s basically an experiment,” Salinas said. “They’ve been successful, but they want to see that next level of competition.”

In girls doubles, Salinas also has a pair of aces in sophomore Fernanda Garcia and senior Fernanda Armendariz. They’ve amassed two second-place finishes and one first place this year after qualifying for regionals last year.

Salinas said the Rattlers qualified for regionals during team tennis last semester and competed against San Antonio schools. The experience was invaluable.

Generally, they don’t see much out-of-town competition because it takes raising funds and can be expensive. Now they have a bit of an idea of where they stand, with the state tournament in their sights.

“It’s something that’s always in the back of our minds, but we’re just taking it one tournament at a time,” Salinas said. “We’re training for state, that’s for sure. But we don’t take anything for granted.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Multiple sources within the Hidalgo ISD athletic department confirmed Monday that athletic director/head football coach Taihi Jones was reassigned earlier that day.

The sources wished to speak anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

Jones, who was reassigned to Kelly Elementary School, according to a source, spent the last two seasons at the helm of the Pirates, compiling a 6-15 overall record and a playoff trip in 2013. The Pirates went 2-8 this season, including 0-4 in district. Prior to becoming head coach, Jones had been an assistant coach with the program for four years.

A source said an interim football coach and/or athletic director had yet to be named. The district intends to separate the athletic director and head football coach jobs.

Hidalgo will be looking for its fourth football coach in the last four years. The Pirates have won more than five games just once in the last seven years.