To report boys basketball scores, call The Monitor sports desk at (956) 683-4436.

Tuesday, Jan.

District 30-6A

La Joya 36, McAllen High 24

McAllen Memorial 35, Rowe 29

Palmview 60, Misison 48

District 31-6A

PSJA North 65, Edinburg Economedes 38

Weslaco 66, Edinburg North 38

Edinburg High 45, PSJA Memorial 23

District 32-6A

Brownsville Hanna 51, Brownsville Lopez 32

Harlingen South 44, Brownsville Rivera 24

Harlingen 58, Los Fresnos 46

Brownsville Veterans 39, San Benito 25

District 31-5A

Roma 53, Sharyland 40

Mission Veterans 47, Sharyland Pioneer 16

Edinburg Vela 73, Valley View 23

District 32-5A

Brownsville Porter at Brownsville Pace, not reported

PSJA Southwest 27, Donna North 23

Mercedes 71, Edcouch-Elsa 22

Donna 47, PSJA High 38

District 32-4A

La Feria 50, Progreso 22

Port Isabel 60 La Grulla 32

Raymondville at Rio Hondo, not reported

Zapata at Hidalgo, not reported

District 32-2A

La Villa 31, Santa Maria 24

San Isidro at Bruni, not reported

San Perlita at La Sara, not reported

Non-District

Juan Diego Academy 71, Idea Mission 17

Lyford 55, Santa Gertrudis 22

Santa Rosa at Riviera-Kaufer, not reported\

Tuesday’s Games

District 31-6A

PSJA NORTH 65, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 38

Economedes 3 17 7 11 — 38

PSJA North 21 11 15 18 — 65

ECONOMEDES (38) — Silvia Perez 15, Emily Suarez 13, Kimberly Barrientos 6, Kayla Barrientes 2, Lauren Earhart 2

PSJA NORTH (65) — Cynthia Martinez 16, Lisa Palacios 14, Sarah Serrano 10, Ariana Medrano 11, Belle Palacios 9, Tiffany Puente 2

RECORDS: Economedes 13-9, 2-1, PSJA North 21-3, 4-0

District 32-5A

DONNA 47, PSJA HIGH 38

PSJA High 8 3 14 13 — 38

Donna 8 19 11 9 — 47

PSJA HIGH (38) — Mariah West 12, Reanna Rocha 11, Elisa Garcia 11, Bekeh Trevino 3, Erin Castaneda 1

DONNA (47) — Aileen Garza 12, Laurynn Williams 10, Bridget Guillen 8, Allison Loredo 5, Emily Cavozos 4, Desiree Hernandez 2, Marina Martinez 2, Daisy Rios 2, Ashlee Moreno 2

RECORDS: Donna 12-10, 3-1 ; PSJA High 8-15, 3-1

Non-district

Juan Diego Academy 71, IDEA Mission 17

IDEA Mission 7 3 2 7 — 17

Juan Diego 15 17 20 19 — 71

IDEA Mission (17) — Giselle 8, Natalia 3, Kayla 3, Dianna 2, Kassie 1

Juan Diego (71) — Jasmine Long 28, Karla Long 18, Paulina Camara 8, Jasmine Perez 4, Nami Akazawa 3, Rachel Shultz 2, Amanda Arevalo 2

RECORDS: Juan Diego 9-4, 2-0 ; Idea Mission not reported

BY JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Members of the PSJA North girls basketball team ran through pregame drills on their home court Tuesday night as Beyonce’s, “Flawless” blared over the P.A. system. The soundtrack proved fitting and served as an apt description of the Lady Raider’s offensive performance in a 65-38 win over Edinburg Economedes.

With first place in District 31-6A on the line, PSJA North seized control of the game from the get-go, taking a 21-3 first quarter lead behind the sharp-shooting of senior guard Cynthia Martinez, who scored 9 points in the early going on a trio of 3-point bombs.

“I looked up at the scoreboard and saw the big lead, and I thought that was good,” Martinez said. “We’ve been getting off to a slow start lately.”

Martinez scored a game-high 16 points in addition to 3 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist.

Despite mounting a sizable lead, the Lady Raiders (21-3, 4-0) didn’t let up. The team wracked up 11 buckets from downtown while the Lady Jaguars (13-9, 2-1) went scoreless from 3-point range.

“They have a lot of threats. They’re a tough team to stop,” Economedes coach Marina Campos said. “We tried several different defenses, and when (North has) five different girls who can shoot the ball, it’s hard to defend. We were just trying to come in here and steal one.”

PSJA converted 24 of their 55 attempts and shot 44 percent from the floor. The torrent of jump shots pleased North coach Randy Bocanegra, who prefers to keep his confidence tepid before games.

“We came out earlier for shootaround and we shot really well,” Bocanegra said. “But with our expectations, we always feel like we (are not) shooting that good. But boy, we came out firing. There’s nothing like shooting at home.”

Where the Lady Raider’s offense flourished, so did their defense. North amassed 16 steals to Econ’s 4 and stifled Silvia Perez, the Lady Jaguar’s inside presence. Though Perez finished with 15 points and 8 boards, she missed her first five shots and scored one point in the first quarter on a free throw attempt.

“They took us out of our game a little bit,” Campos said. “We tried to go to (Silvia) early on, there was a lot of contact. Our outside shots weren’t falling either. You’re just going to have those games, I guess.”

Defensive duties regarding Perez fell to North’s junior forward Belle Palacios.

“I was really nervous, because they have a really good post,” said. “I was proud of myself because I boxed out and I did my job.”

Palacios nearly finished with a double-double, scoring 9 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Bell’s older sister Lisa, a senior, finished with 14 points.

“Coach says just because we beat Weslaco doesn’t mean we should let up,” Lisa said. “Every game is hard because, since we beat Weslaco, everyone wants to beat us.”

In a district where every game carries a playoff-like atmosphere, Bocanegra preaches a mantra of patience to his team, and believes the wins will take care of themselves.

“There’s a quote that the boys (basketball team) have in the locker room that says, ‘Work hard in silence, let the success make the noise.’” Bocanegra said. “I tell the girls that we just have to play every game like it’s the last.”

[email protected]

To report boys basketball scores, contact The Monitor sports desk at (956) 683-4402.

Friday, Jan. 2
District 30-6A
McAllen Rowe 63, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 40
Mission 42, McAllen High 40
McAllen Memorial 46, La Joya 44
District 31-6A
PSJA North 59, PSJA Memorial 31
Edinburg Economedes 48, Weslaco East 42
Edinburg North 40, Edinburgh High 22
Distrtic 31-5A
Edinburg Vela 59, Sharyland Pioneer 21
Mission Veterans 37, Roma 29
Rio Grande City 64, Valley View 15
District 32-5A
PSJ AHigh 43, Brownsville Pace 39
Mercedes 37, Donna 30
PSJA Southwest 38, Brownsville Porter 34
District 32-4A
La Feria 50, Hidalgo 28
Raymondville at Port Isabel, not reported
Non-District
San Isidro 31, Monte Alto 28
Riviera-Kaufer at Bishop, not reported

VALLEY-GIRLS BASKETBALL BOX SCORES
Friday’s Game
District 30-6A
MCALLEN ROWE 63, LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN 40
Juarez-Lincoln 8 6 7 19 — 40
McAllen Rowe 15 18 16 13 — 63
JUAREZ-LINCOLN (40) — Analee Milan 19, Maria Ortiz 4, Giselle Acosta 4, Abigel Escobedo 4, Maria Saldana 3, Niyeda Villarreal 2, Mayta Zapata 2, Kim Munoz 2
mcallen rowe (63) —Mayda Garca 12, Ryela Rodriguez 11, Vanessa Leal 10, Giovanni Solis 8, Alberta Cantu 8, Victoria Tarpon 5, Deanna Spear 4, Jocelyn Pena 2, Carolina Rodriguez 2, Giselle Gomez 1
RECORDS: Rowe 12-11, 2-0 district; 5-18, 1-2 distrct

MISSION HIGH 42, MCALLEN HIGH 40
McAllen High 15 9 11 5 — 40
Misison 7 6 11 18 — 42
MCALLEN (40) — Erika Mora 10, Kathy Maravilla, 7, Heaven Wilbanks 4, Victoria Alanis 2, Sabrina Guzman 10, Janette Herrera 7
vALLEY vIEW (42) — Emberly Garza 10, Amanda Garza 5, Ashly Diaz 2, Daniella Perez 25,
RECORDS: McAllen High 10-13, 0-2 district; Mission 6-17, 1-2 distirct

District 31-6A
EDINBURG NORTH 40, EDINBURG HIGH 22
Edinburg High 15 6 5 13 — 22
Edinburg North 16 6 5 17 — 40
EDINBURG HIGH (22) — Jayla Santa Maria 7, Reyna Del Castillo 4, Emily Acosta 6, Mercedes Hernandez 1, Jennifer Galvan 3, Natalie Ruxturth 1
EDINBURG NORTH (40) —Klarissa Lopez 2, Nikki Rodriguez 4, Charlene Flores 1, Natalie Alaniz 17, Melissa Majarro 11, Stephanie Flores 5
RECORDS: Edinburg North 12-12, 1-2 district; Edinburg High 17-8,1-2 district

PSJA NORTH 59, PSJA MEMORIAL 31
PSJA North 11 17 16 15 — 59
PSJA Memorial 6 8 7 10 — 31
psja north (59) — Sarah Serrano 7, Cynthia Martinez 16, Tiffany Puente 3, Toni Acevedo 3, Stephanie Cristmin 2, Arianna Medrano 9, Lisa Palacios 6, Belle Palacios 5, Kara Ramirez 8
psja memorial (31) —Alex Soto 4, Monique De Leon 9, Violet Torres 2, Zelinda Quintero 2, Emily Rivera 2, Catherine Segundo 4, Kayla Anguiano 8
RECORDS: PSJA North 20-2, 3-0 district; PSJA Memorial 10-13, 0-3 district

District 31-5A
MISSION VETERANS 37, ROMA 29
Mission Veterans 10 8 10 9 — 37
Roma 5 12 4 8 — 29
Mission vetarns (40) — R. Silva 6, A. De La Garza 3, A. Smith 14, L. Garza 2, D. Ibarra 3, M. Flores 11
Roma (42) — Cassy Saenz 2, Annette Jasso 4, Luz Gonzalez 1, Denise Pena 3, Kassandra Rocha 19
RECORDS: Mission Veterans 13-9, 2-0 district, Roma 13-10, 1-2 district

RIO GRANDE CITY 64, VALLEY VIEW 15
Rio Grande 11 19 23 9 — 64
Valley View 8 2 2 3 — 15
Rio Grande City (64) — Adriana Cruz17, Jackie Tenorio 18, Joey Amaya 14, Jackie Garcia 6, Yanileth Garza 6, Gina Villarreal 2, Andrea Barron 1
Valley View (15) — Giselle Rodriguez 4, Monse Hernandez 4, Anna Prado 3, Franchesca Munguia 3, Evelyn Saenz 2
RECORDS: Rio Grande City 14-10, 2-1 district; Valley View 5-12, 0-2 district

District 32-5A
Mercedes 37, Donna High 30
Mercedes 6 3 21 7 — 37
Donna High 5 11 4 10 — 30
MERCEDES (37) — Alyssa Marquez 7, Jackie Flores 7, Deidra Barroso 11, Emily Ramirez 4, Mere Garza 6, Summer Vento 2
DONNA HIGH (30) — Ashley Moreno 2, Emily Cavazos 3, Marina Martinez 4, Aileen Garza 9, Laurynn Williams 12
RECORDS: Mercedes 13-8, 3-0 district; Donna 11-10, 2-1 district

PSJA HIGH 43, BROWSNVILLE PACE 39
Pace 8 18 8 13 — 39
PSJA High 11 15 11 8 — 43
Rio Grande city (64) — Crystal Buresti 2, Tanya Velez 2, Jasmine Vela 2, Nadia Mendosa 7, Vallery Varela 4, Katie Quezada 5, Celine Najera 8, Susanna Guevaria 2, Jenny Garza 4, Jessica Aguilar 3
vALLEY vIEW (15) — Mariah West 10, Reanna Rocha 6, Erin Castaneda 2, Elisa Gracia 15, Bekah Trevino 5 Hannah Martinez 5
RECORDS: PSJA High 8-14, 3-0 district; Brownsville Pace 0-3 district

Non-district
SAN ISIDRO 31, MONTE ALTO 28
Monte Alto 5 7 8 8 — 28
San Isidro 5 8 8 10 — 31
Monte Alto (28) — Evelyn Alonzo 7, Rosa Lopez 6, Lisa Gomez 6, Desiree Garcia 5, Maria Hernandez 2, Kassanra Mireles 2
San Isidro (31) — Alyssa Alvardo12, Kelsie Alvarado 7, Jessica Lirio 6, Jessenia Beltran 4, Olvia Galvan 2
RECORDS: San Isidro 5-14; Monte Alto (not reported)

JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — A parent’s video camera caused a momentary break in action during the second quarter of Friday afternoon’s game between Edinburg Economedes and Weslaco East at Economedes High School.

Lady Wildcats coach William Kromer protested the unwanted surveillance to officials to no avail, and play resumed in time for the camera to catch Economedes’ Emily Suarez go lights out from the floor. The senior guard scored 7 of her 25 points in the quarter, knocking down 4 of 5 shot attempts, including a 3-pointer.

The Lady Jaguars drained seven bombs from long range en route to a 48-42 win over their District 31-6A opponent, who mustered a single make from behind the arc.

“I gave the girls the green light to shoot,” Economedes coach Marina Campos said. “I figured those were the shots that were going to be open.”

Weslaco East entered the game looking to limit Silvia Perez, the Lady Jaguars’ inside muscle.

“We have to adjust for every team’s defense,” Suarez said. “But if you guard Silvia and pack the paint like (the Lady Wildcats) did, that leaves it open for me.”

Though Perez finished with a quiet 4 points, Weslaco East had no answer for Econ’s perimeter play. On several possessions, the ball scantly touched the floor as the Lady Jaguars whipped it about the 3-point line, tiring or confusing East’s defense to get open looks.

The Lady Jaguars (13-8, 2-0 31-6A) racked up 10 assists to the Lady Wildcats’ two.

“We said from the get-go we wanted to wear down (Weslaco East’s) defenders,” Campos said. “We kept passing and wearing them down and I told the girls that, if it’s there, to take the shot.”

Weslaco East (13-11, 2-1) switched its defensive scheme to a 3-2 zone in the second half in an attempt to stop Econ’s jump shooters.

“But we did worse in the second half,” Kromer said. “We went back to our typical set, but it didn’t produce what we wanted.”

While the Lady Wildcats struggled to get stops, Econ’s defense flourished. The Lady Jags held their opponent to 30 percent shooting and out-rebounded them by a 33-29 margin.

“Offensively we’re consistent,” Suarez said. “But the defense will be key for us going forward.”

Econ’s next game will be Tuesday in Pharr against PSJA North, a team of similar makeup: savvy guard play with license to shoot.

“It seems like this district is all about the guards,” Campos said. “No body has a lot of height.”

The Lady Wildcats do in forwards Sabrina Rodriguez and Faith Olszak. Both saw limited minutes in Friday’s game as they recover from a high ankle sprain and a broken right clavicle, respectively. Rodriguez finished with 4 points while Olszak scored 2 points on a lone trip to the foul line.

“Faith’s not in basketball shape,” Kromer said. “She’s been running on a treadmill, but that’s not the same as running on hardwood.”

[email protected]

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

McAllen Memorial placed fourth in Tuesday’s Memorial Tournament, an accomplishment which came as a surprise to the Lady Mustangs.

“My players didn’t expect it,” coach Clarisse Arrendondo said. “But they’re glad they did.”

Memorial played three Brownsville area schools in the tourney, including a 41-38 win over Brownsville Hanna. The Lady Mustangs lost to Los Fresnos in the third-place game by a score of 36-35.

“I’m very pleased with our performance,” Arrendondo said. “I told my girls we can play with anybody.”

Sophomore forward Ebony Johnson was named to the All-Tournament team. Johnson, a sophomore, is an integral part of the Lady Mustang’s offense, averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds.

“She likes to shoot from the outside,” Arrendondo said. “She pushes the ball up the court. She’s just as good handling the ball as our guards. We’re trying to teach her to stay inside.”

Arrendondo is in her first year as Memorial’s coach, following a previous stint at San Benito. Though she took over a Lady Mustangs team (10-11, 1-1, District 30-6A) that missed the postseason a year ago, a youth movement spurred by Johnson and teammate Victoria Izaguirre – a sophomore guard – has the team once against thinking about the playoffs.

“The growing process is coming along pretty good,” Arrendondo said. “We’re working on our fundamentals.”

The most pressing area of concern for the coach is her team’s lack of outside shooting.

“Our guards don’t look to shoot as much as they should,” Arrendondo said. “I think in the last two weeks, we’ve done a lot of shooting during practice. I think they feel more confident.”

Memorial will look to improve upon its strong tournament showing as district play resumes Friday at La Joya (6-13, 1-1).

‘ONE LAYUP AWAY’
A lone layup made all the difference for Weslaco East in Wednesday’s practice.

“We always practice better after a loss,” Lady Wildcats coach William Kromer said.

Weslaco East lost a nail-biter Tuesday at Mercedes. The Lady Wildcats had the ball with 10 seconds remaining and trailed 43-42. Though guard Ashely Cruz drew contact at the rim, Kromer says the officials “swallowed their whistles.”

“We’re one layup away from celebrating,” Kromer said. “But a loss causes you to refocus tremendously.”
The Lady Tigers attempted 15 more shots than Weslaco East, a result of the Lady Wildcat’s depleted depth at the post. Faith Olszack is slated to return Monday after suffering a broken clavicle early in the season, and Sabrina Rodriguez is slowly working her way back from a high ankle sprain, and came off the bench against Mercedes.

“When she can make her sprints like the rest of the team, she’s good to start again,” Kromer said. “I’m afraid if I push her too quick, I’m afraid I’ll regret it.”

Though the Wildcats (13-10, 2-0 District 31-6A) came up short, Kromer remains focused on the season-long march to the post season.

“I’m not worried about our record right now,” he said. “I’m worried about getting better.”

[email protected]

Girls Basketball Top 10 Rankings for the week of Dec. 31, 2014

Rank/Team Rec. Pre.

1. Harlingen 18-3 3

2. PSJA North 19-3 1

3. Weslaco 19-5 2

4. Brownsville Veterans 16-6 4

5. Edinburg Vela 13-8 5

6. Mission Veterans 12-9 8

7. Weslaco East 13-10 6

8. Edinburg High 17-7 10

9. La Joya Palmview 13-7 9

10. Mercedes 12-8 —

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — Cynthia Martinez wasn’t concerned with the number of shot attempts she made Tuesday night at McAllen Memorial High.

“I don’t know how many shots I missed at the end,” the PSJA North senior guard said.

Though Martinez scored a team-high 17 points on 5 of 8 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the foul line, the hot-handed shooter went cold in the waning minutes of the Blizzard Bash tournament championship game against Harlingen High. Martinez’s woes doubled as her team’s woes. The Lady Raiders slash-and-kick offense grew turgid late, and the team blew an 11-point fourth quarter lead to lose 58-55 at McAllen Memorial High School.

“We got some convertible shots,” PSJA North coach Randy Bocanegra said. “We just didn’t make them.”

The loss marks the first time this season the Lady Raiders (19-3) have succumbed to another Valley team.

PSJA North led throughout much of the contest. Though Harlingen possessed size in junior forward Addison Dickey, the Lady Raiders neutralized the Lady Cardinal’s bigs in the early going with efficient perimeter play, making the extra pass to the open shooter for easy 3-point buckets, of which they made seven.

“We want to be up-tempo,” Bocanegra said. “We want to be able to penetrate and kick out.”

Though jump-shooting is the Lady Raiders’ bread and butter, Harlingen’s interior presence resurfaced in the second half. Dickey, who had a quiet outing on the glass in the first half with four rebounds, snagged 12 boards in the second and provided her team with precious possessions to cut into PSJA North’s lead.

“They outsized us down the stretch,” Bocanegra said. “We just couldn’t get a rebound or a loose ball.”

With 1:45 left, the Lady Raiders had the ball and trailed Harlingen 56-55. Though Tiffany Alvarado took an open 3-point shot from the left wing, the ball sailed into the back of the rim, and landed in the hands of Dickey. Dickey passed to teammate Sami Quilantan who was immediately fouled, and converted both free throws with five seconds remaining. Quilantan finished 17 points.

PSJA North’s final shot attempt came on a half-court heave from Lisa Palacios, which sailed wide right.

The win improved Harlingen’s record to 18-3, with Weslaco High being the only Valley team to defeat the Lady Cardinals so far this season.

Despite his team’s loss, Bocanegra was upbeat and genial.

“You win some close ones, you lose some close ones,” he said.

For Martinez, the loss is a learning experience.

“Losing is sad, but I’m kind of happy because it’s giving us a bitter taste,” she said. “We’ll look at this loss and learn from it.”

[email protected]

VALLEY-GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Non-District

Edinburg Economedes 54, Brownsville IDEA 23

La Joya 48, Donna North 30

Rio Hondo 46, Edcouch-Elsa 9

Sharyland 52, Harlingen South 51

Mission Veterans 27, McAllen High 16

Edinburg High 40, PSJA High 28

Rio Grande City 57, PSJA Southwest 21

San Antonio Regan 67, Weslaco 34

Mercedes 43, Weslaco East 42

Santa Rosa at Port Isabel, not reported

Lyford at La Feria, not reported

McAllen Memorial Tournament Results
Monday, Dec. 29

G1: McAllen Memorial 49, Sharyland Pioneer 19

G4: Harlingen 73, PSJA Memorial 26

G9: McAllen Memorial 44, Brownsville Hanna 38

G10: Harlingen 59, Brownsville Pace 40

G13: PSJA North 55, Brownsville Veterans 53

G16: Los Fresnos 38, Gregory Portland 36

McAllen Memorial Back Gym

G2: Brownsville Hanna 45, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 21

G5: Brownsville Veterans 50, Edinburg Vela 42

G8: Gregory-Portland 54, La Joya Palmview 45

G11: La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 42, Sharyland Pioneer 21

G15: La Joya Palmview 54, Roma 50

Cathy Middle School Gym

G3: Brownsville Pace 40, Mission 29

G6: PSJA North 60, San Benito 31

G7: Los Fresnos 42, Roma 38

G12: Mission 47, PSJA Memorial 38

G14: Edinburg Vela 42, San Benito 27

Tuesday, Dec. 30

McAllen Memorial Main Gym

G17: Harlingen 59, McAllen Memorial 29

G18: PSJA North 49, Los Fresnos 33

G21: Brownsville Hanna 47, Brownsville Pace 23

G30: Edinburg Vela 62, Mission 44

G31: Los Fresnos 36, McAllen Memorial 35

G32: Harlingen 58, PSJA North 55

McAllen Memorial Back Gym

G19: Mission 38, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 36

G20: Edinburg Vela 59, La Joya Palmview 38

G23: PSJA Memorial 32, Sharyland Pioneer 19

G25: Brownsville Veterans 48, Brownsville Hanna 32

G27: Roma 42, PSJA Memorial 28

G29: La Joya Palmview 37, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 36

Cathy Middle School Gym

G22: Brownsville Veterans 52, Gregory-Portland 26

G24: Roma 33, San Benito 25

G26: Brownsville pace 47, Gregory-Portland 36

G28: San Benito 31, Sharyland Pioneer 19

TOURNAMENT MVP

Kayla Perez, Harlingen

ALL TOURNEY TEAM

Ariel Rodrigeuz, Edinburg Vela

Ebony Johnson, McAllen Memorial

Kelsi McDonough, Los Fresnos

Cynthia Martinez, PSJA North

Sarah Sarrano, PSJA North

Addison Dickey, Harlingen

Marissa Gasca, Harlingen

Marco’s Burgers Holiday Classic

At McAllen Nikki Rowe High School

December 29-30

Monday, Dec. 29

McAllen Rowe 62, Grulla 20

Donna High 38, Edinburg North 37

McAllen Rowe 39, Hidalgo 33

Edinburg North 69, Grulla 17

Hidalgo 42, Donna High 34

Tuesday, Dec. 30

McAllen Rowe 29, Edinburg North 26

Donna High 50, Grulla 25

Edinburg North 43, Hidalgo 28

McAllen Rowe 29, Donna High 19

Hidalgo 49, Grulla 22

Tuesday’s Box Scores

Non-District

MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL 27, MCALLEN HIGH 16

McAllen High 6 0 7 3 — 16

Mission Vets 6 6 7 8 — 27

McAllen High (16) — Erica Mora 3, Kathy Maravilla 4, Heaven Wilbanks 2, Victoria Alaniz 2, Sabrina Guzman 2

Mission Veterans (42) —Rosa Silva 5, Andrea De La Garza 2, Alyssa Lopez 2, Ashley Smith 8, D.D. Ibarra 3, Maria Torres 7

RECORDS: Mission Vets 12-9

SHARYLAND HIGH 52, HARLINGEN SOUTH 51

Harlingen South 8 18 12 13 — 51

Sharyland High 11 15 15 11 — 52

Harlingen south (51) — Ruayda Bouls 14, Mikaela Flores 7, Emily Susen 5, Leanne Ledesma 12, Soki Salazar 1, Tina Montes 2, Breanna Gonzalez 10

SHARYLAND HIGH (52) — Nany Carretero 4, Sofie Reyes 2, Natalia Portillo 4, Sonia Trevino 2, Casey Stephens 3, Anna Marshall 17, Maddie Garza 20

RECORDS: Sharyland High (13-10, 0-2); Harlingen South (Not reported)

JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

Gerardo Silva walks along a diving board at the Brownsville Natatorium with an expressionless gaze. As the board bends, Silva propels himself skyward, swinging his arms above his head. He is perpendicular with the pool for a moment before executing a summersault. He tumbles toward the water, uncoiling in time to meet the surface as flat as a paddle.

His 5-foot-4-inch, 120-pound build creates minimal splash. He lifts himself out of the water as a panel of four poolside judges hold up their scorecards. An announcer relays their assessment on a 10-point scale.

“7, 6, 5, 5.”

Silva is satisfied.

“I did pretty good,” he said.

Silva, who goes by Jerry, isn’t immediately concerned with his scorecard. Instead, he scans a nearby bench for something more pertinent — a towel. Once he spots the teal cloth, he wraps it around his muscular shoulders.

In all, there will be 11 dives for Silva, each measuring one meter in height. It’s the first day of the Brownsville Pre-Regional Showcase, a two-day event for many of the Rio Grande Valley’s swim programs to prepare for district competition. Silva represents the Edinburg North Cougars.

Until his next dive, Silva sits in the warm December sunshine. He mingles with other divers, trading jokes and snacking on a sandwich. He carries himself like the other kids in attendance: genial when dry, competitive when soaked.

But what separates Silva from his peers is apparent upon meeting him. The 17-year-old sports four tattoos on his upper body, all of equal significance and different meaning. A rosary wraps around his neck, the crucifix etched over his heart. His mother’s name, Satonina, is inked in elegant cursive on his left pectoral. “Only God can judge me” proclaims from his upper back while the outline of the state of Texas rests on his right ribcage.

Silva received the tattoos when he was 14, a period of misdirection and little guidance. It was a time when he was content to simply be alive.

MI VIDA LOCA

Silva was born the sixth of seven children. He grew up in Muniz, a neighborhood on the eastern edge of Edinburg. He lived with his mother and three of his brothers: Angel, 21, Frank, 19, and Gabriel 13.

Silva’s mother was a housekeeper and a single mom. She’d work while the children were at school, earning $40 a day. The family of five shared a two-bedroom home. Though living conditions were modest, their mother’s earnings, along with food stamps, were enough for the essentials.

But Silva knew from a young age not all was well with his mom. Normally an outgoing personality, she would at times grow silent and obsessively clean the family’s home, a means of concealing a drug and alcohol addiction.

Satonina ingested beer and cocaine, and smoked marijuana on a daily basis. The boys confronted her to no avail.

“She would do the basic stuff for us, like clean and wash,” Angel said. “That would be her excuse. That she did everything she needed to do.”

Though their mother provided food and shelter, she did not give her sons guidance. While Satonina took her regimen of substances, Silva and his brother Frank roamed the streets, becoming involved in its nefarious elements. The duo eventually joined the Loco Trece gang (Crazy 13), a number that equaled Silva’s age at the time. He was jumped into the gang in his friend’s backyard.

Silva’s activities in Loco Trece ranged from innocuous to violent. He and his friends would smoke marijuana and take pills before short-changing the ice cream man one day, only to be shot at by rival gangs in drive-bys the next. Silva was never struck by a bullet. His cohorts weren’t so lucky.

“One guy got shot in the leg,” he said. “Another was in a coma.”

In seventh grade, Silva took his street life to Sauceda Middle School in Donna, selling drugs in the band hall and starting a gang fight in the cafeteria.

“I threw a chair at this big kid,” Silva said. “He was from another gang and he was running his mouth, so I shut him up.”

SUPPORT STRUCTURE

After the cafeteria brawl, Silva became known to Debra Harris, and was later placed in her math class as an eighth grader.

In class, Silva could be irritable, disruptive and disrespectful. His role in the lunchroom fight meant he had to eat in Harris’ classroom. While the two ate their meals, Silva revealed a more thoughtful side of himself.

“We would talk about God,” Harris said. “He would ask me, ‘Do you believe people can change?’”

From those religions conversations, Silva revealed his home life to his teacher. At the time, family friends had already called Child Protective Services on his mother for her unyielding drug use. The children stayed with relatives close by.

It was around this time that Silva received his tattoos at a friend’s house.

“He would come to school and show them off,” Harris said. “He would lift up his shirt and say, ‘Look what I got.’”

While Silva was having needles applied to his skin, he applied himself in the classroom through a science project. He worked with science teacher Jim Tauzel on calculating the trajectory of rockets as they fell to earth, eventually winning first place in a regional science fair. Tauzel offered the project to all his students, with Silva as the only taker.

The two teachers were the first adults with a vested interested in Silva’s future.

In the spring of 2012, Silva’s house was raided by authorities. They came for his brother Frank, who was still breaking into houses. A family on the ropes was dismantled by the CPS. Frank was taken to Dolph Briscoe prison in Dilley to serve a three-year sentence. Gabriel was placed in foster care while Angel lived with a friend. His brother’s imprisonment rattled Silva.

“I didn’t want to become like him,” he said. “I saw what would happen to me if I kept going down the path I was on.”

Silva knew the best way to remain clean was to live with Harris.

“There wasn’t anyone else in the family to take care of him,” Harris said.

CLEAN SLATE

Silva moved in with Harris before his freshman year in 2012 and was given boundaries. Silva was drug tested every two weeks. When he failed, his video game and skateboarding privileges were revoked. He was given a curfew and good grades were expected. Harris’ final creed was something new for Silva — he had to participate in a sport of his choosing.

Silva settled on diving through a process of elimination. Too small for football, too short for basketball and uninterested in running cross country. Silva’s streamlined physique and acrobatic athleticism lent itself to the diving board.

Harris moved Silva out of the Donna school district before the start of high school in order to give him a new beginning. Classmates at Sauceda knew of Silva’s gang activates, which hindered attempts to better himself.

At Edinburg North, Silva could be anyone. He dropped his acquaintances in Loco Trece and hasn’t spoken to them since.

“I want to become someone in life,” Silva said.

That’s not to say his past is invisible. He still carries the ink from his previous life. It was his tattoos which made a first impression on Fernando Delgado, Edinburg North’s swimming and diving coach.

“I wasn’t freaked out,” Delgado said. “I just had to ask what they were.”

Delgado initially wanted Silva to pull double duty as a swimmer and diver. Away from the board, however, Silva flopped. His lungs were heavily damaged by the volume of smoke he inhaled in Loco Trece. A stroke as simple as the 50-yard freestyle sent cramps along his ribcage.

Nonetheless, Delgado kept Silva on the team as a diver. He knew Silva needed somewhere to go after school to avoid trouble, but he saw an innate skill in him that was unteachable.

“He’s fearless,” Delgado said. “To be in diving you can’t be afraid.”

Silva credits his fearlessness to his rough upbringing. He survived random gunfire, why fret over a midair summersault?

“I’m not afraid of anything,” Silva said.

Silva is in the midst of a remarkable stretch of diving, dating back to January. He has placed in the top four in five of his last six meets.

His success in the pool is reflected in the classroom. Silva hopes to attend college and someday become a lawyer.

He still has a relationship with his mother, who lives with Angel in Edinburg. The two meet every weekend for two-hour visitations arranged by CPS. Silva harbors resentment for her many empty promises to clean up.

“She’s still the same person, but I love her. She’s my mom,” he said.

There are still more dives for Silva to complete at the Brownsville Natatorium. The next one on the list is the most complicated and involves a full twist followed by a one-and-a-half summersault. The looming task leaves the otherwise confident kid pessimistic.

“I don’t know about this one,” he said. “I’ve never tried it before.”

Silva assumes his position on the board. His back is to the pool, his arms held at shoulder height. His face is once again emotionless. He gathers momentum with a brisk pair of jumps before he once again leaps into the air. He twirls above the pool, his arms and legs in fluid motion before breaking the water with his outstretched hands.

He glides under the surface while the judges again give their verdict. Silva’s head buoys from below in time to hear the numbers read.

“5 1/2, 5, 5 1/2, 5.”

Jerry shows a charming smile, reaches for his customary towel and leans over to a fellow diver.

“That wasn’t so bad.”

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BY JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

McAllen High coach Roy Gonzalez saw half of his team’s offense vanish in just four days.

The Lady Bulldogs fancied an inside-out game to begin the season. Senior forward Savanna Weaver would hog the paint and crash the boards while the sharp-shooting talents of Kathy Maravilla and Heavan Wilbanks fired away from long range.

But Weaver played just eight games before tearing her right ACL in a tournament game on Nov. 21. The loss was compounded by the sudden departure of sophomore Sydney Pemelton on Nov. 25, citing personal reasons for her leaving.

Gonzalez has not ruled out a possible return for Pemleton, but says he has not discussed such a scenario.

In the ensuing weeks, McHi adjusted its offensive game-plan.

“(We play) more of an outside game,” Gonzalez said. “Everything we learned coming into the season is kind of out the door now. But when you’re an outside team, you live and die by it.”

The Lady Bulldogs had a litany of shooting woes in their most recent game, a 60-47 district-opening loss to 30-6A opponent La Joya Palmview earlier this month. McHi’s trio of Erika Mora, Maravilla and Wilbanks combined for just 8 of 32 from the floor. Weaver dressed and participated in pre-game warmups, but was sat by Gonzalez, who sees no need to rush her back.

Despite the unforeseen circumstances, The Lady Bulldogs have adjusted well enough to remain optimistic on the season. The team’s record is 10-11, 0-1 in District 30-6A and Gonzalez continues to tinker with various lineups.

“It’s a game-to-game situation,” he said. “It all depends on matchups and who we’re playing. Every game will be different. I don’t see us starting the same five against any one.”

McHi’s next game will be a Dec. 30 contest at Mission Veterans (11-9, 1-0 District 31-5A).

RAPID GROWTH

Edinburg Vela’s freshman center Bianca Cortez has had little time to adjust to varsity play, and had her toughest test in the Lady Sabercat’s district-opening win over Sharyland High earlier this month.

“Before the game, I asked her how she felt, what was going through her mind. I told her that I wasn’t expecting much from her” coach Lottie Zarate said. “She was honest with me. She said she was intimidated by (Sharyland’s) bigs.”

In that game a 54-38 Vela victory, Cortez scored just six points and was flummoxed by Lady Rattlers forward Maddie Garza.

For Vela’s next game against Roma, Zarate was more forceful with her young post player.

“I told her (Roma) doesn’t have the size that Sharyland does,” she said. “I told her I expect a double-double.”

Cortez answered the call with 23 points and 10 rebounds en route to a 70-60 victory. The bulk of her scoring occurred on put-backs and baseline jumpers.

Though Cortez isn’t the focal point of Vela’s offense, which has a speedy guard combo in Ariel Rodriguez and Jaida Muhammad, Zarate is nonetheless impressed with what she’s seen in Cortez.

“She’s had to grow up fast,” she said.

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