BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

After six years of coaching the McAllen High Lady Bulldogs, Roy Gonzalez announced Wednesday that he is resigning from the position effective Friday.

“After being a part of this program in one way or another since 1978, my love for this school and this program allowed me to make this decision in the interest of the McHi Lady Bulldogs,” Gonzalez said in a statement released via email. “It was not an easy choice, but we move ahead anyway.”

Gonzalez became the McHi head coach in 2010, leading the team to four playoff appearances and a 49-33 record in district play. Gonzalez worked as an assistant for 13 years under former Lady Bulldogs coach Teresa Casso, who is also Gonzalez’s aunt.

Gonzalez was 10 years old when Casso coached the first five-on-five girls basketball team fielded by McHi in 1978 and attended the team’s inaugural game — a contest against PSJA High. Since that time, Gonzalez says he’s attended over 1,300 Lady Bulldogs basketball games as a spectator or coach.

“I always have high expectations for this program,” Gonzalez said during a phone interview. “I’m not happy with where we’re at. I think it’s best to let someone else get a chance at it and show what they can do.”

Despite making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in District 30-6A, the Lady Bulldogs have gone 11-13 in district competition while dealing with recurring injuries to key players and counting on underclassmen to step up and produce.

Gonzalez says he’s contemplated resignation and life after basketball before, beginning last season when the battered and bruised Lady Bulldogs opened district play with an 0-4 record. Gonzalez addressed his team Wednesday to inform them of his decision to step down.

“Of course the kids get emotional, no matter what,” Gonzalez said. “If you rip ‘em get after ‘em, these kids know that we love them and do everything we do for them to succeed. I just told them that they need to move forward. I told them I knew they’d be successful from here on in. This decision had nothing to do with them.”

Gonzalez says he looks forward to spending more time with family, but is keeping his options open regarding a possible return to the hardwood.

“If something presents itself, I’d look at it,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think i’m done with coaching. I don’t want to say I’ll never coach again.”

[email protected]

Valley-Girls Basketball Playoff Scores and Schedule

Class 6A Area

Friday’s Games

Laredo Alexander 60, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 49

Harlingen High 53, Laredo United 49

PSJA North 52, Del Rio 40

Weslaco High 54, Laredo United South 49

Class 5A Area

Friday’s Game

Victoria East 59, Edinburg Vela, 52

Flour Bluff 59, Mission Veterans 36

Laredo Cigarroa 43, Rio Grande City 31

Victoria West 75, Sharyland High 41

Class 4A Area

Friday’s Games

Crystal City 58, Hidalgo 47

Class 3A Area

Friday’s Game

Odem 42, Edinburg IDEA Quest 28

Class 6A Regional-Quarterfinal

Laredo Alexander 55, PSJA North 48

Weslaco High 56, Harlingen High 46

Class 6A Regional-Semifinal

Friday’s Game

Weslaco High vs. San Antonio Wagner at UTSA, 6 p.m.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

ALICE — Belle Palacios is used to running. As an integral part of PSJA North’s up-tempo and high-scoring offense, the senior forward often counts speed an advantage.

But during Tuesday’s Class 6A regional quarterfinal against Laredo Alexander at Alice High School, Palacios and the rest of the Lady Raiders found themselves on the wrong side quickness. With a deep roster and superior athleticism, Alexander handed North a 55-48 loss.

PSJA North finishes the season with an overall record of 31-5.

“We were exhausted,” Palacios said. “ We didn’t’ expect Alexander to be that fast. We kept up with them for a bit, but they played their heart out … We’ve played fast teams, but we didn’t expect this. We came into this not knowing what to expect. They took us up and down that court and we just couldn’t keep up with them.”

Palacios led the team in scoring with 13 points in addition to six rebounds.

Tuesdays’ game was the second time in as many years the Lady Raiders lost to the Lady Bulldogs in the postseason. But while last season saw an easy rout for Alexander, round two saw a spirited Lady Raiders squad that refused to go away.

Alexander jumped out to an 11-5 lead midway through the first quarter thanks to its press defense and ability to score in transition. But North, a guard-heavy unit with a bevy of ball handlers, drew even with quick passes that solved Alexander’s defense and resulted in easy layups for junior post Stephanie Crisipin, who scored all seven of her points during the opening quarter.

“We were making some easy ones,” PSJA North coach Randy Bocanegra said. “They stopped pressing us once we made those baskets, and it helped our offense kind of settle down.”

While Crispin provided a consistent post presence during the early going, the Lady Raiders struggled from downtown for much of the night. Senior guard Arianna Medrano, the team’s biggest 3-point threat, went 0-for-11 from long range during the first half despite receiving several open looks.

North’s long range threat proving ineffective, it continued to force the issue inside. Junior guard Sarah Serrano scored six of her nine points during the second quarter off of floaters in the lane.

Alexander led 32-27 at the half.

“We tried to get Arianna as open as much as we could, because that’s our shooter,” Serrano said. “But she wasn’t hitting them. They counted on me to take it in. We just couldn’t really shoot as well as we usually do.”

Alexander began to pull away during the third quarter, in which they opened with a 6-0 run. The Lady Raiders appeared winded on offense and were missing assignments on the other side of the ball.

Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs kept running and gunning thanks to its depth. Alexander’s bench outscored North’s 21-2, including 15 points from McCayla Munoz.

“She’s been doing that for us all year,” Alexander coach Gilbert Garza said. “It’s all about balance and trying to make sure that there is one basketball and five players that are looking to score. We’re a team full of scorers and everybody wants the ball at one time.”

Laredo led by as many as 13 during the second half, but North responded in the form of a productive Medrano, who scored 11 points in the final two quarters — including a trio of 3-pointers.

With its deep ball a threat once more, North rallied and trailed just 50-46 with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter. But the team’s supply of open looks and easy buckets ran dry, as did the game clock. After a steal and subsequent breakaway layup, the Lady Bulldogs were content to kill clock and force the Lady Raiders to foul, effectively putting their season on ice.

The loss ends a two-year run in which the Lady Raiders were among the Valley’s most consistent units. During that time, North has amassed a 61-10 record, won a share of a district championship and made back-to-back appearances in the third round of the playoffs.

“It’s a credit to the hard work they put in,” Bocanegra said. “They were able to maintain where we started. We’ve been building things here for 10 years. The girls this year have been putting in the hard work, and hopefully the younger girls follow. That’s how a tradition gets started.”

[email protected]

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Tough buckets are hard to come by on a team like PSJA North. Often undersized and reliant on outside shooting, the Lady Raiders are defined by finesse and soft hands instead of guts and grit.

But a team doesn’t make back-to-back appearances in the area around without its share of toughness, and North wouldn’t be playing Laredo Alexander today were it nor for Sarah Serrano.

As the team ventures to Alice to face the Lady Bulldogs in the postseason for the second time in as many years, they have Serrano to thank in part for their success. In the Lady Raiders’ two playoff victories, the junior guard has displayed levelheadedness as a ball handler and acquired a monopoly on the team’s share of tough points.

During Friday’s 52-40 bi-district win against Del Rio, Serrano scored 14 points, all of them coming near the rim, and provided a spark for a North team that made just two shots from downtown.

“She just lowered her head and penetrated,” PSJA North coach Randy Bocanegra said. “No one else was really making their shots, so she just kept attacking and attacking.”

A quick glance at Serrano’s stat line doesn’t reveal much other than consistency. She averages 12.5 points per game, less than a point above her average from a year ago (11.6), and her assists, steals and turnovers per game are virtually identical during the same two-year span.

Though her numbers appear stagnant despite her production, Serrano is a more mature player than she was during her sophomore year. Where she would make excuses or deflect criticism when she made an error, she now takes ownership of mistakes, acknowledges her role as a go-to player and acts accordingly.

That pugnacious and self-aware attitude was almost never present this year for the Lady Raiders. After tearing cartilage in her right knee during an early-season practice, Serrano contemplated giving up hoops in favor of soccer, her preferred sport.

“I want to play college soccer,” Serrano said. “My parents and I talked about it. They were concerned about me getting hurt playing a sport that I know I’m not going to college for. If I’m going to get hurt, at least let it be in soccer.”

Despite the injury, Serrano resolved to remain on the hardwood. She cites close relationships with Bocanegra and her teammates as factors for staying.

Serrano was due to receive surgery on her ailing joint, but skipped an appointment with the knife after being cleared by a second opinion. Still, she faced a difficult early part of the season fraught with little to no playing time. During pre-season tournaments, she sat on the bench as her teammates rounded into shape.

Even with the significant off-time and a nagging knee, Serrano immediately contributed once she returned for a rigorous tour through District 31-6A. She scored 19 and 25 points during games against Weslaco High and Edinburg North, respectively, and has since become part of North’s potent trio along with seniors Belle Palacios and Arianna Medrano.

But along with her scoring, Serrano provides versatility for a team low on depth. Her strength allows her to muscle into the paint, but her vision and deft passing sets up a trigger-happy team of shooters. Serrano leads the team in assists per game with 4.2.

Her multi-dimensional talents translate to defense, as well. During North’s win over Del Rio, Serrano was forced to guard the post once Palacios got in early foul trouble. Though smaller than the competition, her strength and savvy play helped the Lady Raiders stifle their taller opponents.

“I do this for my team,” Serrano said. “This is something that we’ve all worked really hard to get to. We’re a good team and we can go far. I just play the way I do for them and my coach.”

[email protected]

Indian Nation Relays

Bennie La Prade Stadium , Donna

Feb. 20

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

BOYS

TRACK EVENTS

100-Meter dash

1, Jesus Vera, Mission High, 11.0; 2, Rodrigo Vega, Donna High, 11.1; 3, David Gonzalez, Valley View, 11.3; 4, Eugenio Rosales, Mission High, 11.5; 5, Tommy Zurita, Pot Isabel, 11.7; 6, Brandon Gonzalez, Valley View, 12.2.

200-Meter dash

1, David Gonzalez, Valley View, 24.1; 2, Brandon Casas, Sharyland Pioneer, 24.2; 3, Jacob Rosales, Sharyland Pioneer, 24.7; 4, Jose Cantu, Mission High, 25.0; 4, Mark Piña, Donna North, 25.0; 6, Jarrod Galvan, Port Isabel, 25.2.

400-Meter dash

1, Alec Garcia, Sharyland Pioneer, 52.3; 2, Cody Sanchez, Sharyland Pioneer, 54.4; 3, Juan P. Cantu, Valley View, 55.0; 3, Kevin Muñoz, Velly View, 55.0; 5, Josue Perez, Sharyland Pioneer, 56.9; 6, Sebastian Gonzalez, Mission High, 59.5.

800-Meter run

1, Justin Romero, Sharyland Pioneer, 2:03.9; 2, Francisco Morales, Donna High, 2:04.8; 3, Vicente Franco, McAllen Rowe, 2:07.7; 4, Juan P. Cantu, valley View, 2:07.9; 5, Daniel Delgado, Sharyland Pioneer, 2:08.9; 6, Josh Cedillo, Sharyland Pioneer, 2:09.9 .

1600-Meter run

1, Jose Aleman, Sharyland Pioneer, 4:33.6; 2, Francisco Morales, Donna High, 4:35.1; 3, Rudy Aranda, Sharyland Pioneer, 4:43.7; 4, Alejandro Castillo, Donna High, 4:36.1; 5, Daniel Delgado, Sharyland Pioneer, 4:50.7; 6, Jason Hernandez, Donna High, 4:51.1.

3200-Meter run

1, Jose Aleman, Sharyland Pioneer, 9:49.1; 2, Marcos Garza, Sharyland Pioneer, 10:13.3; 3, Jasson Hernandez, Donna High, 10:56.1; 4, Aldredo Ruiz, Valley View, 11:08.9.

110-Meter hurdles

1, Omar Silva, Port Isabel, 15.6; 2, Tristan Guerra, Sharyland Pioneer, 15.8; 3, Marc Garcia, Mission High, 16.0; 4, Josh Rosales, Sharyland Pioneer, 16.5; 5, Joseph Gonzalez, Sharyland Pioneer, 17.3; 6, Daniel Martinez, Port Isabel, 17.7.

300-Meter hurdles

1, Marc Garcia Mission High, 40.7; 2, Omar Silva, Port Isabel, 41.5; 3, Tristan Guerra, Sharyland Pioneer, 42.1; 4, Josh Rosales, Sharyland Pioneer, 44.7; 5, Joseph Gonzalez, Sharyland Pioneer, 45.8; 6, Daniel Martinez, Port Isabel, 46.3.

400-Meter relay

1, Sharyland Pioneer, 44.5; 2, Mission High, 44.7; 3, McAllen Rowe, 45.5; 4, Valley View, X45.7; 5, Port Isabel, 46.3.

800-Meter relay

1, Sharyland Pioneer, 1:33.2; 2, Mission High, 1:34.1; 2, McAllen Rowe, 1:34.1; 4, Port Isabel, 1:36.9; 5, Donna High, 1:38.6.

1600-Meter relay

1, Sharyland Pioneer, 3:31.6; 2, McAllen Rowe, 3:34.4; 3, Donna High, 3:36.4; 4, Valley View, 3:44.5; 5, Port Isabel, 3:49.6.

FIELD EVENTS

High Jump

1, Robert Rosales, Valley View, 6-00; 2, William Proctor, Sharyland Pioneer, 5-10; 3, Tyler Trigg, Sharyland Pioneer, 5-08; 4, Fernando Garza, Port Isabel, 5-06; 5, Javier Meza, Valley View, 5-02.

Pole Vault

1, Angel Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer, 10-06; 2, Santiago Garcia, Sharyland Pioneer, J10-06; 3, Michael Hernandez, 8-06.

Long Jump

1, Marcus Barrera, Donna High, 20-04.75; 2, Fernando Garza, Port Isabel, 19-08; 3, Chezzare Gonazlez, Valley View, 19-07.5; 4, Johnny Suarez, Sharyland Pioneer, 19-07; 6, Chaunts Wston, Sharyland Pioneer, 19-04.

Triple Jump

1, Marcus Barrera, Donna High, 40-08.5; 2, Chaunts Weston, Sharyland Pioneer, 40-06.75; 3, Hector Bosquez, McAllen Rowe, 40-01; 4, Johnny Suarez, Sharyland Pioneer, 39-00; 5, Chezzare Gonzalez, Valley View, 38-10; 6, Ricky Gonzalez, Port Isabel, 36-03.25.

Shot Put

1, Johnny Howell, Sharyland Pioneer, 51-01; 2, Tanner Trigg, Sharyland Pioneer, 47.10.5; 3, Nicholas Marquez, Port Isabel, 46-07; 4, Raul Villarreal, Port Isabel, 44-05; 5, Cesar Villegas, Donna High, 44-00; 6, Oscar Rodriguez, Mission High, 40-05.

Discus

1, Tanner Trigg, Sharyland Pioneer, 154-02; 2, Sydney Mock, Port Isabel, 153-08; 3, Johnny Howell, Sharyland Pioneer, 153-06; 4, Cesar Villegas, Donna High, 147-02; 5, Homero Webber, Donna High, 124-00; 6, Ian Torres, Port Isabel, 122-06.

GIRLS

TRACK EVENTS

100-Meter dash

1, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 12.4; 2, Quetzel Toren, McAllen High, 13.1; 3, Olivia Cano, Mission High, 13.1; 4, Melody Magee, McAllen High, 13.3; 5, Bridgett Famigliette, Sharyland Pioneer, 13.4; 6, Sarah Killian, McAllen High, 13.5.

200-Meter dash

1, Rebeca Martinez, Sharyland Pioneer, 27.4; 2, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 28.1; 3, Daniele Echavarria, McAllen High, 28.3; 4, Valerie Ramirez, McAllen Memorial, 28.6; 4, Mariana Gonzalez-Garcia, McAllen Memorial, 28.6; 6, Camila Hernandez, Valley View, 29.7.

400-Meter dash

1, Yvonne Sanchez, Donna High, 104.1; 2, Andrea Reyes, Sharyland Pioneer, 1:04.4; 3, Leann Garza, McAllen High, 1:04.6; 4, Bianca Bejarano, McAllen High, 1:05.7; 5, Karla Rodriguez, Donna North, 1:06.0; 6, Carolina Suarez, McAllen High, 1:07.7.

800-Meter run

1, Kelly Aguinaga, Edcouch-Elsa, 2:25.1; 2, Yanelly Garza, Sharyland Pioneer, 2:32.8; 3, Yvonne Sanchez, Donna high, 2:32.8; 4, Nydia De la Garza, Sharyland Pioneer, 2:33.3; 5, Savana Tamez, Donna High, 2:35.2; 6, Maria Varela, Sharyland Pioneer, 2:35.3.

1600-Meter run

1, Kelly Aguinaga, Edcouch-Elsa, 5:33.9; 2, Nydia De la Garza, Sharyland Pioneer, 5:42.8; 3, Paulina Maldonado, McAllen High, 5:47.5; 4, Nadia Gutierrez, Sharyland Pioneer, 5:52.4; 5, Karen Cruz, Valley View, 5:52.5; 6, Ashley Arteaga, Valley View, 5:56.0.

3200-Meter run

1, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 12:00.7; 2, Paulina Maldonado, McAllen High, 12:22.1; 3, Jennifer Chacon, Donna North, 12:33.0; 4, Nadia Gutierrez, Sharyland Pioneer, 12:30.2; 5, Valerie Flores, Mission High, 12:34.0; 6, Karen Cruz, Valley View, 12:44.8.

100-Meter hurdles

1, Kathia Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 15.3; 2, Andrea Muniga, McAllen Memorial, 16.8; 3, Sarah Killian, McAllen High, 17.2; 4, Jessica Zarate, Sharyland Pioneer, 17.2; 5, Yasmin Gonzalez, McAllen Memorial, 17.4; 6, Karina Ibarra, Valley View, 17.9.

300-Meter hurdles

1, Kathia Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 46.7; 2, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 47.2; 3, Skylar Hernandez, McAllen High, 49.2; 4, Brisia Gonzalez, Port Isabel, 52.7; 5, Jessica Zarate, Sharyland Pioneer, 53.5; 6, Carolina Alamillo, Grulla, 54.4.

400-Meter relay

1, McAllen High, 52.3; 2, Valley View, 53.0; 3, Sharyland Pioneer, 53.5; 4, Edcouch-Elsa, 53.7; 5, Port Isabel, 55.3; 6, Donna High, 55.4.

800-Meter relay

1, McAllen Memorial, 1:50.4; 2, Port Isabel, 153.6; 3, Grulla, 1:54.0; 3; Edcouch-Elsa, 1:54.0; 5, Sharyland Pioneer, 1:55.1; 6, McAllen High, 1:55.4.

1600-Meter relay

1, McAllen Memorial, 4:14.2; 2, McAllen High, 4:16.2; 3, Edcouch-Elsa, 4:25.5; 4, Sharyland Pioneer, 4:30.1; 5, Valley View, 4:33.3; 6, Mission high, 4:36.2.

FIELD EVENTS

High Jump

1, Sarah Killian, McAllen High, 5-00; 2, Sydney Pemelton, McAllen High, J5-00; 3, Madison Bickerton, Port Isabel, 4-10; 4, Carter Helmcamp, McAllen High, J4-10; 5, Angelika Bazan, Sharyland Pioneer, J4-10; 6, Melanie Arenas, Donna High, J4-10.

Pole Vault

1, Bianca Cardenas, Edcouch-Elsa, 9-06; 2, Alexandria Martinez, Port Isabel, 9-06; 3, Elizabeth St. Clair, McAllen Memorial, 9-00; 4, Erica Mire, Port Isabel, 8-06; 4, Sarah Solis, McAllen High, 8-06; 6, Victoria Alanis, McAllen High, 8-00; 6, Brisia Gonzalez, Port Isabel, 8-00.

Long Jump

1, I’Dasha Sorrel, Donna North, 16-08; 2, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 15-11.5; 3, Anna Salazer, Donna High, 15-05; 4, Ava Gomez, Port Isabel, 15-04.5; 5, Camila Hernandez, Valley View, 15-03; 6, Bridgette Famiglietti, Sharyland Pioneer, 15-01.

Triple Jump

1, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 35-11; 2, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 34-02.5; 3, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 33-10.5; 4, Simone Harry, Port Isabel, 33-08; 5, Bridgette Famiglietti, Sharyland Pioneer, 33-00.25; 6, Aniah Chaleff-Reyna, McAllen High, 32-06.25.

Shot Put

1, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 39-00; 2, Malaya Pistokache, Sharyland Pioneer, 34-09.75; 3, Sarahi Gayton, Edcouch-Elsa, 34-04.5; 4, Abigail Flores, Grulla, 34-00; 5, Kaylee Lopez, Donna High, 31-01.75; 6, Stephanie Handy, Donna High, 30-04.

Discus

1, Malaya Pistokache, Sharyland Pioneer, 125-07; 2, Sarahi Gayton, Edcouch-Elsa, 109-07.5; 3, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 109-06.5; 4, Taylor Helmcamp, McAllen High, 109-01.5; 5, Stephanie Handy, Donna High, 101-01; 6, Kaylee Lopez, Donna High, 92-09.5.

Hog Relays Results

Feb. 19

PSJA Stadium

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

BOYS
TRACK EVENTS

100-meter dash

1, Raul Rivas, PSJA Southwest, 11.20; 2, Juan Jose Peña, Roma, 11.36; 2, Edward Ayala, Weslaco High, 11.36; 4, Haru Akiyama, PSJA Southwest, 11.52; 5, Joachim Almaguer, PSJA High, 11.71; 6, Justin Coronado, Weslaco High, 11.92.

200-meter dash

1, Josh McGowen, McAllen High, 22.45; 2, Sergio Murillo, Weslaco High, 23.03; 3, Matthew Guerrero, Mission Veterans Memorial, 23.59; 4, Juan Jose Peña, Roma, 23.76; 5, Ricky Cantu, PSJA Southwest, 23.81; 6, Edward Ayala, Weslaco High, 23.82.

400-meter dash

1, Sergio Murillo, Weslaco High, 50.47; 2, Vicente Rodriguez, PSJA Memorial, 52.10; 3, Martin Salinas, La Joya High, 52.47; 4, Alexis Ramirez, PSJA Memorial, 51.10; 5, Damien Vela, PSJA North, 54.38; 6, Hugo Peña, PSJA Southwest, 54.54.

800-meter run

1, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 2:02.87; 2, Jesus Mata, Mission Veterans Memorial, 2:03.18; 3, Robert Rojas, Weslaco High, 2:03.84; 4, Martin Salinas, La Joya High, 2:04.97; 5, JR Elvira, PSJA North, 2:05.94; 6, Fernando Martinez, PSJA Southwest, 2:07.19.

1600-meter run

1, Juan Orozco, PSJA North, 4:38.51; 2, Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:40.09; 3, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 4:42.09; 4, Jose de Ochoa, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:45.31; 5, Julian Gomez, PSJA North, 4:45.58; 6, Brandon Gracia, Rio Grande City, 4:51.21.

1600-meter run

1, Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 9:59.28; 2, Jose de Ochoa, Mission Veterans Memorial, 10:14.21; 3, Julian Gomez, PSJA north, 10:18.22; 4, Juan Orozco, PSJA North, 10:20.55; 5, Cruz Gomez, PSJA Memorial, 10:27.45; 6, Rolando Ramon, Edinburg High, 10:31.92.

110-meter hurdles

1, Josh McGowen, McAllen High, 14.29; 2, Alexander Lara, Weslaco High, 15.68; 3, Manuel Lerma, McAllen High, 15.72; 4, Brandon Bradford, PSJA North, 15.75; 5, Alex Cabagne, Weslaoc High, 16.84; 6, Robert Vasquez, PSJA Southwest 17.82.

300-meter hurdles

1, Gunnar Henderson, McAllen High, 41.80; 2, Manuel Lerma, McAllen high, 43.05; 3, Erick Flores, Rio Grande City, 43.59; 4, Michael Walden, PSJA Memorial, 43.95; 5, Rene Ramirez, PSJA North, 44.42; 6, Brandon Bradford, PSJA North, 46.06.

400-meter relay

1, PSJA Southwest, 43.86; 2, PSJA North, 44.34; 3, Weslaco High, 44.86; 4, PSJA Memorial, 45.01; 5, Roma, 45.42; 6, PSJA High, 45.81.

800-meter relay

1, PSJA Southwest, 1:32.60; 2, Weslaco High, 1:34.16; 3, McAllen High, 1:34.39; 4, Mission Veterans Memorial, 1:34.47; 5, La Joya High, 1:37.60; 6, Roma, 1:37.94.

1600-meter relay

1, Weslaco High, 3:30.53; 2, PSJA Memorial, 3:23.25; 3, PSJA North, 3:35.06; 4, PSJA High, 3:39.02; 5, Mission Veterans Memorial, 3:39.02; 6, La Joya High, 3:40.48.

3200-meter relay

1, PSJA Memorial, 8:40.88; 2, PSJA High, 8:48.42; 3, PSJA North, 8:58.03; 4, PSJA Southwest, 9:13.79.

FIELD EVENTS

High Jump

1, Joey Castillo, PSJA Memorial, 5-10; 2, Christian Garza, PSJA Memorial, J5-10; 3, Alexander Lara, Weslaco High, 5-08; 4, Ciro Hernandez, PSJA North, J5-08; 5, Ryan Hettler, McAllen high, 5-04; 6, Mark Lara, Weslaco High, J5-04.

Pole Vault

1, Jon Zapata, Weslaco High, 13-00; 2, Bryan Sifuentes, PSJA Southwest, 11-06; 3, Haru Akiyama, PSJA Southwest, 10-06; 4, Jon Moreno, PSJA Southwest, 9-00.

Long Jump

1, Alexander Lara, Weslaco high, 21-11; 2, Josh McGowen, McAllen High, 21-07; 3, Oscar Cantu, PSJA Noth, 20-11; 4, Brandon Ramos, La Joya High, 20-06; 5, Mark Lara, Weslaco High, 20-01; 6, Gunnar Henderson, McAllen High 19-07.

Triple Jump

1, Raudel Alvarez, PSJA North, 44-01; 2, Josh Garcia, PSJA North, 42-01; 3, Vicente Rodriguez, PSJA Memorial, 40-10.5; 4, Jorge Casares, PSJA Memorial, 39-09.5; 5, Manuel Lerma, McAllen High, 36-06; 6, Ivan Garcia, Rio Grande City, 36-02.

Shot Put

1, Mike Gonzalez, 47-05; 2, Juan Ramirez, Roma, 46-00; 3, Dillon McGuffin, Rio Grande City, 45-01.5; 4, Freddy Valdez, Edinburg High, 41-09; 5, Jorge Casaraes, PSJA Memorial, 40-07.5; 6, Jose Peña, McAllen high, 39-09.

Shot Put Wheelchair

1, Christian Trejo, PSJA Southwest, 12-01.5.

Shot Put

1, Mike Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 165-07; 2, Jordan De Leon, Mission Veterans, 158-08.5; 3, Dillon McGuffin, Rio Grande City, 129-07; 4, Alex Santiago, Weslaco High, 127-09; 5, Diego Treviño, PSJA Southwest, 125-09; 6, Jose Peña, McAllen High, 122-08.

GIRLS

TRACK EVENTS

100-meter dash

1, Alejandra Clarke, Rio Grande City, 13.65; 2, Angelica Flores, PSJA North, 13.76; 3, Lizbeth Melendez, PSJA Southwest, 13.77; 4, Yareli Alaniz, Rio Grande City, 13.85; 5, Ashley Ceballos, PSJA North, 13.95; 6, Leslie De La Cruz, PSJA High, 14.05.

200-meter dash

1, Leslie De La Cruz, PSJA High, 29.31; 2, Gabriela Ramirez, PSJA Southwest, 29.62; 3, Clarissa Alvarez, PSJA North, 29.65; 4, Kendra Treviño, Rio Grande City, 29.66; 5, Kayla Mendoz, PSJA Southwest, 30.08; 6, Maddy Balderas, PSJA High, 30.18.

400-meter dash

1, Maria Gonzalez, Mission Veterans, 1:05.46; 2, Tiffany Borrego, PSJA North, 1:06.28; 3, Anahi Robles, PSJA High, 1:07.20; 4, Fatima Rucoba, PSJA Southwest, 1:07.73; 5, Gisela Flores, PSJA North, 1:09.38; 6, Natelie Lazano, PSJA High, 1:10.33

800-meter run

1, Violet Torres, PSJA Memorial, 2:31.48; 2, Mailen Navarro, PSJA Southwest, 2:32.28; 3, Tiffany Borrego, PSJA North, 2:37.29; 4, Alma Diaz, PSJA High, 2:38.75; 5, Gisela Flores, PSJA North, 2:39.26; 6, Stephanie Martinez, PSJA Memorial, 2:39.40.

1600-meter run

1, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 5:33.66; 2, Anna Sanchez, PSJA High, 5:43.27; 3, Violet Torres, PSJA Memorial, 5:46.88; 4, Marlette Treviño, Rio Grande Citty, 5:55.83; 5, Esther Vargas, PSJA North, 5:58.83; 6, Kassandra Rodriguez, PSJA Memorial, 6:01.77.

3200-meter run

1, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 12:02.20; 2, Marlette Treviño, Rio Grande City, 12:24.88; 3, Anna Sanchez, PSJA High, 12:40.87; 4, Esther Vargas, PSJA North, 12:41.24; 5, Victoria Benitez, Roma, 12:53.79; 6, Sandra Flores, PSJA High, 13:24.45.

100-meter hurdles

1, Samantha Rivera, PSJA North, 17.57; 2, Bianca Garza, PSJA North, 17.68; 2, Idani Garza, Rio Grande City, 18.17; 4, Haven Garcia, PSJA Memorial, 20.17; 5, Judith Abigail Tijerina, Mission Veterans Memorial, 20.59.

300-meter hurdles

1, Nyla Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 49.98; 2, Samantha Rivera, PSJA North, 52.03; 3, Narumi Urdiales, PSJA Southwest, 53.19; 4, Bianca Garza, PSJA North, 52.30; 5, Idani Garza, Rio Grande City, 53.32; 6, Guadalube Cruz, Mission Veterans Memorial, 57.48.

400-meter relay

1, Mission Veterans Memorial, 54.06; 2, PSJA Memorial, 54.11; 3, PSJA North, 54.25; 4, Rio Grande City, 54.32; 5, PSJA Southwest, 54.66.

800-meter relay

1, PSJA Memorial, 1:54.59; 2, Mission Veterans Memorial, 1:54.63; 3, Rio Grande City, 1:56.28; 4, PSJA Southwest, 1:57.23; 5, PSJA North, 1:58.27; 6, Roma, 1:59.65.

1600-meter relay

1, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:21.16; 2, PSJA Southwest, 4:26.51; 3, PSJA Memorial, 4:30.21; 4, PSJA High, 4:31.39; 5, PSJA North, 4:63.73; 6, Roma, 5:03.51.

3200-meter relay

1, Mission Veterans Memorial, 10:32.00; 2, PSJA High, 10:50.13; 3, PSJA Southwest, 11:07.64; 4, PSJA North, 11;31.66.

FIELD EVENTS

High Jump

1, Jackie Alanis, PSJA High, 5-00; 2, Charlize De la Garza, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4-10; 3, Narumi Urdiales, PSJA Southwest, 4-08;

Pole Vault

1, Carolina Carrillo, PSJA North, 9-06; 2, Kimberly Castro, PSJA North, 8-06; 3, Amy Clemente, PSJA Memorial, 8-00; 4, Maria Gonzalez, Mission Veterans Memorial, J8-00; 5, Andrea Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 7-00; 6, Chelsea Sifuentes, Mission Veterans Memorial, J7-00.

Long Jump

1, Nyla Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 16-07; 2, Jackie Alanis, PSJA High, 16-01; 3, Amanda Lozano, Mission Veterans Memorial, 15-11; 4, Tiffany Borrego, PSJA North 15-06; 5, Kendra Garcia, PSJA North, 14-05; 6, Jacklyn Salinas, PSJA Memorial, 14-02.

Triple Jump

1, Nyla Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 35-00.50; 2, Jackie Alanis, PSJA High, 33-10.5; 3, Charlize De la Garza, Mission Veterans Memorial, 33-10; 4, Amanda Lozano, Mission Veterans Memorial, 33-01.5; 5, Kendra Garcia, PSJA North, 31-07.5; 6, Carla Muro, PSJA North, 31-06.50.

Shot Put

1, Alexis Vasquez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 35-10; 2, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 32-03.50; 3, Tamara Castilo, PSJA Southwest, 31-06.5; 4, Cynthia Sandoval, Roma, 30-07; 5, Ashley Navarro, Mission Veterans, 30-05; 6, Liana Garcia, Roma, 28-05.

Discus

1, Tamara Castillo, PSJA Southwest, 126-08; 2, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 118-00; 3, Ashley Navarro, Mission Veterans, 109-01; 4, Cynthia Sandoval, Roma, 104-07; 5, Alexis Vasquez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 94-02; 6, Liana Garcia, Roma, 87-04.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

When Joshua Velasquez takes to the pool today at the UIL Swimming and Diving meet in Austin, he will be in a different position than he was a year ago.

While the junior will compete in the boys 100-meter backstroke for PSJA Southwest, last year he swam in the 200 IM for McAllen Memorial. Velasquez was also joined by younger brother Joseph — who also moved to Southwest — as well as a small cast of teammates.

Now Velasquez represents the Javelinas on his own.

When Velasquez made the move from Memorial to Southwest, he didn’t just change programs but class affiliations as well. While the Class 6A competition found at Memorial is fast, the times in Class 5A are more competitive. Instead of swimming against other Valley kids at regionals, Velasquez was tested against programs from Corpus Christi and San Antonio.

“I never really saw anything like that before,” Velasquez said of his time at regionals. “Those San Antonio teams and all those others schools were very fast. It opened my eyes as to what kind of effort it takes to compete at the next level.”

Velasquez is the first swimmer from PSJA Southwest to advance to state.

FRESHMAN FORM
Stacia Benitez had low expectations for her freshman season with McAllen Memorial. For her first year on the varsity squad, she expected to rank near the bottom in her events.

But Benitez didn’t enter the pool without prior experience. She has competed in various club teams and was the only Valley girls swimmer to compete on a team for USA Swimming made up of 13 and 14 year olds in the state.

As the season progressed, and Benitez steadily saw her name at the top of the standings, her confidence grew as well as her hopes for a trip to the state meet.

Today, she’ll achieve just that when she competes in the girls 100 backstroke, an event she won at regionals with a time of 1 minute, 00.12 seconds. Benitez will also compete in two relays.

“I think it’s going to be a good experience for me,” Benitez said. “I’ve swam at the pool where they hold the state meet before, so I know how big it is and what to expect. But I just want to see how I measure up against other swimmers in the state.”

NOT DONE
McAllen ISD swim teams often travel outside the Valley to expose their swimmers to faster competition. Memorial’s Hannah Bradford has traveled outside of team functions as a member of the McAllen Swim Club — competing in pools as far away as Texas A&M.

“It made me realize that I’m not done here,” Bradford said. “It made me realize that there are faster times out there and faster kids. The Valley is only the beginning of what I want to do.”

This marks Bradford’s first time at the state meet, where she will compete in the girls 100 backstroke, the 200 IM as well as two relays.

THREE TIMES TO STATE
At his third visit to state, McAllen High senior Erroll Lizotte will compete as an individual in the boys100 butterfly. Lizotte won first in the event at regionals with a time of 51.25 seconds.

SOPHOMORE SENSATION
In his first year with McAllen High after transferring from Sharyland High, sophomore Shaine Casas will compete in the boys 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

TO THE MAX
McAllen High’s Max Saenz will compete in the boys 200 IM.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Maddie Garza likes to repeat a basketball mantra picked up from her mother: Every rebound she grabs is one less opportunity for her opponents to score.

In that case, Garza has ended plenty of chances, and in record-setting fashion. During a game January 29 against Roma, the Sharyland High senior collected her 1,000th career rebound, the first Lady Rattler to do so during coach Dale Whitaker’s 21-year tenure.

Garza made history once more during Tuesday’s 59-32 bi-district win over Edcouch-Elsa, scoring 15 points to breach 1,000 career points, becoming the only player under Whitaker to achieve both milestones.

The numbers stand as a testament to Garza’s consistency and work ethic. Handmade signs replete with glitter and Garza’s name adorn the Sharyland High gym to celebrate her accomplishments, and she was awarded a custom

“For me, it wasn’t a focus,” Garza said. “I’m just doing what I do. And if it works out, it works out. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I just want to do my best for my team.”

Garza averages 10.8 points and 10.6 rebounds and is one of just four Valley girls players to average a double-double this season. Joining her is teammate Anna Marshall with 15.3 and 11.2, respectively.

Both players will be instrumental for Sharyland tonight when it plays Victoria West in an area-round game at Bishop. Whitaker describes West as an inconsistent team, but one that has athletic ability and a post player with soft hands around the rim.

Where Marshall is a traditional post — no Valley girls player is more effective with their back to the basket — Garza’s skillset is more versatile.

“She’s just a versatile person in general,” assistant coach Julie Clinton said. “She sings, plays guitar, does volleyball, is a hard worker, is taking tough classes in school and is always a leader for us. She doesn’t want to be defined by one thing. She wants to do a lot of things and do all of them well.”

At 5-foot-11, she’s not just on the court because she’s tall. But that was the perception of Garza during her freshman year on varsity. She says some players resented her given her youth. But Garza put in the hard work.

The summer before her freshman season, Garza undertook a hefty workout regimen.

“I had swimming from 5 to 8 in the morning, then I had basketball camps, and open gyms every day,” Garza said. “I had basketball and volleyball workouts every day and on the weekends there were tournaments because I wanted to get better.”

Compounding the team’s lackluster chemistry were the restrictions placed upon Garza. In middle school, she had free range to run the court and shoot whenever the possibility presented itself. For her first year as a varsity center, she wasn’t allowed beyond the block and was questioned by coaches for taking jumpers even when left open.

So raw was Garza, she didn’t even know what posting up meant, let alone how to do it.

“That was interesting,” Garza said. “It was a big change, but you gotta learn.”

The learning curve regressed her sophomore year, a time Garza said she began to grow into her own as a player and a teammate. During her first year as a full-time starter, the clashing personalities dissipated and Garza began to learn from the players around her — including then-senior Alejandra Ruiz, a post who frustrated her younger teammate during practices.

“She would always rip rebounds away from me during practice,” Garza said “She was always really quick and always got around me. It was really frustrating. She was just really strong and really consistent.”

Still, Garza was stuck in the paint playing a position that wasn’t a natural fit. Help arrived last season in the form of the 6-foot-1 Marshall, who allowed Garza to play power forward and demonstrate her versatility.

That pairing has fueled Sharyland’s success. With Marshall on the low block and Garza free to roam about the wing — passing it to open shooters, inside to her teammate or taking the shots herself — her senior season has been a return to her middle school days when she had license to do as she pleased.

“Those restrictions are gone now,” Garza said. “I can dribble a lot more now and make more decisions. Coach has trust in me and my judgment and I have trust in his. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am.”

The Monitor sports reporters Mario Aguirre, Jon R. LaFollette and Greg Luca break down boys and girls #RGVHoops playoffs games and upcoming match-ups.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

During his senior season, McAllen Rowe’s Abraham Rodriguez has been a standout on the diving board. He won the regional title in Brownsville with a new personal best of 375 points, and has come close to breaking the pool record of 384 at his home pool.

Still, Rodriguez knows his first trip to state will be a different experience. Compared to the rest of Texas, he’s projected to finish near the bottom.

“It’s a whole new level,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a higher level. We don’t have many tools to work with down in the Valley. I’m just looking forward to being a better diver and getting a higher score than my personal best.”

For his final season, Rodriguez says he’s improved his approach on the board in order to attain more height and allow maximum airtime. He’s emphasizing his leg and his core during dryland workouts in hopes of doing just that.

“Mentally, I’m a much tougher diver,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t’ care about smacking the water or hitting the board to learn new dives. … I’ve just gotten better at concentrating and overcoming that type of fear.”

OVERCOMING NERVES
Patty Rocha’s time at the state meet a season ago was mostly a learning experience. As a freshman, Rocha took her lumps against the state’s best. For her sophomore year with McAllen Memorial and second straight trip to Austin, she’s looking to break her personal record of 342 set at the regional meet in Brownsville.

“It gets harder the farther you go to get to state,” Rocha said. “The judges are harder because they judge you the way you’re supposed to be judged.”

Rocha isn’t taking any chances with new judges, either. She says she’s sticking with the dives she knows in hopes of not overthinking while on the board. But whatever is thrown her way at state,

Rocha is confident she can succeed.

“My coach knows I can do some dives,” she said. “And if I have to do anything new, I’ll just have to give it my all.”

WATER GYMNASTICS
Eddie Barrera’s journey to state began on the gym mat. In middle school, Barrera participated in gymnastics and only discovered diving on a whim.

At a year-end pool party, Barrera was showing off his athleticism and performing various flips when a lifeguard referenced him to the La Joya High swimming and diving team. As a sophomore, Barrera is traveling to Austin for the first time. He says he’s going for experiences first and foremost, but knows he’ll be back for future visits.

“I still have two years to perfect everything,” Barrera said. “This is something to learn from and see what kind of competition I’ll have the next year I go to state. I’m confident that I’ll be back.”

MAKING THE BEST OF IT
Sharyland Pioneer’s Alexander Cervantes doesn’t have the luxuries of other divers in the state, including a full-time diving coach, foam practice pit or even the proper boards — the boards at his home pool at Bannworth Park in Mission are meant for public use and lack the spring of those found at the state meet.

Looking to adjust for his trip to Austin, the junior diver has been practicing on the boards at the Pharr Aquatic Center.

In addition to getting used to new boards, Cervantes is also adding new dives to his arsenal, including a two and a half back double and an inward one and a half pike.

“My coaches say that whatever I’m comfortable with doing, I should do,” Cervantes said. “I feel confident enough in my abilities to do whatever it is that’s asked of me.”

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