KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

SEGUIN — Believe it! The Santa Rosa Warriors are going back to the Class 3A state basketball tournament for a second straight season after defeating San Antonio Cole 80-66 in the Region IV-3A final on Saturday at Seguin High School.

The Warriors’ offense kept its tempo up, took an early lead and answered every run the third-ranked Cougars threw at them.

Senior AB Lozoya delivered a game high 34-point performance in the win.

“It’s tough making it (to state) once and we lost a lot of talent last year, and a lot of people didn’t give us a chance to win district let alone make it to state again, so this is very special for us to make it back,” said Santa Rosa head coach Johnny Cipriano.

On Friday night in the regional semifinals, Lozoya scored only three points, but on Saturday the senior ripped through the Cougars’ defense like a wild animal.
Lozoya set the tone for the Warriors in the opening period with nine points and helped the Warriors race out to a 24-19 first-quarter lead.

In the second period, Lozoya completed a three- point play and on the next possession drilled a 3-pointer that gave the Warriors a 32-22 lead. The six-point spurt was a theme all afternoon long for Lozoya.

The second half belonged to the Warriors and Lozoya. After struggling to find the basket in Friday’s game, Lozoya delivered.

Meanwhile, Friday’s hero, Ryan Perez, followed up with an 18-point performance and scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

“We saw Cole play and we knew they didn’t like to play fast,” Lozoya said. “It worked out for us, playing fast. In the final minutes, we didn’t want to give it up; we wanted it and I’m proud of my team and excited to be back at state.”

Cipriano praised his senior point guard.

“He is the smallest guy on the court, but he has the biggest heart,” said Cipriano of Lozoya. “He is not afraid of anything. I know him as a per-son, too, and he is just a humble kid. AB has been with us the last four years and he has done a lot for us. After last night, he kept his head down and came back today and had a great game.”

The Warriors will now face Mt. Vernon (35-1) in the state semifinals at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. If they advance, they would then play in the title game at 10 a.m. Saturday against either Bowie or Grandview.

Last year the Warriors came up short in the semis against eventual 3A champion Dallas Madison.

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

SEGUIN — With .5 second left on the clock and the game tied at 35, Santa Rosa senior Ryan Perez ran around a group of defenders, took the inbound pass to the left of the key, and in one continuous motion grabbed the ball and shot it toward the basket as the buzzer sounded.

As everyone in the Seguin High School gym looked on with anticipation, the ball sailed toward the basket – seemingly in slow motion- gin-gerly bounced off the backboard and fell through the net as the Warriors faithful erupted in utter joy and amazement.

Ballgame. Santa Rosa 37, Marion 35.

Perez, who had backpedaled toward center court after the shot, was suddenly mobbed by teammates as the Warriors celebrated a Class 3A regional semifinal victory for the third straight season.

“It was a heck of a pass. Coach drew it up and I knew I had to take the shot, but it was a perfect pass,” an elated Perez said. “They (Marion) set a good screen, but the pass was perfect. That was my first game-winning basket of my career and it just happened to be in a playoff game.”

The Warriors will now face San Antonio Cole at 1 p.m. today for a chance to play in the Class 3A state final four for the second year in a row.

Santa Rosa senior AB Lozoya, who scored 40 in the Warriors’ last outing, finished Friday’s contest with just three points, but he hit a set of free throws late that helped the Warriors keep a three-point lead until Marion’s Creet Rabenaldt buried the game-tying 3-pointer with nine seconds left.

Warriors head coach Johnny Cipriano, who often keeps trick plays in his back pocket, pulled out a doozy this time around.

“We have never run that play before,” said Cipriano. “I almost switched the in-bounder, but we got the pass in and it worked, and, hey, we look good now. I just felt like we could make the basket.

“We knew Ryan had a good matchup and he is good at those tip-ins. Sometimes he makes them, sometimes he doesn’t and fortunately for us he made it.”

Santa Rosa fell behind early 7-2 in the first quarter until Perez caught fire from beyond the arc and scored all 11 of the Warriors’ points in the opening period with nine of those points coming from 3-point land.

Perez’s hot hand continued into the second period with a pair of 3s as he finished with 17 first-half points.

After a quick-paced first half, Santa Rosa slowed things down and both defenses held each other in check with Marion outscoring the Warri-ors 8-5 in the third.
Perez finished the contest with a team high 23 points.

“It was an amazing play,” Lozoya said of the game-winner. “That play is made for Ryan. That shot was amazing and he was on fire all night, and I’m glad he made the shot.

“I didn’t play my best tonight, but we won and that is all that matters. We’re keeping the same mentality because we want to keep winning and make it back to state.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

BROWNSVILLE — This weekend’s Brownsville ISD softball tournament is packed with some of the top teams in the Valley and is also serving as a tuneup for some area teams as they prepare for the start of district play next week.

LYFORD: Sophomore Jerrica Rojas twirled a gem in the circle for the Lady Bulldogs against PSJA High. Rojas fanned five in four innings of work and also provided a spark at the plate with a four-run third inning that helped Lyford to a 7-2 win in their tournament opener. In the second game of the twin bill, PSJA answered with a 5-2 win.

“I thought I did well in the circle and my pitches were working for me,” Rojas said. “My curve was working and it had some good movement. As a team, we did really well and we’re hoping to continue this throughout the tournament. I like these types of tournaments because they prepare us for our season.”

Hanna Garza checked in a 2 for 3 day at the plate with two runs scored while battery mate Clarisa Gonzalez drew two walks and scored a pair of runs.

Lyford trialed 2-1 heading into the third inning. Serena Rodriguez and Rojas provided the offense and took a 5-2 lead. Lyford later added a pair of runs in the fourth inning to seal the win.

The Lady Dogs will continue tournament play today against Brownsville Pace at 10 a.m. and Harlingen High at 2 p.m. with both games being played at Rivera High School.

“We hit the ball well today and our defense was a little rough considering the wind,” said Lyford coach Joey Rios. “Our pitching was great and our team chemistry and communication is coming along. It helps that we play tougher teams, it helps us get ready for district play and the postseason.”

RIO HONDO: The young Lady Cats continued to endure growing pains in the early portion of the season. In their tournament opener against Mercedes, Rio Hondo couldn’t generate any offense until the last inning.

Mercedes pitcher Keandra Rodriguez stymied the Lady Cats and used a four-run third inning and a pair of three-run innings in the fourth and fifth en route to a 14-5 win.

In their second game against Lopez, Rio Hondo rebounded with a 7-3 win against Lopez. Rio Hondo jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and leaned on Nayeli Garcia, who scored three runs and drew three walks in the win.

Rio Hondo will now meet Brownsville Hanna at 10 a.m. today at Hanna High School and will follow with a 2 o’clock contest against Edcouch-Elsa.

“We started out well against Mercedes, but they had a three-run inning and we got a little down on ourselves,” said Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza. “Our inability to execute at the plate hurt us against a quality team like Mercedes.

“I’m glad the way the kids fought back and we finished strong with a win. We’re young and we’re taking our lumps, and hopefully we can get healthy and we’re looking forward to getting the younger girls more time and getting ready to continue district on Tuesday.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

SANTA ROSA — Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.

That old saying held true on Tuesday night when Santa Rosa senior point guard AB Lozoya had a game to remember as he scored a career high 40 points in a 76-71 playoff win against Corpus Christi London.

Lozoya’s monster performance earned him this week’s Valley Morning Star boys Player of the Week honors.

“It’s an honor to win player of the week. Santa Rosa is meant for basketball and for me to win this means a lot to me and my team.” Lozoya said.
This year marks Lozoya’s third trip to the Sweet 16 and prior to his team’s matchup against London, Lozoya felt he was in the zone.

“So many people doubted us,” Lozoya said. “We wanted to make the Sweet 16 for coach and for our team. All we had to do was believe in ourselves and we did that.

“I told coach since our shoot around that I was feeling it. I didn’t think I was going to shoot that many times, but I just wanted to keep it go-ing. When they told me how many points I scored, I was surprised but I was just happy that we picked up the win.”

Up next for the Warriors is a Class 3A regional semifinal showdown against Marion at 6 tonight at Seguin High School.

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa Warriors are once again the final basketball team standing in the Valley.

The Warriors have found themselves in the regional tournament for a third straight year and senior Jay Guerra has been a part of each of the playoff runs.

On Tuesday, Guerra hit a crucial free throw in the final seconds that gave the Warriors a two-possession lead that helped seal a regional quarterfinals win over Corpus Christi London.

The Valley Morning Star had a chance to catch up with Guerra.
—
Q: You guys are back in the Sweet 16. How does that feel as a senior?
A: As a senior, getting to the Sweet 16 feels good because we graduated five talented players and had to prove to ourselves and others that we could continue the tradition.

Q: What is the experience like to be a part of the regional tournament?
A: The first year was exciting just to be that far into the playoffs and reaching the Elite 8 just to lose by 1 point. The second year, we were driven to reach state. I felt like we were the team to beat. This year, even though we’ve been there twice, I feel like we are the Cinderella team. No one expected us to make it back.

Q: Do you have any pre-game meals or pre-game superstitions?
A: We, the team, eat at the same place during the playoffs every game day. I order the same thing – baked chicken. We also make time to pray before every game.

Q: Over the past four years, what has it meant to be a part of such a special basketball program?
A: As a freshman, I took it for granted. Now, as a senior, I’ve realized how much we have accomplished and how big basketball is to the community of Santa Rosa. I hope we have set standards for future teams to achieve and surpass.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge for you this season?
A: The biggest challenge for me was overcoming a broken ankle from football season and missing half of the basketball season.

Q: Talk about the bond between you and this year’s group of seniors?
A: We’ve been playing together since sixth grade and with AB (Lozoya) since eighth grade; we would talk about reaching state like the 2009 team. Through the years we helped each other accomplish this goal in 2017 and with Ryan Perez coming to the team, this year, he fit right in like part of the family. We are cherishing our final games together.

Q: What has been the loudest gym you have played in?
A: I thought it was in Seguin in 2017 after qualifying for state, but that changed this past Tuesday in Falfurrias after we took the lead with 20 seconds left when I made a free throw to seal the game.

Q: If you could pick a super power what would it be and why?
A: The ability to stay young because who wants to get old?

Q: Who is your favorite NBA player and why?
A: Russell Westbrook, because he has such determination to win and he does not back down to anyone.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone in history who would it be and why?
A: James Naismith to let him know that his invention of basketball has brought many exciting memories and friendships through competition.

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

CORPUS CHRISTI — It was a little too late for Harlingen High on Tuesday night.

In a Class 6A regional quarterfinal playoff game against Laredo Alexander, the Cardinals trailed by as many as 12 in the third quarter but rallied late behind senior Jeremy Vasquez, who scored a team high 28 points.

But for every right hook Harlingen threw, Alexander had a counter. That counter was Marco Pena, who netted a game high 42 points and was also 16 for 19 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. He proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs defeated the Cardinals 75-69.

Alexander will now meet Lake Travis in the Sweet 16 later this week. Harlingen, meanwhile, finished the season with a 29-11 overall record.

“Tonight, the kids played tough and played Cardinal basketball,” said Cardinals coach Greg Yates. “The third quarter was rough, but in the fourth quarter the kids had a never-die attitude. We had kids come off the bench and do well from offense and defense. They (Alexander) were a little better than us tonight. He (Pena) is a special talent and we tried to throw different things at him, but he’s a savvy kid.”

Harlingen took the floor Tuesday without junior point guard Michael Arellano, who suffered a season-ending injury in last week’s area-round win over McAllen Memorial.

Still, it was the third quarter that put Harlingen in a bind. Alexander ran the floor and hit shot after shot, and scored 21 points to open up a 51-34 lead going into the final period.

In the third, Harlingen couldn’t find its grove and scored only 12 points.

“Our kids kept fighting, but the third quarter was rough for us,” said Yates. “We came out and turned the ball over early and that hurt us. In the fourth quarter we were able to hit some 3s and get back into it, and we got to the line and hit some free throws. But Pena kept making his free throws and hit his layups, and that made the difference. Our kids did an outstanding job all year long and I’m proud.”

Vasquez, who wrapped up his Cardinal career, kept Harlingen in the game late with a strong 20-point fourth quarter.

The Cards managed to trim the lead to single digits late, but Pena’s free throws helped seal the win for Alexander.

“Coach Yates is proud of us from not making the playoffs last year to making it to the third round this year,” Vasquez said. “The past four years went by fast and I never took it for granted. I want to thank God for putting everything in place for me.

“The coaches took me under their wings and taught me how to play the game. This season was amazing and was a total team effort. We worked hard from when the season ended last year until now and I’m proud to have been a part of this team.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

At the annual La Joya Softball Tournament, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks cruised through pool play on Friday by winning each of their first three games against Zapata, PSJA North and Falfurrias.

And on Saturday, they beat Rio Hondo to earn a spot in the semifinals against District 32-6A rival Los Fresnos.

The Lady Falcons used a pair of homers from Carla Ortiz to help lead Los Fresnos to an 8-3 win against the Lady Hawks.

South got its offense from junior shortstop Krystal Gonzales, who swatted a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the first.

But in the second inning, Natasha Canales platted Alyssa Ledesma to help the Lady Falcons tie the game at three. They then scored two in the third and two in the fourth to seal the win.

“Overall it was a great tournament for us,” said Harlingen South coach Elias Martinez. “We went 4-1 and we lost to Los Fresnos, and that is a testament to how tough our district is. We’re getting better and getting over our injuries.

“We hit the ball well, but we just hit the ball at them and we just need to keep swinging. We played tough the whole tournament and we played well both on offense and defense, but there are some things we need to correct but we will be OK.”

Senior ace Kaitlynn De La Fuente received all-tournament honors. On Saturday De La Fuente went 4 for 6 with three runs scored.

Up next for Harlingen South is a non-district tilt at Edinburg North on Tuesday.

RIO HONDO: The young Lady Cats rolled through their pool play on Friday with wins against Brownsville Hanna, Roma and Donna.

In the championship bracket against Los Fresnos, the Lady Cats trailed 2-0 after two innings. But it was the third inning where the offense found its grove and plated eight runs to take an 8-2 lead.

The Lady Falcons rallied thanks to a pair of three-run innings in both the fourth and fifth and won the game on a walk-off base hit by Carla Ortiz.

“This weekend was a good example of the growth our team needs,” said Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza. “Our pitching was excellent and our kids are seeing the ball well at the plate. We need to place the focus inward on perfecting what makes us successful as we start district play on Tuesday.”

Rio Hondo will open up District 32-4A play on Tuesday against Progresso. Overall Rio Hondo went 3-2 in tournament play.

HARLINGEN HIGH: The Lady Cardinals took part in the Brownsville ISD tournament and came out with a perfect 5-0 record, and beat McAllen Rowe 8-0 in the championship game.

Harlingen’s Mia Lopez received all-tournament honors.

The Lady Cards picked up wins against Hidalgo, Raymondville and Sharyland along the way to their tournament title.

The Lady Cards continue their season with a round robin tournament in Brownsville next week. They open up district play at home versus Harlingen South on March 6.

“The girls worked hard and as a team this weekend,” said Harlingen coach Nora Aguilar. “Each of them contributed in a big way. We put base hits together to win games. I couldn’t be more proud of this team coming together as one this weekend.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

McALLEN — The Harlingen Cardinals were put in a familiar spot Friday night during their Class 6A area-round playoff game against McAllen Memorial.

In the second quarter, Michael Arellano went down with an injury and in the fourth quarter Jeremy Vasquez also exited the game with an in-jury. Neither starter returned.

Earlier in the year, however, the Cards overcame injuries and Friday night was no different. Junior Diego Balzadua took over the offense and scored a team high 18 points and hit a late free throw in the final seconds that helped Harlingen to a 59-55 win.

“Diego came on late for us in our season. His first real opportunity came against San Benito and he stepped up for us then and we had confi-dence in him,” said Harlingen coach Greg Yates. “He was solid for us tonight. Unfortunately, we have dealt with injuries before, but these kids have experience and they have playing time in our rotation.”

Harlingen will now face Laredo Alexander in the regional quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at CC Carroll High School.

“At halftime, I knew I had to step up,” Balzadua said. “We faced some adversity tonight and we were resilient tonight. I have been waiting for this moment since the beginning of the season. Coach trusted me to step in and make plays and I was able to pull through.”

The Cardinals got off to an early 7-2 run in the first quarter and controlled the tempo into the second quarter. It was late in the second period when Arellano went down with an injury. Arellano’s availability for next week’s game is still uncertain. He finished with five points.

In the second half, Harlingen fended off the Mustangs, who chipped away all night. Memorial’s Christopher Flores kept the ’Stangs in the game with his 21 points.

In the final minutes, Harlingen let a late 10-point lead shrink to a 57-55 lead with less than a minute left. But Balzadua hit a crucial free throw that gave Harlingen a two-possession lead and helped seal the win.

“This my first playoff run and it’s a lot of fun with this team,” Balzadua said. “At the free-throw line I needed to stay calm and clear out all the noise and focus on the basket.”

The last time the Cardinals made it this deep in the playoffs was 2014 when they advanced all the way to the Sweet 16.

For senior center Matthew Sesler, getting to the third round is special.

“I have never gone this far in the playoffs,” Sesler said. “My sophomore year we made the playoffs, but lost in the first round so this is great being able to make it further.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

ALICE — The up-tempo, run and gun San Perlita Trojans offense proved to be too much for Falls City on Thursday night.

Senior Victor Galvan led the Trojans’ offensive assault with a team high 22 points en route to a 76-65 win over the Beavers in a Class 2A area-round playoff tilt at Alice High School.

“We feel great; we didn’t want our season to end tonight,” Galvan said. “We came out with the intensity that coach wanted us to come out with. We started out strong and they (Falls City) made a bit of a run, but we were able to adjust. At halftime, Coach told us to keep fighting and that the game wasn’t over, and we executed and got it done.”

Galvan popped a quick five points that helped spark a 13-4 run that gave the Trojans a 19-11 lead after the first period.

San Perlita carried that momentum into the second quarter by starting off with a Galvan 3 ball followed by back-to-back 3s by Noah Olivadez that pushed the Trojans’ lead to 32-17 midway through the period.

“The game started out fast and they (Falls City) got some quick buckets so we had to make some adjustments,” said San Perlita head coach Nataniel Garza. “We needed to protect the rim better and once we did that, I felt the game shifted in our favor.”

San Perlita managed to maintain the lead in the second half thanks to its up-tempo offense, which saw three Trojans finish in double figures. Tige Johnson scored 16 points while Julian Herrera netted 15.

“Falls City is a very well-coached team and I tip my cap to them,” Garza said. “We went on a few big runs and they never quit; they closed the gap late. We have nothing but respect for them.”

Thursday’s area win marked San Perlita’s second straight area crown under Garza.

The Trojans will now await the winner between Stacy and La Villa, which play tonight.

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

SANTA ROSA — Each year the expectations for the Santa Rosa Warriors basketball program are high. This year is no different as the Warriors won another district and bi-district title.

The 2017 state semifinalists will now look to keep their playoff run going when they face Goliad tonight in a Class 3A area-round contest. Ti-poff is set for 7 p.m. at Corpus Christi Ray High School.

Senior point guard AB Lozoya has been a reliable force for the Warriors this season and is one of five senior starters.

“The playoffs are my favorite part of the season,” Lozoya said. “But when you get to play with your teammates and coaches it makes it extra special. Coach does a great job with us and he makes it fun. I’m always ready for the playoffs and I’m glad we’re still here playing.”

Goliad is coming off a 56-50 win against Hebbronville earlier this week. Tonight’s game looks to be a tough one for the Warriors, but head coach Johnny Cipriano said he has his squad ready.

“We’re going to go out there and do what we do,” Cipriano said. “We will give it our best effort regardless of what they’re (Goliad) doing. I thought our kids handled the moment well in our first playoff game. We have played tough opponents all throughout our non-district schedule to prepare our kids for the playoffs, so seeing them being able to handle the moment is something I like to see.”

Senior shooting guard Jonah Agadl has also been a big part of a few playoff runs over the past few years and, like Lozoya, has big-game experience.

“Over my four years, it has been a great ride,” Agadl said. “The last few years have been a great learning experience for me as a player. Coach does a great job on preparing us. Throughout the year we have been stressing the defensive side of the ball because our offense has always been there.”

Fellow shooting guard Jay Guerra is another senior who is eager to keep the Warriors’ season alive. Guerra has been on the varsity squad since his sophomore year and will team up with Agadl to lead the Warriors’ offense against Goliad.

“It’s win or go home,” Guerra said. “It’s time for us to ball out and play our best basketball. We seniors have played in plenty of big games, so it helps with our confidence. We know we can compete against teams so long as we listen to coach and execute the game plan he gives us. Being a part of this program is special. I have been a part of three district titles and to be a part of the 14th straight district title is something special.”