VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Monday’s Games

Non-District

Laredo United 12, McAllen Memorial 2

Edinburg Vela 4, Roma 0

Weslaco East 5, PSJA Memorial 1

Mission High 2, Mission Veterans 1

PSJA Southwest 5, Donna North 2, 8 innings

La Joya Palmview 13, Donna High 0

Corpus Christi Calallen 6, Sharyland Pioneer 5

Weslaco High 5, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 2

Brownsville Veterans 4, Brownsville Hanna 0

Harlingen South 4, Edinburg North 1

McAllen Rowe 4, Edcouch-Elsa 3

Rio Hondo 6, Mercedes 2

Hidalgo 6, PSJA North 2

Rio Grande City 5, Edinburg High 2

Zapata 7, Laredo LBJ 0

La Feria 9, La Villa 4

Lyford 17, Port Isabel 6

Progreso 8, Bloomington 0

Tuesday’s Games

Non-District

Brownsville Porter at San Benito, 6 p.m.

Sharyland High at Brownsville Lopez, 6 p.m.

Harlingen High at McAllen High, 7 p.m.

La Joya High at Brownsville Rivera, 7 p.m.

Feb. 21-23

McAllen ISD Baseball Tournament

McAllen High; McAllen Memorial; Harlingen South; Brownsville Rivera; Sharyland Pioneer; La Joya Palmview; Rio Grande City; Mission High; Harlingen High; Edcouch-Elsa;

Laredo Border Olympics Tournament

PSJA North; La Joya High; Weslaco High; Edinburg North; Edinburg High; Edinburg Vela; San Benito; Hidalgo; Brownsville Hanna

Los Fresnos/Port Isabel Tournament

Mercedes; Weslaco East; Donna North; Edinburg Economedes; Sharyland High; PSJA Memorial; Donna High; Rio Hondo; PSJA Southwest

Bishop Tournament

Grulla

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL BOX SCORES

Monday’s Games

Non-District

LA JOYA PALMVIEW 13, DONNA HIGH 0

Score by inning not reported.

WP: Jonathan Martinez: 4 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts.

LP: Jacob Loya

S: Pablo Montelongo: Walk, strikeout.

LA JOYA PALMVIEW (13): Manny Flores 4 for 4, 2 RBI; Robby Ayala 2 for 3, RBI; Albino Villarreal 2 for 4, 2 RBI; Jonathan Martinez 1 for 3, double, 2 RBI.

DONNA HIGH (0): Joshua Jones 1 for 3.

RECORDS: La Joya Palmview 1-0; Donna High 0-1.

EDINBURG VELA 4, ROMA 0, 6 INNINGS

Roma 000 000 xxx — 0

Edinburg Vela 110 02x xxx — 4

WP: Nico Rodriguez 4 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts.

EDINBURG VELA (4): Eric Martinez 2 for 3, RBI, run; Matthew Perez 2 for 3, run; Ramsey Amador 1 for 2, walk, 2 stolen bases; Jaime Perez Jr. 1 for 1, RBI, 2 walks; Jestin Gomez 3 stolen bases.

RECORDS: Edinburg Vela 1-0; Roma 0-1.

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VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

Monday’s Games

Bi-District

Class 6A

Laredo United 55, Mission High 35

Class 5A

Sharyland Pioneer 61, Brownsville Pace 53

Edcouch-Elsa 52, Rio Grande City 51

Tuesday’s Games

Class 6A

Weslaco High at Harlingen High, 7 p.m.

McAllen High vs. Laredo Nixon at Zapata High, 7 p.m.

McAllen Rowe vs. Laredo United South at Corpus Christi Carroll, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Brownsville Hanna, 7:30 p.m.

Harlingen South at Edinburg Economedes, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg High at Los Fresnos, 7:30 p.m.

PSJA North vs. Laredo Alexander at Roma High, 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A

Mercedes at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans at Mission Veterans, 7 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Rockport-Fulton at Alice High, 6 p.m.

Hidalgo vs. Kingsville King at Harlingen South, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi West Oso at La Feria, 7 p.m.

Port Isabel vs. Sinton at Alice High, 8 p.m.

Class 3A

Lyford vs. Bishop at Raymondville High, 7 p.m.

Santa Rosa vs. Falfurrias at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7:30 p.m.

Class 2A

San Isidro vs. Agua Dulce at Riviera Kaufer High, 7 p.m.

[email protected]

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Monday’s Games

Non-District

McAllen Memorial at Laredo United, 6 p.m.

Roma at Edinburg Vela, 6 p.m.

PSJA Memorial at Weslaco East, 6 p.m.

Mission High at Mission Veterans, 6 p.m.

PSJA Southwest at Donna North, 6 p.m.

Donna High at La Joya Palmview, 6 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer at Corpus Christi Calallen, 6 p.m.

Weslaco High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans at Brownsville Hanna, 6:30 p.m.

Harlingen South at Edinburg North, 7 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Mercedes at Rio Hondo, 7 p.m.

PSJA North at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

Edinburg High at Rio Grande City, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games

Non-District

Brownsville Porter at San Benito, 6 p.m.

Sharyland High at Brownsville Lopez, 6 p.m.

Harlingen High at McAllen High, 7 p.m.

La Joya High at Brownsville Rivera, 7 p.m.

Feb. 21-23

McAllen ISD Baseball Tournament

McAllen High; McAllen Memorial; Harlingen South; Brownsville Rivera; Sharyland Pioneer; La Joya Palmview; Rio Grande City; Mission High; Harlingen High; Edcouch-Elsa

Laredo Border Olympics Tournament

PSJA North; La Joya High; Weslaco High; Edinburg North; Edinburg High; Edinburg Vela; San Benito; Hidalgo; Brownsville Hanna

Los Fresnos/Port Isabel Tournament

Mercedes; Weslaco East; Donna North; Edinburg Economedes; Sharyland High; PSJA Memorial; Donna High; Rio Hondo

Bishop Tournament

Grulla

[email protected]

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Saturday’s Games

Non-District

Mission Fastpitch Festival

At Bentsen Palm Community Park, Mission

Harlingen High 5, Laredo Alexander 0

Rio Hondo 4, Zapata 2

Weslaco East 6, Edinburg North 1

Weslaco High 3, Edinburg High 3 (Weslaco High wins coin toss)

Bishop 3, Mercedes 1

Harlingen South 5, Edinburg Vela 2

Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway 12, Mission Veterans 3

PSJA High 4, Sharyland Pioneer 2

Brownsville Porter 7, Mission High 1

Raymondville 6, Roma 0

McAllen High 5, PSJA Southwest 1

Brownsville Rivera 6, Laredo United South 2

Laredo United 3, PSJA North 0

PSJA Memorial 6, McAllen Memorial 1

Brownsville Hanna 5, Corpus Christi King 2

McAllen Rowe 12, Rio Grande City 0

Harlingen High 8, Rio Hondo 2

Weslaco High 7, Weslaco East 0

PSJA High 1, Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway 0

Edinburg Vela 5, Mercedes 2

Harlingen South 5, Bishop 1

Tournament MVP: Iliana Saucedo, Harlingen South

Donna ISD Tournament

Champions Gold Bracket

At Donna High

Edcouch-Elsa 7, Brownsville Pace 0

Brownsville Lopez 4, Port Isabel 0

Lyford 12, Valley View 0

La Joya Palmview 3, Falfurrias 1

Edcouch-Elsa 4, Brownsville Lopez 2

Lyford 5, La Joya Palmview 0

Lyford 2, Edcouch-Elsa 1

Champions Consolation Bracket

At Donna North

Hidalgo 7, Grulla 5

La Feria 8, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 5

Edinburg Economedes 4, Donna High 3

Donna North 14, Santa Rosa 12

La Feria 14, Hidalgo 0

Edinburg Economedes 3, Donna North 0

La Feria 8, Edinburg Economedes 2

Corpus Christi Calallen Classic

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 12, La Joya High 4

Corpus Christi Calallen 18, La Joya High 6

Denton 2, Sharyland High 1

Corpus Christi Calallen 4, Sharyland High 3

Smithson Valley Tournament

Los Fresnos 16, San Antonio Madison 8

San Antonio O’Connor 9, Los Fresnos 7

Texas A&M Softball Tournament

San Benito, not reported

Brownsville Veterans 4, Huffman 4

Bryan Rudder 8, Brownsville Veterans 7

Monday’s Games

Non-District

Port Isabel at Santa Rosa, 6 p.m.

Rio Grande City at La Feria, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games

Non-District

Lasara at Progreso, 5 p.m.

Harlingen South at PSJA Memorial, 6 p.m.

Grulla at La Joya Palmview, 6 p.m.

Donna North at Brownsville Rivera, 6:30 p.m.

Laredo Alexander at Zapata, 6:30 p.m.

Valley View at McAllen Memorial, 7 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at San Benito, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Mission Veterans at Brownsville Veterans, 7 p.m.

Harlingen High at PSJA High, 7 p.m.

La Joya High at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

Monte Alto at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Mission High at Sharyland High, 7 p.m.

Edinburg High at Brownsville Hanna, 7 p.m.

Hidalgo at Brownsville Lopez, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Economedes at Donna High, 7 p.m.

Edinburg North at Rio Hondo, 7 p.m.

Mercedes at Weslaco High, 7 p.m.

Weslaco East at Los Fresnos, 7 p.m.

Raymondville at Lyford, 7 p.m.

Feb. 21-23

La Joya Tournament

McAllen Memorial; McAllen Rowe; PSJA North; La Joya High; La Joya Juarez-Lincoln; Mission High; Edinburg Economedes; Edinburg Vela; Donna North; Weslaco High; Weslaco East; Brownsville Hanna; La Joya Palmview; Mission Veterans; Roma; PSJA Southwest; Donna High; Brownsville Lopez; La Feria; Zapata

San Antonio Southwest Tournament

McAllen High; San Benito; Mercedes

Laredo Border Olympics Tournament

PSJA High; Edinburg High; Edinburg North; Harlingen South; PSJA Memorial; Edcouch-Elsa; Brownsville Porter; Brownsville Veterans; Valley View

Los Fresnos/Port Isabel Tournament

Brownsville Rivera; Los Fresnos; Sharyland High; Brownsville Pace; Hidalgo; Rio Hondo; Port Isabel

Marble Falls Tournament

Sharyland Pioneer

[email protected]

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

Tuesday’s Game

Regional Quarterfinal Round

Class 6A

Edinburg High vs. Harlingen High at Edcouch-Elsa High, 7 p.m.

[email protected]

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

Monday’s Games

Bi-District

Class 6A

Laredo United at Mission High, 7 p.m.

Class 5A

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Brownsville Pace at La Feria High, 7 p.m.

Rio Grande City vs. Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA High, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games

Class 6A

Weslaco High at Harlingen High, 7 p.m.

McAllen High vs. Laredo Nixon at Zapata High, 7 p.m.

McAllen Rowe vs. Laredo United South at Corpus Christi Carroll, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Brownsville Hanna, 7:30 p.m.

Harlingen South at Edinburg Economedes, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg High at Los Fresnos, 7:30 p.m.

PSJA North vs. Laredo Alexander at Roma High, 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A

Mercedes at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans at Mission Veterans, 7 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Rockport-Fulton at Alice High, 6 p.m.

Hidalgo vs. Kingsville King at Harlingen South, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi West Oso at La Feria, 7 p.m.

Port Isabel vs. Sinton at Alice High, 8 p.m.

Class 3A

Lyford vs. Bishop at Raymondville High, 7 p.m.

Santa Rosa vs. Falfurrias at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7:30 p.m.

Class 2A

San Isidro vs. Agua Dulce at Riviera Kaufer High, 7 p.m.

BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

MISSION — Senior Jaden Conrow scored 19 of 24 points in the second half to lead the McAllen High Bulldogs to an impressive come-from-behind victory Friday over the Mission Eagles 61-49 and claim the District 30-6A third-place tiebreaker.

The victory awarded McHi a bi-district matchup with Laredo Nixon, a successful program with lots of playoff experience.

But without Conrow’s excellent performance, solid team defense and Mission foul trouble, it may have not gone the Bulldogs’ way.

Conrow, a 6-foor-4-inch forward, took matters into his hands after hitting just one field goal in the first half, and sparked the Bulldogs to a decisive third quarter and a 10-run to end the period, which culminated with a half-court 3-point shot at the buzzer.

“Well, my coach wanted me to attack the basket more in the second half and that’s what I did,” said Conrow, who’s long shot gave McHi it’s first lead since the game’s onset. “I felt that got me and also got my teammates going.”

To be sure, McHi’s victory wasn’t a one-man show. The Bulldogs got key contributions from senior guards Matthew Ibarra (17 points) and Bryan Argil, who added 12 points. Conrow also pulled down seven rebounds and blocked two shots.

But it didn’t come easy. Mission’s crisp passing game revolving around its twin towers, postmen Rey and Louie Garcia, was clicking in the first half. The Eagles hit an array of open shots as they were often quicker than McHi’s defensive rotations. They even opened an eight-point second-period lead before McHi slowed things down.

“I think what was working for them is they were just out-hustling us. They were getting offensive rebounds left and right,” said McHi Coach Ryan Flores. “They had 28 points at half and they must’ve had half of those off second- and third-chance opportunities.”

Mission played to its strengths, but what eventually took them out of their game was Louie Garcia’s foul trouble. The 6-foot-5 post played sparingly in the first half and fouled out with 7:25 left in the game. McHi and Conrow had a much easier time only having to deal with one Garcia big.

Louie Garcia finished with just four points on two field goals, meanwhile Rey posted 15 and had a team high 11 rebounds.

After trailing by four at the half, McHi led 42-39 by outscoring Mission 18-11 in the third. Then the Bulldogs unleashed a 14-4 run to start the fourth quarter and pushed its lead to a commanding 54-42 with nearly three minutes left.

Although the scorebook won’t show it, the Bulldogs got outstanding efforts from forward Jackson Helmcamp and reserve guard Quinn Canada. Helmcamp had eight rebounds and four points while guarding the much bigger Garcias all night. And Canada, who had no points, also earned extra floor time with judicious ball handling and hustling defense.

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Friday’s Games

Non-District

Edinburg IDEA Quest 20, Progreso 7

Mission Fastpitch Festival

At Bentsen Palm Community Park, Mission

Laredo Alexander 4, Brownsville Rivera 2

McAllen Rowe 8, PSJA Southwest 1

Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway 4, Weslaco High 1

Rio Grande City 11, Brownsville Porter 10

Brownsville Hanna 6, Raymondville 3

Edinburg Vela 6, McAllen Memorial 0

Harlingen High 5, Mission High 4

Corpus Christi King 6, McAllen High 0

Mercedes 3, PSJA Memorial 0

Mission Veterans 1, Edinburg North 0

Rio Hondo 6, Laredo United South 5

Harlingen South 2, PSJA North 0

Bishop 7, Laredo United 2

Zapata 3, Roma 0

Sharyland Pioneer 1, Edinburg High 0

PSJA High 4, Weslaco East 3

Laredo Alexander 7, Corpus Christi King 6

Harlingen High 7, Brownsville Hanna 2

Brownsville Rivera 3, Brownsville Porter 2

PSJA Southwest 4, Raymondville 3

Rio Hondo 6, Rio Grande City 5

Harlingen South 5, Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway 0

Weslaco High 7, PSJA North 1

Edinburg North 6, PSJA Memorial 2

Zapata 7, McAllen Rowe 0

Mercedes 7, Mission Veterans 2

Bishop 2, Sharyland Pioneer 0

Edinburg Vela 7, PSJA High 0

Laredo United South 10, Mission High 6

McAllen High 9, Roma 0

Edinburg High 8, Laredo United 0

Weslaco East 3, McAllen Memorial 0

Donna ISD Tournament

At Donna High

Port Isabel 10, Donna High 2

Lyford 15, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0

Edcouch-Elsa 21, Santa Rosa 1

La Joya Palmview 9, Hidalgo 0

Donna High 6, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0

Lyford 6, Port Isabel 0

At Donna North

Donna North 10, Grulla 9

Falfurrias 4, Brownsville Pace 0

Brownsville Lopez 8, La Feria 0

Valley View 7, Edinburg Economedes 1

Donna North 16, Falfurrias 1

Brownsville Pace 14, Grulla 8

Corpus Christi Calallen Classic

Denton 6, La Joya High 3

Corpus Christi Calallen 9, La Joya High 0

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 3, Sharyland High 2

Corpus Christi Calallen 10, Sharyland High 1

Smithson Valley Tournament

Eagle Pass 5, Los Fresnos 4

Smithson Valley 3, Los Fresnos 1

Los Fresnos 17, Smithson Valley JV 1

Texas A&M Softball Tournament

San Benito 12, Fort Bend Clements 2

Round Rock 10, San Benito 0

Brownsville Veterans 8, Montgomery 6

A&M Consolidated 2, Brownsville Veterans 1

Saturday’s Games

Non-District

Mission Fastpitch Festival

At Bentsen Palm Community Park, Mission

Winner of Game 38 vs. Winner of Game 43, 9 a.m.

Winner of Game 36 vs. Winner of Game 33, 9 a.m.

Winner of Game 45 vs. Winner of Game 37, 9 a.m.

Winner of Game 46 vs. Winner of Game 39, 9 a.m.

Loser of Game 44 vs. Loser of Game 40, 10:30 a.m.

Loser of Game 42 vs. Loser of Game 41, 10:30 a.m.

Winner of Game 44 vs. Winner of Game 42, 10:30 a.m.

Winner of Game 41 vs. Winner of Game 40, 10:30 a.m.

Loser of Game 47 vs. Loser of Game 35, noon

Loser of Game 34 vs. Loser of Game 48, noon

Winner of Game 47 vs. Winner of Game 35, noon

Winner of Game 34 vs. Winner of Game 48, noon

Loser of Game 43 vs. Loser of Game 38, 1:30 p.m.

Loser of Game 36 vs. Loser of Game 33, 1:30 p.m.

Loser of Game 45 vs. Loser of Game 37, 1:30 p.m.

Loser of Game 46 vs. Loser of Game 39, 1:30 p.m.

Winner of Game 50 vs. Winner of Game 49, 3 p.m.

Winner of Game 51 vs. Winner of Game 52, 3 p.m.

Winner of Game 53 vs. Winner of Game 54, 3 p.m.

Loser of Game 55 vs. Loser of Game 56, 3 p.m.

Winner of Game 55 vs. Winner of Game 56, 4:30 p.m.

Donna ISD Tournament

Champions Gold Bracket

At Donna High

Edcouch-Elsa vs. Brownsville Pace, 9 a.m.

Brownsville Lopez vs. Port Isabel, 10:30 a.m.

Lyford vs. Valley View, noon

Falfurrias vs. La Joya Palmview, 1:30 p.m.

Semifinal No. 1, 3 p.m.

Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Championship Game, 6 p.m.

Champions Consolation Bracket

At Donna North

Hidalgo vs. Grulla, 9 a.m.

La Feria vs. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 10:30 a.m.

Donna High vs. Edinburg Economedes, noon

Donna North vs. Santa Rosa, 1:30 p.m.

Semifinal No. 1, 3 p.m.

Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Championship Game, 6 p.m.

Corpus Christi Calallen Classic

La Joya High; Sharyland High

Smithson Valley Tournament

Los Fresnos vs. San Antonio Madison, 9 a.m.

Los Fresnos vs. San Antonio O’Connor, 3 p.m.

Texas A&M Softball Tournament

San Benito; Brownsville Veterans

[email protected]

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

Friday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

Edinburg High 56, PSJA North 36

Laredo United 70, Edinburg Vela 44

Harlingen High 57, Laredo Alexander 55

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Veterans 46, Brownsville Pace 30

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 70, Brownsville Veterans 42

Victoria West 72, Donna High 50

Corpus Christi Carroll 60, Mercedes 34

Class 4A

Crystal City 56, Hidalgo 53

Class 2A

Refugio 44, Santa Maria 31

Flatonia 58, San Isidro 38

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL BOX SCORES

Friday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

LAREDO UNITED 70, EDINBURG VELA 44

Laredo United 13 24 19 14 — 70

Edinburg Vela 4 18 4 18 — 44

LAREDO NIXON (70): Ariana Garza 5, Evelyn Quiroz 13, Olivia Campero 19, Elisa Peralta 14, Rebeka Banda 3, Lizeth Quiroz 2, Natalia Treviño 7, Audrey Batey 2, Karla Velasquez 5.

EDINBURG VELA (44): Lauren Vega 11, Julia Cordon 2, Kyra Garcia 10, Andrea Molina 13, Kayleen Rios 8.

RECORD: Edinburg Vela 23-12.

EDINBURG HIGH 56, PSJA NORTH 36

PSJA North 6 7 9 14 — 36

Edinburg High 17 11 17 11 — 56

EDINBURG HIGH (56): A’nnika Saenz 7, Alyssa Jade Salinas 6, Daysha Tijerina 2, Brianna Martinez 9, Jenessah Santa Maria 15, Leslie Martinez 6, Brianna Sanchez 11.

PSJA NORTH (36): Carolina Sanchez 14, Trinity Bane 6, Catie Rodriguez 5, Angel Lozano 3, Alexia Neal 8.

RECORDS: Edinburg High 32-8; PSJA North 33-5.

[email protected]

BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg CISD’s two teams in the playoffs have had the luckiest of draws.

While Edinburg Vela played both of its playoff games in its own gym, the Edinburg High Bobcats were able to host their area round game after playing their first-round game Monday in Brownsville.

The Bobcats took advantage of playing in their home environment by defeating PSJA North 56-36 in a Class 6A area round game Friday night at Edinburg High.

“Whether we played away or anywhere else tonight, it came down to the want we have as a team,” Edinburg High senior guard Jenessah Santa Maria said. “We all have this drive to win. We want to go as far as we can.”

The Bobcats dug deep into their rotation early. Seven different Bobcats scored at least two points in the first quarter.

“With the way we’ve been playing lately, that’s very beneficial to us,” Edinburg High coach J.D. Salinas said. “We hope to continue the same way of playing as we go into the regional quarters. We want to be playing good basketball. When you have all those girls contributing early, you’re putting yourself in good situations to be successful. They’re moving the basketball and finding a way to contribute.”

Santa Maria was the Upper Valley’s second-leading scorer entering the playoffs, but she proved to be more than a capable passer. She led all scorers with 15 points while dishing out five assists.

“All of us trust each other and are confident in one another,” Santa Maria said. “It’s teamwork. One person isn’t going to win the game for us. Everyone is good enough to put the ball in the hoop.”

Edinburg High and PSJA North (33-5) are quite familiar with each other. Both teams competed in District 31-6A last year and met earlier this season at an early-season tournament. The Raiders got the better of the Bobcats 55-50 back on Nov. 10 at the Pack’s Brawl on the Border tournament in La Joya.

On that day, PSJA North made nine 3-pointers to win the game. The Raiders made just four 3-pointers and were dominated on the boards Friday.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” PSJA North coach Randy Bocanegra said. “They did a good job of closing out and forcing us to put the ball down and go to the basket. We looked tentative going to the basket. On defense, we were getting beat off the dribble which forced us to step up. That’s when they’d dish the ball for easy layups or second chance points. We still had an exceptional year. We’ll come back and put it back together.”

Edinburg High junior Brianna Sanchez was a thorn in the Raiders’ sides. In addition to scoring 11 points, six of her 12 rebounds were offensive rebounds.

“That’s just our hustle play as a team,” Sanchez said. “We’re working together and trusting each other. That helps us know that we will be there for each other.”

The Bobcats (32-8) will face a Valley opponent for the third time in as many rounds. Harlingen High (32-5) eked out a two-point victory over Laredo Alexander on Friday in Corpus Christi.

Edinburg High hosted Harlingen High in both teams’ season opener and met again on a neutral floor. The Bobcats and Cardinals split both meetings.

A date, location and time had not been determined as of Friday.

“I know we split but everybody at this point is playing their best basketball,” Salinas said. “Everybody’s game is at a higher level. We have some familiarity, but we’re going to get ready for them.”

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