By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

With its mixture of experienced players and newcomers, the Brownsville Veterans Memorial volleyball team appears to be coming of age with every match it plays.

An example of that came Saturday as the Lady Chargers played well at the most opportune moments to prevail over a veteran Hanna squad 28-26, 25-22, 25-22 in a District 32-6A match at the Brownsville Veterans gym for a share of the 32-6A lead.

“I think so,” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said when asked if she sees her team gaining confidence, maturing and coming together more and more as the season progresses. “There are still definitely a lot of things we need to work on, and that’s a good thing because at this point of the season you don’t want to hit your peak yet. I feel that we’re getting there.”

Brownsville Veterans and Los Fresnos are now tied for the 32-6A lead with 3-0 district records. Los Fresnos defeated Harlingen South 25-20, 25-15, 25-20 on Saturday.

It seemed as if winning the first game gave the Lady Chargers (20-10 overall) the confidence they needed to go on and finish off the closely contested match.

The first game featured 13 ties. Hanna (18-11, 2-1 district) led by as many as five points three times and looked to be in good shape at 17-12, its last five-point advantage of the opening set. Then with the score tied at 22, Hanna standout middle blocker Pamela Ellis suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury and had to leave the match. With Ellis on the bench and the score tied for the 13th time at 26, Brownsville Veterans came up with back-to-back kills by Sarah Sandoval and Bridget Himes to notch its 28-26 first-game victory.

“It was a pretty even matchup, and I knew it was more or less going to be a two-point game (in the first set),” Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann said. “In the beginning, we had bad luck (with Ellis suffering an injury) and then we had (the) tough luck (of losing the match).

“Vets had to step it up at some decisive moments (to win), and we had some sloppy serves, and that, I guess, was a big deciding factor today,” he added. “The timing was kind of off (because we didn’t have Ellis at the end of the first game). The good thing, though, is she was able to come back and play, so we basically came out of it with no (lingering) injuries. I’ll take that over a win anytime.”

Ellis received treatment from a trainer and tested her right leg at courtside before returning to the match to start the second game. She was a force with her blocking, hitting and all-around play the rest of the way, but her efforts, combined with those of her teammates, were not enough.

Brownsville Veterans went up by seven points, 11-4, in the second game only to see the Lady Golden Eagles rally and tie the set at 21. A Hanna serve into the net put Brownsville Veterans ahead for good at 23-22, and the Lady Chargers tallied three of the next four points despite a kill from Ellis to take the second game 25-22.

The Lady Chargers again surged to an early advantage in the third game and led 7-3 before Hanna battled back to tie the score six times, the last of which was at 13. Later, an ace by Sandoval, one of the Lady Chargers’ veteran senior players, gave the home team some breathing room at 23-19, and it was enough of a cushion to help Brownsville Veterans eventually prevail 25-22 to take the match on a kill by Megan Sanchez.

Sandoval led the Lady Chargers with 13 kills, 13 digs and three aces. Also for Brownsville Veterans, Krista Lopez recorded 21 digs with one ace, and Himes and Sanchez each finished with eight kills. Sanchez also had a pair of blocks. Teammate Cassandra Valdez contributed 30 assists and 14 digs.

For Hanna, Ellis finished with 16 kills, eight digs and three blocks, and Sausha-Rae Brown, Flora Herrera and Alexa Herrera added eight, eight and seven kills, respectively. Flora Herrera also had three blocks. Lauren Webb contributed four kills.

Also for Hanna, Yelitza Barrientos, Julie Soto and Jenny Guerrero had 17, 15 and 10 digs, respectively.

District 32-6A action continues Tuesday as Hanna plays host to Lopez and Brownsville Veterans is at San Benito.

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.

By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer

PORT ISABEL — The Port Isabel offense knew the challenge it faced against the Valley View defense.

The Tarpons took advantage of a few breaks and grinded things out with their running game, holding on after a late Valley View score to defeat the Tigers 14-7 on Friday in a Week 4 non-district game at Tarpon Stadium.

The Port Isabel defense helped give the offense multiple chances as it forced six turnovers against Valley View, the last one sealing the win. Carlos Orduna had two interceptions, Omar Silva added another and the Tarpons recovered three fumbles.

“It was sloppy, not a good game. We didn’t play a good football game,” Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “Defensively, we played well. Their defense did a great job, they controlled the line of scrimmage, but our defense controlled theirs. We did enough to win.”

The game was a defensive battle during the first quarter, with each team taking turns punting.

Port Isabel finally broke the scoreless tie when Omar Silva took a 16-yard run into the end zone for a 7-0 lead during the second quarter.

The Tarpons had another chance to score late in the quarter, but the first half ended and Port Isabel took a 7-0 lead into the break.

Stumbaugh wasn’t impressed with his team’s effort early.

“(Valley View’s) kids played their tails off, they did a great job. They came out here to play football,” he said. “To be honest, I didn’t know if we came to play for a while. We didn’t come to play, and they did.”

Port Isabel opened the second half with a score, as Silva hit Javier Hernandez on a 23-yard slant for a 14-0 lead.

Valley View scored late in the fourth quarter when Jorge Aguilar hit David Gonzalez on a 20-yard TD pass to cut the deficit in half.

“We tried different kids at quarterback. We’re trying to find the right guy,” Valley View coach Carlos Saenz said. “We’re trying to run this high-tempo spread offense, and we tried to just stay in the game.”

The Tigers then recovered the onside kick but fumbled on the next play to give the ball back to Port Isabel. Valley View had one more chance with less than one minute to play but threw yet another costly interception, and the Tarpons ran out the clock.

“We went for the touchdown,” Saenz said about the late interception. “We went for it. I told the quarterback to chunk it, and maybe we’ll make a play. We knew we were running out of time, so I told them to go and make a play.”

Saenz and his team dropped to 0-4, but he feels the team is getting closer to a victory.

“When you’re going against a powerhouse like Port Isabel and you walk in and see all those championships, that intimidates you and it intimidated these boys,” he said. “When we finished I told them ‘You guys just went toe to toe with one of the best programs in Texas. We’re making giant steps.’ We’re on the right track and I’m happy for these guys, how hard they’re playing and their commitment.”

Stumbaugh felt his team had a little more luck on the night.

“We’re 3-0, but it’s not good how we played,” he said. “We got a few more breaks, and fortunately we were able to win. Hopefully we’ll learn from it and get ready for next week.”

Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

PHARR — There was never a doubt.

Just as they had done during their three previous meetings with Pharr Oratory, the St. Joseph Academy Bloodhounds won handily 65-8 on the road Friday against the Ocelots in the annual “Holy Bowl” matchup between the two Catholic schools.

The Bloodhounds (3-1) had won their first three games with Pharr Oratory 65-6, 63-8 and 62-0 since the “Holy Bowl” series began in 2012.

“You come into a game like this, and like I said before, we were focused on improving our game,” SJA coach Tino Villarreal said. “We still have a lot to work on and some things to tighten up before our next game against Port Isabel.

“It was a good outing for us tonight,” Villarreal added. “We did a good job passing and running the football, so we’re excited for next week.”

It figures to be a much tougher contest next Friday for SJA when the Bloodhounds play host to the undefeated Tarpons at Canales Field in their final non-district game of the season before TAPPS play begins.

But on this Friday night in Pharr, it was all about the Bloodhounds, particularly during the first quarter as SJA surged to a 44-0 lead.

Sophomore quarterback Kai Money sparked the early onslaught for SJA as he rushed for his team’s initial score and then added four touchdown passes, all before the end of the opening period.

Money darted 45 yards down the right sideline and into the end zone with just 44 seconds gone in the contest as SJA took an 8-0 lead.

It became 22-0 after Money threw scoring passes of 5 and 25 yards to wideout Bernie de la Garza within a 10-second span just a few minutes later. The second de la Garza TD catch came right after the Ocelots (0-4) fumbled the ball away on a kickoff.

Money’s third TD pass was a 7-yarder to running back Anthony Cantu with 5:19 showing in the first quarter to make it 28-0. With 4:48 left in the period, Cantu tallied on a 3-yard rushing TD for a 36-0 score.

Money’s fourth TD pass was a 62-yarder to wide receiver Gerardo Moses with 2:46 remaining in the quarter, boosting the Bloodhounds’ advantage to 44-0.

SJA led 58-0 at halftime and 65-0 going into the final quarter. The clock ran continuously beginning in the second quarter as the Bloodhounds allowed their reserves some playing time.

During the second quarter, Moses caught a 53-yard scoring pass from backup QB Carlos Esteve at the 11:02 mark of the period to make it 51-0. Cantu broke loose on a 22-yard scoring run with 4:48 left before halftime to account for the 58-0 score at intermission.

SJA’s final TD for its 65-0 lead came on a 53-yard scamper by Mikey Mar-Maxwell with 4:49 to go in the third quarter.

The Ocelots had been outscored 159-0 through their first three games this season, but they finally got on the scoreboard during the closing minute on a 20-yard pass play and a rush for the two-point conversion.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The rivalry began in 2012, and so far, the Bloodhounds have won each matchup handily.

SJA (2-1) will try to gain its fourth straight victory in the series when the Bloodhounds travel to Pharr Oratory for 7:30 p.m. game Friday against the Ocelots (0-3).

The first three contests between the teams have gone in the Bloodhounds’ favor by scores of 65-6, 63-8 and 62-0.

“We treat this game just like any other game,” SJA coach Tino Villarreal said. “We want to go into it with the same intensity and same aggressive play that we’ve been searching for in all of our other games.

“It’s not so much about Pharr Oratory as it is about the Bloodhounds and our ability to try to get better regardless of the team we’re playing,” Villarreal added. “We want to be on the field against another opponent and improve. That’s our plan.”

After opening the season with a 55-45 loss at Raymondville, the Bloodhounds have bounced back and captured victories against Lyford (73-22) and La Villa (54-32). The Ocelots are still looking for their first win after losses to Bruni (70-0), Corpus Christi London (48-0) and Lasara (41-0).

Sophomore quarterback Kai Money continues to spark the SJA offense with his running and passing. He has rushed 48 times for 467 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 35 of 54 passes for 386 yards and seven TDs without an interception.

Teammate Anthony Cantu, a running back and also a sophomore, has rushed 51 times for 300 yards and six TDs.

Money’s top receivers are Dave Lapeyre (15 catches, 170 yards, three TDs) and Bernie de la Garza (9-110, three TDs).

Defensively, top performers for the Bloodhounds are Cole Conner (39 tackles), Andres Solis (38), Joey Navarro (32) and Lapeyre (28).

The Bloodhounds figure to face a much stronger opponent at home next Friday when they take on Port Isabel. It will be SJA’s final non-district game of the season.

“We were hit with some injuries early in the season, and we’re just starting to get some guys back,” Villarreal said. “Right now, our main concern is staying healthy. We don’t want to suffer any more injuries (this week).”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

There are plenty of things to do during an open week in football, such as allow injured players to recuperate, go back to working on fundamentals in practice or even determine whether a game played last Friday was actually a game.

That has all happened as the Brownsville public schools and Los Fresnos are enjoying an open date before beginning district play next week.

The only games on the schedule involving Metro-area teams this week find Port Isabel (2-0) at home against Valley View (0-3) and St. Joseph Academy (2-1) playing at Pharr Oratory (0-3) in another edition of the “Holy Bowl.” Both non-district games are at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Area teams taking a break before district play starts are Los Fresnos (3-0), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (3-0). Hanna (2-1), Porter (2-1), Pace (0-2), Lopez (0-2) and Rivera (0-3).

Along with all the routine aspects of this week’s open date for the majority of local teams, a question arose as to whether last Friday’s weather-shortened contest between Lopez and Pace at Sams Memorial Stadium should actually be counted as a game. The non-district matchup of city teams was halted with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter due to the threat of nearby lightning with Lopez leading 17-13.

Eventually, with lightning drawing closer and rain about to fall, the game was canceled with that amount of time left in the half and everyone left the stadium. Lopez, it was reported, was the winner.

A member of the Pace coaching staff complained this week, saying it should have not counted as a game.

When contacted regarding the question, Brownsville ISD athletic director Mark Guess said he’d contact the UIL to find out the official answer.

Guess spoke with a UIL official Wednesday and was told the UIL follows NCAA rules, which state a football game must reach halftime to count as an actual contest.

So the Lobos now say goodbye to what they thought was their first win of the season, while the Vikings are not charged with another loss.

When he learned of the ruling Wednesday, Lopez coach Jason Starkey said, “No worries. Everyone knows who was winning that game. It was canceled for a reason.”

Meanwhile, two local teams, Brownsville Veterans and Los Fresnos, are riding the momentum of 3-0 records with the most crucial part of their seasons just ahead.

“I am happy for an open week at this point,” Los Fresnos coach Clint Finley said. “With the injuries we have suffered over the course of this season, it gives us a chance to go and touch up on the fundamentals with the guys who have had to step in and play unforeseen positions, and really (it helps) the whole team. It allows us some time to let bumps and bruises heal so we can feel fresh once district starts.

“Some years I am happy with an open date, and other years I wish we didn’t have one,” Finley added. “It really depends on the overall health of the team. I’ll be excited to get a couple players healthy (this week) and back out there playing.”

The approach to an open date is much the same at Brownsville Veterans along with all other schools, actually.

“The open date allows our players a few things,” Chargers coach David Cantu said. “It gives them a chance to focus more on their grades, a time to heal up some injuries and a chance to recharge for the upcoming new season — district.”

Over at Porter, the Cowboys welcome their break before district as well.

“I think it’s perfect timing,” Porter coach Tom Campos said. “We’ve gotten the predistrict games under our belts with just enough action to make critical assessments on what or how we should perform from here on out. We get to rest up some sore and achy bodies, spending a little more time (focusing) on ourselves rather than an opponent. There’s plenty of film to dissect and keep our minds sharp.

“We do one of our most important community service events during our bye week, which is visiting the Brownsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,” Campos added. “It is a time to reflect on how fortunate we are and to understand the importance of taking advantage of the time we have been given here on Earth.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

Two matches into the District 32-6A volleyball race, Saturday’s confrontation between unbeatens Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Hanna could be described as the first real showdown of leaders in district play.

The 32-6A race appears to have a good deal of parity, at least among and right behind front-runners Los Fresnos, Hanna and Brownsville Veterans, all 2-0. Which teams secure the four available playoff spots in the district race by the end of next month, as they say, probably will go down to the final night of competition.

The Lady Chargers play host to the Lady Golden Eagles at noon Saturday.

“If we bring our team chemistry onto the court, we should have a good match,” said Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann, whose squad is coming off Tuesday’s 25-17, 25-15, 25-12 victory at home against Harlingen High. “We need to keep up the beat (with our team chemistry).

“It should be an entertaining match to watch, but not so much for us coaches,” he added.

Hagemann said his team suffered injuries to two of its setters during last Saturday’s five-game victory at San Benito and wasn’t sure if they would be able to play against the Lady Chargers.

“We hope to compensate (if they’re not able to play),” he said.

Brownsville Veterans has captured its first two district matches in three games handily against Harlingen South and Rivera, although Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares noted her team didn’t play its best Tuesday when it won at Rivera.

“We can’t go out and be playing Hanna like that (and expect to win),” said Mares, whose girls defeated Rivera 25-20, 25-16, 25-20. “We weren’t consistent at all (with our hitting) against Rivera. I told the girls we need to keep the momentum when we play (and not hurt ourselves by making mistakes). We have to stay excited.”

The returning starters from last year’s 32-6A co-championship team for the Lady Chargers are Sarah Sandoval, Krista Lopez and Megan Sanchez. Besides those three, there are a number of newcomers to the varsity.

“With this (new) team, I really have to emphasize consistency in practice,” Mares said. “We do a lot of drills to keep things consistent. I knew I would have some new girls this season and that consistency would be one of the things we needed to work on, that and defense.”

After Brownsville Veterans, Los Fresnos and Hanna, all at 2-0, it’s Rivera and South at 1-1, and Lopez, San Benito and Harlingen High are 0-2.

Hagemann said he believed all along it would be Hanna, Brownsville Veterans and Los Fresnos out in front early in the district race.

“It’s going the way I predicted it in the beginning (before district),” he said. “There are still a lot of other strong teams out there, too, such as Harlingen High, to watch out for.”

32-5A UPDATE: Porter and Pace each started District 32-5A action with wins last Saturday and then suffered losses to undefeated district opponents Tuesday. Porter lost at home to Edcouch-Elsa 25-22, 25-18, 25-19, and Pace was beaten at Donna High 25-21, 25-12, 25-19.

On Saturday, Porter is at PSJA Southwest at 2 p.m., and Pace is at home against PSJA High at 3 p.m.

E-E and Donna High are 2-0, and Pace, Porter, Mercedes and PSJA High are 1-1. PSJA Southwest and Donna North are 0-2.

32-4A UPDATE: Port Isabel lost its District 32-4A opener in four games last Saturday at Zapata but bounced back to even its record at 1 with a 25-16, 25-17, 20-25, 25-15 victory against Rio Hondo on Tuesday.

The Lady Tarpons, who were tri-champions in 32-4A with Zapata and La Feria last season, next play host to Raymondville at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

Considering the experience and returning talent on this year’s squad, the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles are looking forward to enjoying one of their best volleyball seasons in 2015.

Leading the way for the team are four senior captains who have been on the varsity for either three or four years.

They are Sasha-Rae Brown, Flora Herrera, Pamela Ellis and Bianca Olivares. Brown is a 5-foot-7 1/2 outside hitter, while Herrera and Ellis are 5-10 middle blockers. Olivares is a 5-4 setter.

“It’s incredible to play for Hanna,” said Herrera, a member of the varsity for three seasons. “Just the experience of being here and playing together is great. We’re the dream team that everybody would want. We’re all best friends on and off the court, and we play together as one. Having the connection that we have makes us sisters. That’s the way it works.

“I like the motivation that we have,” Herrera added. “We all want to go far in the playoffs. To go far, that’s our dream.”

Along with his four captains, sixth-year Lady Eagles coach Ansgar Hagemann has six additional players back with varsity experience in Julie Soto, Jennifer Guerrero, Yelitza Barrientos, Giana Muniz, Alexa Herrera and Lauren Webb.

“It’s like a family now because they’re used to each other and how each other plays, plus they’re used to the personality of the coach,” Hagemann said. “They’re doing a good job.

“Right now I’m telling them it’s harvest time,” he added. “They’ve put in a lot of hard work and it’s the senior year (for most of them), so it’s time to reap the benefits. I hope we have a great season. I’ll be sad to see them (graduate and) leave.”

The Lady Eagles are 17-9 on the season and 1-0 in District 32-6A after winning their district opener 18-25, 26-24, 25-13, 23-25, 15-7 on Saturday at San Benito. The Hanna girls next play host to Harlingen High at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“It’s been a long, amazing journey that we have been making together as a team,” said Ellis, a four-year member of the varsity. “I want to see us keep things going as long as possible. We’re working hard so that we can go deeper into the playoffs this year. The key is playing together as a team and continuing to work hard to win our matches.

“It would be a dream come true for us to get first place in district and go deep into the playoffs,” added Ellis, who hopes to continue playing volleyball in college. “I think we have a pretty good opportunity (to do well).”

The Lady Golden Eagles finished third in 32-6A one year ago behind co-champions Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Los Fresnos. The Hanna girls were eliminated during the first round of the playoffs last season by Edinburg High, 25-20, 25-12, 16-25, 27-25.

They’re anticipating a better showing this time around.

“This team is like a family to me since I’ve been on the squad since my freshman year,” Brown said. “It’s our last season (as seniors), and everybody is motivating each other. We’re accomplishing a lot, and that’s awesome. It’s a senior team, so everyone is aiming to go deep in the playoffs. We’re all goal-oriented to do that. We’re pushing each other.”

Added Olivares, a three-year member of the varsity who is nursing an ankle injury, “My sophomore year (two seasons ago) was when we didn’t make the playoffs, and I think we’ve all progressed (since then). We showed everyone last year that we could be playoff material. I think this is the year that we’re going to show people we can really go far.

“It means a lot to me to be a captain for this team,” Olivares added. “I like that I can be one of the ones to lift my teammates up when they’re down. I feel that everyone is dedicated and determined to help us make it far. I know that we can do it.

“I think the other teams better watch out.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.