BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg High coach Esequiel Cuellar remembers what he saw when senior guard Damian Garcia showed up on the first day of basketball four years ago.

“He was barely 105 pounds as a freshman,” Cuellar said.

As an eighth grader, Garcia said he was 5-foot-3 and 102 pounds, but that was also the first time he beat his dad, Bobcats assistant coach Jorge Garcia, in one-on-one.

The road to varsity playing time was never going to be easy for Damian, but he didn’t want easy.

He has put in extra work in the gym on off days since freshman year, impressing his Bobcats teammates and becoming a pivotal part of the squad this season.

“Damian is our X-factor,” Cuellar said. “We know what we are going to get from (senior center) Jesus (Cantu) and (junior forward) Antoine (Woodard) most nights, but what we get from Damian is what can make the difference in games like Friday.”

The Bobcats will be traveling to take on South San Antonio at 7 tonight at Texas A&M-International in Laredo in the UIL Class 6A area round.

“What I see in South San is a very experienced team,” Cuellar said. “They are a very disciplined, fundamental team that moves well without the ball and sets good screens off of the ball. They are a great team. I’ve seen maybe three or four games, and I’m trying to find a film where they don’t look too good. I can’t find that one.”

As a full-time starter for the first time in his career this season, Damian Garcia is averaging 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a team-high 1.6 steals per game.

“He’s improved a lot. He’s grown. His game is vastly improved,” Cantu said. “He’s become more aggressive. He’s a great shooter. Every year, he gets better and better, and you can see it in his stats and in his play. I’m glad I get to play with him and call him a teammate.”

Damian Garcia has been waiting for this moment for four years. The journey to senior starter began with his father.

“He’s been coaching me since before middle school,” Damian Garcia said of Jorge. “I was very interested in playing basketball when I was young. He was there to provide me support and guidance. He’s been through everything with me: the struggles and the successes. He continues to be there for me now.”

The two used to play at their home along with Damian’s two younger brothers, who will be playing for the Bobcats soon enough. Jorge had drills for the boys, and the brothers competed against each other.

“He is my inspiration,” Damian Garcia said of his father. “I always tell him, ‘Dad, I want to be like you.’ He says, ‘No, you will be better.’ I love my dad.”

Garcia spends much of his down time in the weight room, or running laps around the track at school. But he can most frequently be found in one place on Edinburg High’s campus.

“I have a gym here, and I am very fortunate that my dad has access to keys to the gym,” Damian Garcia said. “I get to come here and get up shots all alone, or with my brothers rebounding.”

Woodard has watched Damian’s transformation over the years.

“When he was a junior, he came off the bench, and he did what he needed to do,” Woodard said. “But this year, he stepped it up. He got in the weight room, and he has been working on his shot. He did really good this year. Hopefully, he can keep going.”

Woodard and Damian Garcia bonded over their love of the tradition behind the logo on their jerseys. Both players grew up attending Bobcats games, hoping to one day wear the same uniforms as the players they were watching — standouts like the De La Rosa brothers, Stevan Guerrero, Gabriel Rivas and Matthew Garza.

“I’m not going to lie, I knew I was going to be a Bobcat since ’06,” Damian Garcia said. “I have watched this school over the years. I remember being in those bleachers, and look who’s coaching me right now! Steve Guerrero! It’s ironic, but also a benefit for us. The coaches are here on Saturdays helping us, giving us advice and stuff. They have the ability to show us what works and what worked for them.”

While Garcia is the X-factor, the Bobcats will need all hands on deck for the area round. They face a tough South San team that has height, speed and shooting.

“They are a pretty mobile team, they excel in transition, and they have a lot of quick guards,” Cantu said. “They play like a five spread out offense. We just have to contain them and play good D.”

Woodard has been playing like a man possessed, averaging 17.6 points per game, and delivering for the Bobcats when they need it most. At the end of Edinburg’s bi-district game against Weslaco High, Woodard came up with steals, hit his free throws and, perhaps most importantly, brought the energy that the Bobcats feed off. As the team’s DJ, he sets the tone from warm-ups to postgame celebrations.

“Ant and I are very close, actually,” Damian Garcia said. “When we are in the hallways, we give a little high five here or there. Whenever we are around, we just have fun and talk, not just about basketball. … There is never a time when he is quiet. He is always cheering. He’s very energetic. He brings that energy to the rest of us.”

Cantu does not want to see his final playoff run continue the way it started. Cantu got into foul trouble against Weslaco, something that rarely happens to him. Still, he finished the game with eight rebounds and two blocks.

“I didn’t contribute much on the scoreboard, but my presence was there on defense and rebounding,” Cantu said. “I tried to do my best without fouling. I just wanted to stay in the game.”

After losing for the first time in district play, the Bobcats weren’t quite right. They lost a few tough games. But, once they got the chance to avenge that first loss to Edinburg Vela, Edinburg High started to hit on all cylinders.

“Vela is always a tough team,” Figueroa said. “Going in there and beating them, in their house especially, it’s always good. So that got us playing at the level we are at now.”

Damian Garcia and Cantu will be playing like their lives depend on it. As seniors, they want any chance to play just one more minute with this team.

“It would mean a lot,” Damian Garcia said. “We have experience from playing in tournaments. We want to compete and create a new tradition here. It would mean a lot, especially me as a senior.”

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VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Friday’s Games

Class 6A area round

Edinburg High vs. South San Antonio at Laredo United High School, 7:30 p.m.

Harlingen High at McAllen Memorial, 7 p.m.

Class 5A area round

Rio Grande City vs. SA Harlandale at Texas A&M-International, 7 p.m.

Class 2A area round

San Isidro vs. Port Aransas at Kingsville King, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Class 6A area round

Edinburg Vela vs. Del Rio at Texas A&M-International, 3 p.m.

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — On Tuesday, the team that was supposed to have more poise looked lost at the end.

The Weslaco High Panthers, who went further than any other Valley team a year ago and boast a ton of seniors, made costly mistakes at the end of a close game.

The Edinburg High Bobcats looked ready to prolong their first-round woes when they fouled Weslaco High senior guard Braxton Bloomquist in the corner on a 3-point shot. Bloomquist knocked down all three free throws, cutting the lead to just two with less than a minute to play. On the ensuing inbounds pass, the Bobcats committed a five-second violation and turned the ball over.

But Tuesday, after everything they have been through this year, the Bobcats were not going to be denied. Junior forward Antoine Woodard got a steal and was immediately fouled. He swung the momentum back by hitting both free throws.

The Panthers’ troubles didn’t stop there. On the ensuing offensive possession, just as they got past half court, senior forward Khalil Fino-A-LaSelf uncharacteristically lost the ball out of bounds.

The Bobcats finished off the 57-50 win to advance past the bi-district round for the first time since 2011. Edinburg High will face South San Antonio later this week at a site to be determined.

“This win feels amazing,” senior center Jesus Cantu said. “Bringing this tradition back to this program. We haven’t gone to the second round in few years. It’s been a while, and it feels amazing.”

Woodard had 23 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

“Antoine is always going to be our X-factor,” junior guard Matt Cruz said. “He carries us, basically, and we feed off of him.”

The Bobcats looked at peak form earlier this year. They started off the District 31-6A season undefeated, but a few tough losses cost them the district title. When Weslaco was announced as their first-round opponent, the optimism surrounding the program started to dissipate.

“No one gave us a chance to win this game,” sophomore guard Jorge Hernandez said.

Still, the Bobcats came out on fire to start the game.

Edinburg High hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Woodard scored eight points to lead EHS to a 17-7 first-quarter lead.

“We have done that in the past,” Bobcats coach Esequiel Cuellar said. “When we played Harlingen a while back — they have a good team — we came out firing. We came out hot, and that’s what we preached to our kids for this game. ‘We have to set the tone early.’ I think we did that tonight. We dictated the tone, we set the tempo, and we were able to do what we wanted to, early on.”

While Weslaco did not close the gap much in the second quarter, the Panthers pushed EHS into foul trouble. The game was very physical, and 41 total fouls were called as a result. Cantu and junior guard Marc Figueroa each picked up three first-half fouls. By the break, the teams were tied at 10 fouls each.

“It was extremely frustrating today,” Cantu said. “I don’t usually pick up fouls. I know how to time blocks well and move my feet. Today, I just had to be careful, and it was extremely frustrating.”

Despite being in heavy foul trouble, Cantu scored three points, had eight rebounds and connected on two tremendous rejections. Fellow senior Damian Garcia had 15 points.

“This win is for our seniors,” Cruz said. “Jesus was talking to me and he said, ‘I don’t want this to be my last game.’ I told him, ‘We will play together, and I promise you we will get this win.’ We did it, and we did it as a team.”

Foul trouble forced the Bobcats to go deeper into their bench than they would like to. Sophomores Jerry Lopez and Hernandez played extended minutes.

“I just did what I had to do,” Hernandez said, “I played defense. I didn’t have any points, but playing defense is my key to the game, and I just had to do it.”

“I’m really proud of them,” Cruz added. “They did an excellent job, and they gave it everything they had.”

In the final moments, Weslaco High went with a small lineup, sitting senior center Derek Cedeno in favor of junior guard Safi Fino-A-LaSelf.

Cedeno had just two points and two rebounds, while Safi Fino-A-LaSelf had a team-high 19 points and four rebounds. Still, Cuellar was glad the Panthers didn’t rethink the idea.

“I was surprised at some of the rotations (Weslaco coach Gabe Valdez) was bringing in,” Cuellar said. “I don’t think it benefitted him when he went small. Unfortunately, Jesus was in foul trouble, so we had to go small, too. … Last time we played them, when they would go small, we would stay big with Jesus, and we had trouble. I think this time, it kind of helped us that Jesus got into foul trouble early on, because we went small, and he went small.”

In last year’s bi-district round, Edinburg High lost 42-41 to Harlingen South. The year before, Brownsville Veterans eliminated EHS 51-38 in the opening round.

“As a senior, it’s a great feeling,” Garcia said of Tuesday’s win. “We have been putting in so much work, starting in the summer, all throughout the year. We are very hungry right now.”

For Weslaco, Bloomquist finished with 16, and senior forward Jesus Payes contributed seven.

For the Bobcats, junior guard Marc Figueroa scored 11 after taking a hard foul to the jaw early in the game that left him checking for blood throughout.

The gym was packed with fans and the noise was electric, even before tipoff. Now, the Bobcats have to find the same energy for an area–round matchup in a few days.

“It’s tough with teenage boys,” Cuellar said. “It will be tough, but we have been preparing for this, and we will be ready.”

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VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Monday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen Memorial 52, Laredo United 48

Class 5A Bi-District

Rio Grande City 50, Edcouch-Elsa 34

Class 4A Bi-District

West Oso 103, Raymondville 48

Port Isabel 69, Orange Grove 58

Class 3A Bi-District

Tuesday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

Del Rio 74, McAllen Rowe 61

Laredo Alexander 70, McAllen High 68

South San Antonio 74, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 54

Harlingen High 66, Edinburg North 48

Edinburg Vela 66, Brownsville Rivera 59

Edinburg High 57, Weslaco High 50

Los Fresnos 75, Edinburg Economedes 56

Class 5A Bi-District

Brownsville Pace 70, Roma 61

Class 4A Bi-District

Rockport-Fulton 44, Hidalgo 41

Class 3A Bi-District

Santa Rosa 75, Bishop 45

Class 2A Bi-District

San Isidro 67, Riviera-Kaufer 47

VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL BOX SCORES

Tuesday’s Game

HARLINGEN HIGH 66, EDINBURG NORTH 48

Edinburg North 8 10 19 11 — 48

Harlingen High 14 22 15 15 — 66

HARLINGEN HIGH (66): Diego Balsadua 8, Michael Arellano 13, John Ortega 2, Antonio Aguilar 3, Jeremy Vasquez 8, Kameryn Gonzalez 10, Matthew Sesler 16, Jordan Crenshaw 6.

EDINBURG NORTH (48): Andrew Nunez 15, Felix Aleman 9, Iziaah Rangel 5, Ben Vela 7, Juan Vasquez 12.

RECORDS: Harlingen High 28-10 , 9-5; Edinburg North 25-12.

BY DANYA PEREZ-HERNANDEZ AND SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITERS

Edinburg Vela football coach John Campbell was reinstated by Edinburg CISD earlier this month following a two-week suspension.

Campbell was arrested by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper on a DWI charge following a one-vehicle crash on the afternoon of Jan. 20. In the aftermath of the crash, Campbell crawled out of a Dodge truck, which was on its side. Video of the incident later emerged online.

ECISD attorney Kevin O’Hanlon said the board placed Campbell on a two-week suspension with pay. Once the suspension was completed, Campbell returned to work.

At this time, the board will wait to see if any legal action will be taken, O’Hanlon said. Campbell’s contract, which is in a one-year probationary period, ends at the end of the school year.

“Obviously, we are not involved in the criminal case, but we are going to watch and keep an eye on that,” O’Hanlon said. “Even an experienced teacher, their first year with the district they are hired in a probationary contract for one year for this school year… (His contract) will be taken up along with everybody else in about a month and a half, when we get around to contracts.”

For now, the district is not expected to take further action on Campbell’s employment due to the DWI, O’Hanlon said, and there is no particular rule in the district’s policies that points to a punishment on this type of offenses.

“There is not a punishment regimen, if you will,” he said. “But the district has not historically terminated employees for first offense DWI.”

Edinburg CISD spokesperson Romeo Cantu refused to verify Campbell’s employment status, stating the district doesn’t comment on personnel matters. Superintendent Rene Gutierrez also refused to comment on the matter for the same reason.

The crash happened at approximately 5 p.m. on Rooth Road near Schunior Road in Edinburg, according to Campbell’s arrest warrant affidavit.

Campbell was given a field sobriety test, which prompted DPS to make the arrest. Although he refused to provide a breath sample, he was required to submit a blood sample.

He was released from jail the following day after posting $2,000 bond, according to Hidalgo County jail records.

The Monitor submitted a public records request for Campbell’s toxicology report and was told by DPS on Feb. 16 that “the toxicology analysis has not been completed.”

Campbell spent most of his coaching career in San Antonio before he was hired as the football coach and athletic coordinator at Edinburg Vela on April 19.

Campbell led Vela to a 12-1 season, with the SaberCats going 7-0 in District 31-6A. After the season, Campbell was named The Monitor’s All-Area Coach of the Year.

Campbell, ECISD athletic director Roy Garza and other ECISD officials could not be reached for comment.

VALLEY HS BOYS BASEBALL SCORES

Monday’s Games

Non-District

Donna North 14, PSJA Southwest 0, 5 innings

Mission Veterans 11, Laredo Martin 7

Weslaco High 8, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0

Valley View 6, Rio Grande City 4

Hidalgo 2, Mission High 1

Lyford 7, Port Isabel 6

Raymondville 15, Brownsville St. Joseph 2

Rio Hondo 18, MMW 2

Laredo LBJ 4, Zapata 2

La Feria 22, La Villa 7

Harlingen South 10, Edinburg North 4

PSJA Memorial 13, Weslaco East 6

Roma 9, Laredo Nixon 1

Donna High 2, La Joya Palmview 1

McAllen Rowe 10, Harlingen
High 6

VALLEY HS BASEBALL BOX SCORES

Monday’s Game

Non-District

DONNA NORTH 14, PSJA SOUTHWEST 0

Donna North 410 36 — 14

PSJA Southwest 000 00 — 0

WP: Ryan Pequeno, 5 innings, 0 hits, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk.

DONNA NORTH (14): Jerry Sanchez 4 for 4, 1 RBI; Joey Ramirez 1 for 3, 3 RBIs; Luciano Izaguirre 2 for 3, 2 RBIs.

RECORDS: Donna North 1-0, PSJA Southwest 0-1.

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Rio Grande City senior center Rodrigo Nuñez has been too much for most of his opponents to handle this year, and on Monday, he taught Edcouch-Elsa the same lesson.

Nuñez finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks as Rio Grande City defeated Edcouch-Elsa 50-34 in a bi-district playoff game.

“It’s my first playoff game,” he said. “I knew it was going to mean a lot to me, and I hadn’t played so good the last couple games. So I was like, ‘I have to come in and show up today.’”

RGC opened up an 8-0 lead to start the game, and Nuñez had eight of the Rattlers’ first 10 points.

“Those dunks, they get us get fired up,” sophomore guard Aaron Marroquin said. “And the fans, they were loud tonight. Every time the fans are there like that, we are playing for them.”

RGC coach Juan Aldape said he thinks the Rattlers’ playoff win is the team’s first in about 40 years.

“It means a lot to us,” Marroquin said. “We are making history.”

Nuñez summarized the plan of attack for the Rattlers.

“Defense,” the 6-foot-8 athletic big man said. “If we don’t play good defense, we won’t be able to score. Our defense is where we get a lot of points — fast-break points.”

That was the case Monday, as Rio Grande City forced turnovers all night. And when the Rattlers got the ball, they always had a player running alone toward the opposite basket.

“Sometimes (Nuñez) has been the one taking off before the rebound to get that dunk,” Aldape said. “It gets the team going, so I allow once or twice for him to do that.”

Monday was different, though. Nuñez wasn’t worried about getting rolling. He played the role of quarterback looking for receivers streaking down the court. He connected on several home-run passes to his teammates, leading to easy layups. If the basket wasn’t open, the Rattlers were careful to pull back and protect the possession.

Nuñez brought his game to a new level in several areas on Monday.

“He tends to step up in the big games, and he did today, man,” Aldape said. “Offensively, defensively, getting the guys together when things weren’t going our way. He got the guys together. He brought that leadership today. I have to hand it to him.”

Nuñez knew coming in that this was his first and last chance to make an impression in the postseason, and he used that as fuel against Edcouch-Elsa.

He even brought his dunks to the next level. During the second quarter, just after Edcouch-Elsa had weathered the early storm and pulled to within six points, RGC senior guard Izrael Lambert came up with a steal. He got his eyes up court and saw Nuñez all alone under the rim. Lambert launched a perfect pass, and Nuñez took a second to gather before going up for a thunderous one-handed dunk.

“I thought he was going to bring the backboard down,” Aldape said with a big grin. “He made the board rattle, so it made some noise. … That is one of the most powerful ones I have seen (from him).”

“I think they missed a couple of foul calls, so I was pretty mad about that,” Nuñez said.

RGC’s defense set up a lot of quick buckets, and the scoring was evenly dispersed among the eight players who suited up.

Junior guard Jaime Covarrubias had four points, eight rebounds, four steals and six assists. Lambert finished with six points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Sophomore guard Aaron Marroquin was in a good rhythm to start the game. He added to Nuñez’s hot start, hitting a dagger that drew a timeout.

But just three minutes into the game, Marroquin hurt his ankle on an offensive possession. The other nine players went back to the opposite end while Marroquin was down on the floor in pain.

“It’s just a sprain,” Marroquin said. “I should be good to play by Friday. It’s day to day. I just have to ice it up in the morning. I should be good.”

Marroquin had his ankle taped and showed the doctor he was well enough to get back in. He returned to the action at the start of the second quarter and finished with six points and four steals.

“He’s a strong kid,” Aldape said. “He’s not going to let a minor tweak on his ankle stop him. I don’t know how bad it was, but he was fighting through it. You could see a little limp. But he’s a tough kid, man.”

After the game, Marroquin was not very mobile, limping around the gym for the postgame festivities.

Edcouch-Elsa coach Lalo Rios called a timeout after the 8-0 start by RGC, pulling his starters in favor of a fresh five. He then walked over to his starters and said: “You guys did everything wrong. Everything.”

Edcouch-Elsa righted the ship after that, pulling to within four points at 16-12 with just under a minute left in the first quarter. But, by halftime, RGC had doubled up E-E, 32-16.

Edcouch-Elsa made 170 3-point field goals this year. On Monday, the Yellow Jackets hit just two.

Senior Dustin Rodriguez scored 13 points for E-E. Junior Marcos Escobar and senior Jeremiah Caballero each added six.

“Lalo brought that heat that he brings,” Aldape said. “We were able to break that press and get a few easy baskets. But they played tough.”

Rio will face the winner of Harlandale and Flour Bluff. Those two face off at 6:30 tonight at Jourdanton High School, and the Rattlers will be making the trip.

“I want to give these guys the best opportunity to get the W,” Aldape said. “We are going scouting. … Tonight is another chapter in the book, but our story isn’t over yet.”

[email protected]

VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Monday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen Memorial 52, Laredo United 48

Class 5A Bi-District

Rio Grande City 50, Edcouch-Elsa 34

Class 4A Bi-District

West Oso 103, Raymondville 48

Port Isabel 69, Orange Grove 58

Class 3A Bi-District

C.C. London 74, Edinburg IDEA Quest 42

Tuesday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen Rowe vs. Del Rio at TAMIU, 7 p.m.

McAllen High at Laredo Alexander, 7 p.m.

South San Antonio vs. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at C.C. King, 7 p.m.

Harlingen High at Edinburg North, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Brownsville Rivera, 7 p.m.

Weslaco High at Edinburg High, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg Economedes at Los Fresnos, 7 p.m.

Class 5A Bi-District

Roma vs. Brownsville Pace at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

Hidalgo vs. Rockport-Fulton at Alice, 7:30 p.m.

Class 3A Bi-District

Santa Rosa vs. Bishop at Falfurrias, 7 p.m.

Class 2A Bi-District

San Isidro vs. Riviera-Kaufer at Hebbronville, 7 p.m.

VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL BOX SCORES

Monday’s Games

McALLEN MEMORIAL 52, LAREDO UNITED 48

McAllen Memorial 11 12 16 13 — 52

Laredo United 5 15 11 17 — 48

McALLEN MEMORIAL (52): Chris Flores 16, Ace Chavez 9, Javi Mendoza 2, Chris Melendez 3, Josh Sanchez 12, Elian Reyna 10.

LAREDO UNITED (48): Sammy Esparza 7, Abel Gonzalez 3, Andy Pompa 19, Carlos Guzman 2, Elian Hernandez 2, Abelardo Osuna 5, Gabe Gaytan 10.

RIO GRANDE CITY 50, EDCOUCH-ELSA 34

Edcouch-Elsa 14 2 9 9 — 34

Rio Grande City 18 14 8 10 — 50

RIO GRANDE CITY (50): Rodrigo Nuñez 22, Izrael Lambert 6, Aaron Marroquin 6, Jaime Covarrubias 4, Frank Gonzalez 6, Mario Gonzalez 4, Josh Garcia 2.

EDCOUCH-ELSA (34): Mateo Salazar 2, Jeremiah Caballero 6, Bryan Guerra 2, Dustin Rodriguez 13, Josh Gonzalez 5, Marcos Escobar 6.

RECORDS: Rio Grande City 23-10

VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Friday’s Game

District 31-5A

Fourth-place tiebreaker

Roma 69, Laredo Cigarroa 68

Monday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen Memorial vs. Laredo United at Roma, 7 p.m.

Class 5A Bi-District

Edcouch-Elsa vs. Rio Grande City at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

Raymondville vs. West Oso at Kingsville, 6 p.m.

Port Isabel vs. Orange Grove at Falfurrias, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen Rowe vs. Del Rio at TAMIU, 7 p.m.

McAllen High at Laredo Alexander, 7 p.m.

South San Antonio vs. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at C.C. King, 7 p.m.

Harlingen High at Edinburg North, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Brownsville Rivera, 7 p.m.

Weslaco High at Edinburg High, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg Economedes at Los Fresnos, 7 p.m.

Class 5A Bi-District

Roma vs. Brownsville Pace at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

Hidalgo vs. Rockport-Fulton at Alice, 7:30 p.m.

Class 3A Bi-District

Santa Rosa vs. Bishop at Falfurrias, 7 p.m.

Class 2A Bi-District

San Isidro vs. Riviera-Kaufer at Hebbronville, 7 p.m.

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — Two years ago, McAllen Memorial’s Josh Sanchez was a part of one of the best McAllen Memorial teams in recent history.

He was playing alongside his brother, Jonathan Sanchez, plus standouts DJ Johnson and Dorian Perez.

The Mustangs charged through the 2015-2016 season, claiming a district crown. They advanced to the third round of the playoffs.

“(Laredo) United has been around in my life for a couple years,” senior forward Josh Sanchez said. “I’ve been playing United since my sophomore year, when we lost to them in the third round. My junior year, we lost to them in the first round. This year, we are playing them again in the first round. So, I have history with them, and it’s a little more personal for me.”

McAllen Memorial will face Laredo United at 7 tonight at Roma High School.

“I know some players on United,” Sanchez said. “The coach has been there since the first time I played them, so he knows how I play. We lost to them my sophomore year, when my brother was on the team. It brings me back to that time, playing with my brother, so this is not just for our team this year, but for the last two years, as well.”

United is helmed by Arcadio Ramos, who has been the Longhorns’ coach since 2008.

Sanchez has been playing like a man on a mission all year. After missing the first eight games while he finished the football season, Sanchez never missed a beat. During the regular season, he averaged 14.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

“With Josh being a senior, he is more focused,” Memorial coach Sam Cortez said. “Being a captain for four years, I don’t want it to end for him. We are going to go as far as he takes us.”

Sanchez won’t be alone tonight. Senior point guard Chris Flores has developed into a player capable of guiding the Mustangs even if Sanchez is out. Add senior Chris Melendez, a sharpshooter who can heat up quickly, to that mix, and it’s easy to see why Cortez and the Mustangs are confident heading into a familiar pairing.

“(Flores) is actually one of my best shooters,” Cortez said. “Chris knows, I don’t run any plays for him. He knows, I always tell him, ‘You have to read it.’ When he gets the right read, he will get those 15-18 points per game, and without even running a play for him. He gets everybody involved.”

Flores modestly points out how easy it is to rack up assists playing alongside his teammates.

“Chris Melendez, Josh Sanchez and I are very close,” Flores said. “I think (Melendez) and Josh are the main reason why I get my assists.”

Still, Cortez said, Flores and Melendez have the capability to be X-factors tonight and swing the game. They displayed that ability when the Mustangs played Sharyland High on Dec. 8, while Sanchez was still out for football.

“(Melendez) had five 3s,” Flores said. “It was mainly transition threes, and I’m feeding him. When he gets going, he is a great shooter, and we need that on our team.”

Flores had 10 assists, Melendez scored 16 points, and the Mustangs topped the Rattlers 77-38.

Cortez has been the coach at Memorial since 2003, and the Mustangs have made the playoffs every year during his tenure, with the exception of his first year.

“Only three teams went back then,” Cortez said. “At that time, the top three teams in the Valley were Nikki Rowe, Pharr North and Economedes, and they were all in our district that year. So, we got fourth.”

Since that season, Cortez has led the Mustangs past the first round five times.

During that run, Cortez has gone against United many times. The Mustangs’ are familiar with the Longhorns’ system due to the recent history between the teams.

“The closest team we have played is, I want to say, Nikki Rowe,” Cortez said. “You know that dribble penetration and then a kick out? Basically, that’s what Laredo United does. But the whole game, they run one set. They are very disciplined. Coach is not going to change. You know what they are going to do, but you have to stop it. … You see it on film, but not until tipoff do you realize how quick they are, how tall they are. But, I tell these guys, ‘All we want to do is be aggressive, win the rebounds, get to the line and minimize our turnovers.’ If we win all those, we will win the game. If we lose, look at those categories, and one of them will tell you why we lost.”

Josh Sanchez approached Cortez before the year and said he was hoping to meet United in the playoffs.

“It’s weird, because until the last game, there was a chance for a three-way tie (in United’s District 29-6A),” Cortez said. “I’ve been here a long time, and it seems like we are always playing Laredo United or Laredo Alexander. If they get the two seed, we end up at three. Or something happens where there is a three-way tie for the district championship, and we end up playing them anyway. Talking to Josh, he mentioned that. A lot of people say, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ Well, you know what? I wished for this also. The way he started, I want him to finish on top. Like I said, he’s our captain. He gets everyone going. I think it is the year of the Mustang.”

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