By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Harlingen High senior Ashton Adams was a bit surprised his play on the basketball court was starting to receive as much recognition as his performance on the baseball diamond.

Adams transitioned from thriving as a corner outfielder with a cannon for an arm to a clutch shooter who led his team in 3-point field goals and 3-point field goal percentage, and he delivered buzzer-beating baskets on multiple occasions for the Cardinals.

He is the Valley Morning Star’s 2019-20 All-STAR Boys Basketball Newcomer of the Year.

“As a team, I’m very happy with the way we played,” Adams said. “We improved a lot from (the start of the season.”

So, too, did Adams during his three years on the freshman, JV dark and JV light basketball teams, years which were also spent mostly under the tutelage of Harlingen High coach Clayton Cretors.

“I knew I was going to have to step up and work harder (to make the varsity roster),” Adams said. “I just tried my hardest in practice.”

Despite the fact that Adams had enjoyed more success in baseball, he said basketball “was always the sport I liked to play more.”

Cretors observed that the senior began to display more familiarity with the standards and expectations at the varsity level.

“Watching (Adams) the last couple of years, he’s improved steadily,” Cretors said. “He’s a tremendous athlete and competitor. He was a good wing for us, he really shot the ball well. He was always going to come into the game and give us a burst offensively.”

Making the team was merely Step 1. Adams still had his work cut out for him.

“From the first scrimmage that we played, I was the last one to get subbed in,” Adams said. “After the first couple of tournaments, (Cretors) started playing me more, and I started performing. … I had to prove myself whenever he did put me in the game.

Adams dropped 20 pounds from the beginning of the year to the start of the season to improve his speed and was a quick study with the Cardinals’ playbook as a late addition to the varsity squad. He also sought to improve his defensive performance.

The increased in-game reps paid off. Adams’ chemistry with point guard Eric Quilantan and forward Ruben Gonzalez was evident.

Adams went on to lead the team in points per game, with 12.1, and added 3.1 rebounds per game.

“I loved being on the court with those two,” Adams said. “Everything was so smooth. … We always found each other and worked the ball around the court. It could have been any one of us dribbling or driving (to the basket), everyone was involved.”

The sweet spot for Adams beyond the arc was the corner, and Cretors often reminded his sharpshooter to space the floor on a fastbreak.

Shooters can sometimes have hot streaks followed by an off night, and Cretors helped Adams to persevere after a slump.

“I had 30 points (and seven 3-pointers Jan. 24 at Brownsville Rivera) and I had three points (Jan. 28 at San Benito),” Adams said. “I’m pretty sure I went 1-for-9 (against San Benito). I would get frustrated, and (Cretors) would tell me just to keep shooting and not worry about it. You can’t shut down.”

Adams delivered in the clutch for the Cardinals, launching a game-winning 3 as the clock ran out against Edinburg Vela in the Tournament of Champions on Dec. 7, 2019, in Los Fresnos.

During the district slate, he came through again by missing a long triple, then following his shot for a long rebound and sinking the go-ahead bucket just before the horn sounded for a 71-69 victory over Brownsville Hanna on Feb 18.

“If there was a sixth-man award, he’d be the guy to get it,” Cretors said. “He understood his role really well.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — For the first time since World War II in 1945, Wimbledon has been canceled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as the All England Club announced Wednesday.

The tournament had been scheduled to run from June 29 to July 12, and has been rescheduled for June 28 to July 11, 2021.

Across the East Valley, high school tennis coaches have been preparing for a prolonged delay, as the University Interscholastic League first postponed all athletic activities March 13.

On March 19, the UIL extended its suspension until May 4, which was superseded Tuesday by Texas governor Gregg Abbott’s decision to close schools statewide until at least May 4.

Lyford tennis coach David Lopez said he was disappointed at the prospect of missing out on watching Wimbledon this summer in addition to the uncertainty surrounding his own team’s season.

He and the Bulldogs have decided to abide by the school’s slogan “no fear, all faith.”

“It is unfortunate but necessary under the circumstances,” Lopez said. “Tennis fanatics like myself look forward to watching Wimbledon every year. A tradition will be broken for a lot of us this year. Our tennis athletes are disappointed with how this season has turned out.

“Fortunately, we at Lyford CISD have taken every step imaginable to keep our students engaged. Our athletic department was able to develop a strength and conditioning program for our athletes, as part of their class schedule at home.”

Harlingen South coach Ernesto Escamilla praised the All England Club’s decision to delay the iconic tournament.

“The decision is a wise one due to what we know and don’t know of COVID-19,” Escamilla said. What we are going through is way bigger than tennis. Tennis will be back and everything will be back to normal if we all do our part. The board of the All England Club did their part, and we are trying to do ours as well.

The Hawks’ coach noted that tennis players have plenty of ways to continue training from the safety of their homes.

“We have not stepped foot in our facilities,” Escamilla said. “And thanks to the many platforms we have online we have been in touch with our athletes and sending sport-specific workouts for them to do at home.

“Practicing social distancing and staying home are best practices for us as a community, however, this does not mean we are not proactively investing in our well-being. We must keep some sort of healthy routine, at home, where we can take care of our mind, body and soul.”

Brownsville Veterans Memorial tennis coach Leo Casanova said the move to postpone an event of such magnitude months in advance is an indication of how urgently the rest of the world should be approaching the social distancing preventative measures advocated by local authorities in response to the coronavirus.

“It just goes to show how serious the world is taking this virus by canceling such a historic and important tournament,” Casanova said.

Casanova is one of several coaches using several different forms of technology, from smartphone apps to video conferencing tools to distribute fitness plans and keep his players on track.

“My staff and I are keeping in touch with our student-athletes through our Remind app,” Casanova said. “We have been uploading workouts so students can do them at home on a regular basis, so they can stay in playing shape if the season were to continue. Our biggest concern right now is the students’ safety.”

Tennis director Seferino Couoh of the Brownsville Tennis Center, Don VanRamshorst, head tennis pro at the H-E-B Tennis Center in Harlingen, Harlingen Country Club tennis director Andy Carter and Rancho Viejo Country Club tennis director Ray Jasso could not be reached for comment.

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Brownsville Veterans Memorial senior Lizzie Garza is no stranger to the spotlight.

A four-year varsity letterwinner, Garza was especially motivated to go out on top as a District 32-5A champion. She did so for the third time in her career after the Lady Chargers came up short of their goal, and also secured her fourth straight playoff berth.

“We played a lot more as a team,” Garza said. “We had our individual roles. … We didn’t get the district (championship) last year, but we just had to go out and play like we did in the years before in order to accomplish our goal this year.”

For her integral role in Brownsville Veterans’ success, Garza is The Brownsville Herald’s 2019-2020 All-Metro Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player.

She scored 12.9 points per game in her final season, averaging 13.4 points per game in district play. Garza also tallied 6.3 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game and 2.4 steals per game during the 14-game span that was the Lady Chargers’ undefeated run to another 32-5A title.

“This year was probably one of my best years,” Garza said. “We just played hard every game, and it showed on the court. We would just go out there and have fun.”

Brownsville Veterans coach Arnold Torres did his best to instill a more team-centric approach in his first season in charge of the program, and ensuring Garza and the returning seniors were on board was a top priority for him and assistant coach Anthony Alvarez.

“Having the seniors and returning letterwinners buy into what Coach Alvarez and myself were trying to do was a big step in the right direction,” Torres said. “Knowing that if they would buy in, then the younger ones would buy in as well.”

Garza said the team also spent more time working on conditioning and strength training in the weight room, which bolstered her endurance.

Another welcome change cited by Garza and her teammates that was a factor in their improved rapport on the floor was the frequent team dinners held the night before games. The players would speak freely about how they would approach the next game and spend time bonding over non-basketball related topics.

“Everyone contributed (to the discussion),” Garza said. “Whether they were on the bench or on the court.”

It wasn’t just talk for the Lady Chargers, which is why Torres often brought up the fact that his team could rely on different leading scorers on many different occasions.

“Offensively, we had plays meant for everyone,” Garza said. “If there was a defender on one shooter, they would kick it out, and the other person would shoot if they had the open shot, and from there we would rebound and set up the offense again. … We all developed greatly (in the new system).”

Herald All-Metro Girls Basketball Team 2020

Most Valuable Player

Lizzie Garza, Sr., Brownsville Veterans

Offensive Player of the Year

Ari Gallardo, Sr., Los Fresnos

Defensive Player of the Year

Alexandra Parchmont, Sr., Brownsville Veterans

Newcomer of the Year

Alexa Torres, Fr., Brownsville Veterans

Coach of the Year

Arnold Torres, Brownsville Veterans Memorial

First Team

Byranna Biutereria, So., Brownsville Veterans

Caitlin Esquivel, So., Brownsville Veterans

Olivia Parra, Fr., Los Fresnos

Sarahi Jones, So., Los Fresnos

Sofia Espinoza, Sr., Pace

Second Team

Brenda Savariego, Jr., Lopez

Juju Alvarez, Jr., Brownsville Veterans

Mariana Espinosa, Fr., Brownsville Jubilee

Odalys Gonzalez, Sr., Hanna

Priscilla Garcia, Sr., Pace

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

COMBES — Avery Hinojosa leads by example and lets her play on the court speak for itself.

The Harlingen High sophomore is the Valley Morning Star’s 2019-20 All-STAR Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player.

“It took a lot of work to fight for it,” Hinojosa said. “We put in a lot of work in the weight room and stayed later for (extra) conditioning.”

Hinojosa led the Lady Cardinals with 10.6 points per game, shooting 41 percent from the field on the season. She was Harlingen High’s best three-point shooter by volume, making 34 percent of her attempts from behind the arc, or 47 of 139 shots.

Hinojosa also hauled in 112 rebounds and dished out 53 assists. She was one of six Lady Cardinals to record at least 40 assists, and her versatility had a ripple effect on the team’s offense, allowing Harlingen High coach Ashley Moncivaiz to utilize a larger rotation than she had in previous seasons.

“To have a young team, and to be able to play pretty much our whole team each game, that was, to me, something that was good,” Moncivaiz said. “In most seasons, you don’t think that you’re going to be able to play our whole team. A lot of times, you’re going to play a small group or seven to eight players. We were able to play 10 to 12 players consistently, and that’s something we want to do every year, is have a deep team.”

Harlingen High’s top playmaker also made a concerted effort to improve her shooting ability and her defensive play.

Hinojosa’s 102 steals were second only to teammate Rosa Zapata’s team-high 104 swipes.

Moncivaiz said the enhanced chemistry between Hinojosa and her teammates and a deeper understanding of each player’s role on the floor will allow for further growth next season and beyond.

“I think we’ll see a lot more from (Hinojosa and Zapata) next year,” Moncivaiz said. “Because they’ll be even older and more mature with experience. … You go from one not playing a lot of minutes to the other going from the middle school level to the high school level. They were both able to contribute in different ways.”

In a win over Laredo LBJ on Dec. 6, 2019, Hinojosa dropped 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists. She scored 15 points and added five rebounds and an assist to lead her team to victory against Edinburg Vela.

Also, Hinojosa was the leading scorer — with 14 points and four rebounds — in Harlingen High’s 45-36 win over rival Harlingen South on Jan. 21, one of several District 32-6A games in which she scored in double figures.

“Next year, the expectations are going to be that (Hinojosa is) not going to be hesitant at the beginning of the year,” Moncivaiz said. “She’s going to start strong and finish even better.”

All-STAR Girls Basketball Team 2020

Most Valuable Player

Avery Hinojosa, So., Harlingen High

Offensive Player of the Year

Karla Reyes, Sr. Harlingen South

Defensive Player of the Year

Julia Celis, Sr., Harlingen South

Newcomer of the Year

Rosa Zapata, Fr., Harlingen High

Coach of the Year

Ashley Moncivaiz, Harlingen High

First Team

Alexus Coto, Jr., Harlingen High

Callie Cervantes, Jr., Harlingen High

Laura Ramirez, Sr., Harlingen South

Samantha Delgado, Sr., Lyford

Sydney Portillo, Jr., Harlingen High

Second Team

Alexes Rocha, So.,Harlingen South

Damariz Bermudez, So. Lyford

Eliza Rodriguez, Fr., Rio Hondo

Marlina Perez, Fr., Lyford

Natalie Martinez, Sr., Rio Hondo

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Girls basketball coaches across the East Valley voted to select all-district teams for their respective districts shortly after the conclusion of the season, which ended prematurely at some levels when the University Interscholastic League first suspended play March 13 due to the spread of COVID-19.

Los Fresnos senior Ari Gallardo was named the most valuable player in District 32-6A. Other superlative honorees in 32-6A included Harlingen High sophomore Avery Hinojosa — the offensive MVP and leading scorer for the District 32-6A champions — Harlingen South senior Julia Celis, the defensive MVP, and Harlingen High freshman Rosa Zapata, the newcomer of the year.

The 2019-20 District 32-6A first team is comprised of Harlingen High juniors Callie Cervantes and Alexus Coto, Los Fresnos sophomore Sarahi Jones, Los Fresnos senior Clarissa Esquibel, Harlingen South senior Karla Reyes and Brownsville Hanna senior Odalys Gonzalez.

In District 32-5A, Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Arnold Torres was selected as coach of the year. Lady Chargers senior Lizzie Garza was a unanimous choice among 32-5A coaches for MVP, as the leading scorer for district champion Brownsville Veterans.

Mercedes senior Mikia Vento was the offensive player of the year, and Brownsville Veterans senior Alexandra Parchmont and Valley View senior Daniela Garza shared defensive player of the year honors.

Lady Chargers freshman Alexa Torres and Valley View freshman Jescilya Prado split the newcomer of the year award.

Three Brownsville student-athletes were voted onto the 32-5A first team, including Brownsville Veterans sophomores Caite Esquivel and Byranna Biutereria, and Brownsville Pace senior Sofia Espinoza.

Edcouch-Elsa senior Nyra Jimenez, Donna High sophomore Ivette Valladares, and Valley View junior Jimena Munoz and senior Alexis Ortegon rounded out the first-team selections.

Three East Valley players received superlative awards in District 32-4A — the defensive player of the year honors went to Port Isabel senior Ryley Galvan, and Lady Tarpons junior Whitney Zaloski shared the sixth man of the year distinction with Hidalgo senior Vanessa Espinoza.

Rio Hondo freshman Eliza Rodriguez was selected as newcomer of the year.

Hidalgo cleaned up in the rest of the 32-4A award voting —coach of the year went to the Lady Pirates’ Saul Arjona, senior Savannah Sanchez was named MVP, and senior Carolina Carbajal was selected as offensive player of the year.

La Feria sophomore Alani Garza, Port Isabel junior Sabrina Gonzalez, Rio Hondo junior Natalie Martinez and Raymondville senior Ilanie Zamora represented the East Valley on the all-district first team. Also on the 32-4A first team are Zapata senior Elaine Lopez and Hidalgo seniors Soleil Garza and Elisa De La Pena.

In District 32-3A, the MVP award went to Brownsville Jubilee freshman Mariana Espinosa, the top player for the district champion Lady Titans.

The Lyford trio of sophomore Damaris Bermudez (offensive player of the year), senior Samantha Delgado (defensive player of the year) and freshman Marlina Perez (newcomer of the ear) swept the remaining three superlative categories.

Lady Bulldogs senior Kayleen May, Brownsville Jubilee’s Julissa Garza, Brownsville IDEA Frontier’s Sheyla Cosme and Alma Medellin, and Alondra De La Rosa of Monte Alto highlighted the 32-3A first team.

Also, Weslaco IDEA Pike’s Patty Gaytan and Victoria Rodriguez of Edinburg IDEA Quest were first-team selections.

Santa Maria was featured prominently in the District 32-2A superlative awards, headed by coach of the year selection Albert Briones, the bench boss of the district champion Lady Cougars.

Santa Maria senior Byanca Cantu and junior Yazmin Cantu were voted as co-MVPs, and Lady Cougars sophomore Anahi Magdaleno was named newcomer of the year.

San Perlita senior Meagan Kinney was selected as the offensive player of the year, and Lady Trojans sophomore Jasmine Rodriguez was picked for sixth man of the year honors.

San Isidro sophomore Mia Alvarado was named the defensive player of the year.

Seniors Daniela Rivera of Lasara and Jordan Garcia of San Isidro were unanimous first-team selections.

Other 32-2A players voted onto the first team were La Villa senior Yesenia Garcia, La Villa junior Gisela Tijerina, San Perlita senior Karime Rojas, San Perlita sophomore Aliyah Garcia, and Santa Maria seniors Michelle Almazan and Clara Briones.

District 32-6A

Most Valuable Player

Ari Gallardo, Sr., Los Fresnos

Offensive MVP

Avery Hinojosa, So., Harlingen High

Defensive MVP

Julia Celis, Sr., Harlingen South

Newcomer of the Year

Rosa Zapata, Fr., Harlingen High

First Team

Callie Cervantes, Jr., Harlingen High; Alexus Coto, Jr., Harlingen High; Sarahi Jones, So., Los Fresnos; Clarissa Esquibel; Karla Reyes, Sr. Harlingen South; Odalys Gonzalez, Sr., Brownsville Hanna

Second Team

Juli Bryant, Fr., Harlingen High; Alyssa Salas, Jr., Harlingen High; Sydney Portillo, Jr., Harlingen High; Olivia Parra, Fr., Los Fresnos; Alexes Rocha, So., Harlingen South; Karen Vega, Jr., San Benito; Alondra Guzman, Jr., Brownsville Rivera

Honorable Mention

Samantha Ramos, Sr., Brownsville Hanna; Alexis Alvarez, Jr., Brownsville Hanna; Kate Garza, So., Brownsville Hanna; Yazmine Rucoba So., Brownsville Hanna; Maranda Garza, So., Brownsville Rivera; Kenya Ibarra, So., Brownsville Rivera; Emery Scoggins, Fr., Harlingen High; Laylah Badiru, Jr., Harlingen High; Bianca Gonzalez, Sr., Harlingen South; Amber Lopez, Sr., Harlingen South; Giovanna Godoy, Sr., Los Fresnos; Victoria Hernandez, Jr., Los Fresnos; Maritza Ortega, Fr., Los Fresnos; Kayla Gaona, Jr., San Benito; Aries Naranjo Jr., San Benito; Deyanira Olguin Jr., San Benito

District 32-5A

Most Valuable Player

Lizzie Garza, Sr., Brownsville Veterans (unanimous)

Offensive Player of the Year

Mika Vento, Sr., Mercedes

Co-Defensive Player of the Year

Alexandra Parchmont, Sr., Brownsville Veterans; Daniela Garza, Sr. Valley View

Co-Newcomer of the Year

Alexa Torres, Fr., Brownsville Veterans; Jescilya Prado, Fr., Valley View

Coach of the Year

Arnold Torres Jr., Brownsville Veterans

All-Defensive Team

Caite Esquivel, Soph, Brownsville Veterans; Nyra Jimenez, Sr., Edcouch-Elsa; Ivette Valladares, Soph., Donna High; Jimena Munoz, Jr., Valley View; Sofia Espinosa, Sr., Brownsville Pace

First Team

Caite Esquivel, Soph., Brownsville Veterans; Byranna Biutereria, Soph., Brownsville Veterans; Nyra Jimenez, Sr., Edcouch Elsa; Ivette Valladares, Soph., Donna; Jimena Munoz, Jr., Valley View; Alexis Ortegon, Sr., Valley View; Sofia Espinoza, Sr., Brownsville Pace

Second Team

Sellie Gonzalez, Sr., Mercedes; Desiree Trevino, Sr., Brownsville Porter; Brenda Savariego, Jr., Brownsville Lopez; Juju Alvarez, Jr., Brownsville Veterans; Maddie Trevino, Jr., Edcouch-Elsa; Yzella Perez, Soph., Donna High; Priscilla Garcia, Sr., Brownsville Pace

Honorable Mention

Mallory Noriega, Jr., Mercedes; Karisa Moya, Sr., Mercedes; Caitlyn Acosta, Sr., Mercedes; Hailey Lozoya, Jr., Mercedes; Corina Limas, Soph.,Mercedes; Katherine Salas, Jr., Brownsville Porter; Adamari Arteaga, Sr., Brownsville Porter; Aliah Quiroz, Sr., Brownsville Porter; Sofia Castillo, Soph, Brownsville Lopez; Cielo Castillo, Soph., Brownsville Lopez; Areli Cisneros, Soph., Brownsville Lopez; Kassy Aguirre, Fresh., Brownsville Lopez; Fabiola Estrada, Jr., Brownsville Lopez; Annah Trevino, Sr., Brownsville Veterans; Mia Flores, Soph., Edcouch-Elsa; Victoria Mireles, Soph., Edcouch-Elsa; Josie Alvarado, Soph., Edcouch-Elsa; Alyssa Perez, Soph., Donna High; Gabrielle Campos, Sr., Donna High; Astrid Meza, Soph., Donna High; Julie Ponce, Jr., Valley View; Angela Garcia, Soph., Valley View; Monica Ortegon, Soph., Valley View; Sylvia Juarez, Sr., Brownsville Pace; Ana Briones, Jr., Brownsville Pace; Alessandra Rosario, Sr., Brownsville Pace

District 32-4A

Most Valuable Player

Savannah Sanchez, Sr, Hidalgo

Offensive Player of the Year

Carolina Carbajal, Sr., Hidalgo

Defensive Player of the Year

Ryley Galvan, Sr., Port Isabel

Newcomer of the Year

Eliza Rodriguez, Fr., Rio Hondo

Co-Sixth Man of the Year

Vanessa Espinoza, Sr., Hidalgo; Whitney Zaloski, Jr., Port Isabel

Coach of the Year: Saul Arjona, Hidalgo

First Team

Alani Garza, So., La Feria; Sabrina Gonzalez, Jr., Port Isabel; Natalie Martinez, Jr., Rio Hondo; Elaine Lopez, Sr., Zapata; Ilanie Zamora, Sr., Raymondville; Soleil Garza, Sr., Hidalgo; Elisa De La Pena, Sr., Hidalgo

Second Team

Chelsey Castillo, Sr., Grulla; Tamara Pecina, Sr., Progreso; Jazaline Ayala, Sr., Rio Hondo; Amanda Gomez Sr., Rio Hondo; Ayisha Andrews Sr., Rio Hondo; Kaelynn Gonzalez, Sr., Zapata; Melanie Salinas, Sr., Hidalgo

Honorable Mention

Sabrina Castaneda, Jr., La Feria; Jena Ochoa, Sr., La Feria; Maggie Cavazos, Sr., La Feria; Kaya Dickerson, Sr., La Feria; Aaliyah Stewart, Sr., La Feria; Samantha Chapa, So., Port Isabel; Layni Mata, Fr., Port Isabel; Karina Martinez Jr., Port Isabel; Gisell Borjas, So., Port Isabel; Mandy Perkins, So., Port Isabel; Annette Treviño, Jr., Grulla; Kiarabel Garza, Fr., Grulla; Chanaya Gonzalez, Jr., Grulla; Aleynie Martinez, Fr., Grulla; Desiree Gonzalez, Jr., Grulla; Syann Alanis, Fr., Progreso; Vanessa Martinez, Sr., Progreso; Galilea Pecina, Jr., Progreso; Leslie Barrera, Jr., Progreso; Carolina Lopez, Jr., Progreso; Estrella Garza, Sr., Rio Hondo; Alexis Rhyner, So., Rio Hondo; Mia Zuniga, Jr., Rio Hondo; Jessica Vasquez, Sr., Rio Hondo; Claudia Cuellar, Sr., Zapata; Victoria Vela, Jr., Zapata; Kassandra Bernal, Sr., Zapata; Alexa Delgado, So., Zapata; Miranda Hernandez, Jr., Raymondville; Caitlynn Brooks, So., Raymondville; Claudette Joe, Sr., Raymondville; Amber Tamez, So., Raymondville; Denae Hernandez, So., Raymondville; Pamela Espinoza, Jr., Hidalgo; Audrey Arjona, So., Hidalgo; Victoria Espinoza, So., Hidalgo; Danielle Rodriguez, Jr., Hidalgo; Maria Vargaz, Jr., Hidalgo; Jazlin Flores, Jr., Hidalgo

Academic All–District

Reanne Fraga, Jr., La Feria; Sabrina Castaneda Jr., La Feria; Grace Holmes Jr., La Feria; Ryley Galvan, Sr., Port Isabel; Brenda Peña, Jr., Port Isabel; Whitney Zaloski Jr., Port Isabel; Janessa Espinoza, Jr., Port Isabel; Samantha Chapa, Jr., Port Isabel; Karina Martinez, Jr., Port Isabel; Selena Cab, So., Port Isabel; Mandy Perkins, So., Port Isabel; Layni Mata, Fr., Port Isabel; Kiarabel Garza, Fr., Grulla; Angela Treviño, So., Grulla; Amanda Gomez, Sr., Rio Hondo; Ayisha Andrews, Sr., Rio Hondo; Jazaline Ayala, Sr., Rio Hondo; Natalie Martinez, Jr., Rio Hondo; Alexis Rhyner, So., Rio Hondo; Mia Zuniga, Jr., Rio Hondo; Jessica Vasquez, Jr., Rio Hondo; Claudette Joe, Sr., Raymondville; Ilanie Zamora, Sr., Raymondville; June Garcia, Sr., Raymondville; Caitlynn Brooks, So., Raymondville; Anissa Orozco, Jr., Raymondville; Carolina Carbajal, Sr., Hidalgo; Elisa De La Peña, Sr., Hidalgo; Pamela Espinoza, Jr., Hidalgo; Yazlin Flores, Jr., Hidalgo

District 32-3A

Most Valuable Player

Mariana Espinosa, Fr., Brownsville Jubilee

Offensive Player of the Year

Damaris Bermudez, So., Lyford

Defensive Player of the Year

Samantha Delgado, Sr., Lyford

Newcomer of the Year

Marlina Perez, Fr., Lyford

First Team

Kayleen May, Sr., Lyford; Patty Gaytan, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Julissa Garza, Brownsville Jubilee; Sheyla Cosme, Brownsville IDEA Frontier; Alma Medellin, Brownsville IDEA Frontier; Victoria Rodriguez, Edinburg IDEA Quest; Alondra De La Rosa, Monte Alto

Second Team

Laisha Lezama, Brownsville IDEA Riverview; Alexis Robinson, Brownsville Jubilee; Skyler Torres, Santa Rosa; Emily Gonzales, Lyford; Destiny Gonzalez, Lyford; Jennifer Jasso, Monte Alto; Desiree Guerra, Santa Rosa

Honorable Mention

Kaylee Smith, Edinburg IDEA Quest; Daniela Zuniga, Brownsville IDEA Riverview; Alessandra Olvera, Brownsville IDEA Riverview; Aliah Garcia, Santa Rosa; Celeste Garza, Santa Rosa; Aracely Medellin, Brownsville IDEA Frontier; Marbella Reyna, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Sheyla Cavazos, Lyford; Sira Trevino, Monte Alto; Yazmyn Sanchez, Monte Alto; Alyssa Garcia, Lyford; Raemee Garcia, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Mariely Cavazos, Edinburg IDEA Quest; Maria Martinez, IDEA Frontier; Ari Jimenez, Brownsville IDEA Riverview; Floritsel Gomez, Santa Rosa; Fatima Vasquez, Vanguard Pharr; Crystal Vasquez, Monte Alto; Glenda Leal, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Maria Navar, Brownsville IDEA Riverview; Paola Vargas, Brownsville Jubilee; Anahi Castillo, Monte Alto; Alyssa Garza, Santa Rosa; Katelyn Navarro, Vanguard Pharr

All-Academic Team

Katelyn Navarro, Vanguard Pharr; Raemee Garcia, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Sydnee Mendoza, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Evelyn Gonzales, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Marbella Reyna, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Adriana Leos, IDEA Weslaco Pike; Mitzy Sanchez, IDEA Weslaco Pike

District 32-2A

Co-Most Valuable Player

Byanca Cantu, Sr., Santa Maria; Yazmin Cantu, Jr., Santa Maria

Offensive Player of the Year

Meagan Kinney, Sr., San Perlita

Defensive Player of the Year

Mia Alvarado, So., San Isidro

Newcomer of the Year

Anahi Magdaleno, So., Santa Maria

Sixth Man of the Year

Jasmine Rodriguez, So., San Perlita

Coach of the Year

Albert Briones, Santa Maria

First Team

Daniela Rivera, Sr., Lasara; Jordan Garcia, Sr., San Isidro; Yesenia Garcia, Sr., La Villa; Gisela Tijerina, Jr., La Villa; Karime Rojas, Sr., San Perlita; Aliyah Garcia, So., San Perlita; Michelle Almazan, Sr., Santa Maria; Clara Briones, Sr., Santa Maria

Second Team

Joelda Lopez, Fr., La Villa; Kaylynn Felix, Jr., La Villa; Jocelyn Contreras, Jr., La Villa; Karina Perez, Jr., San Isidro; Nicole Delgado, So., San Isidro; Roma Elizondo, So., San Isidro; Alex Garcia, Fr., San Isidro; Elyssa Nieto, So., San Perlita; Marleen Carreon, Jr., Santa Maria; Kimberly Almazan, Fr., Santa Maria; Natalie Gonzalez, Jr., Santa Maria

Honorable Mention

Julissa Garcia, Sr., Santa Maria; Amber Loredo, Sr., Santa Maria; Adria Loya, Jr., Santa Maria; Raquel Ventura, Sr., Lasara; Elizabeth Zuniga, Sr., Lasara; Charlotte Garcia, Sr., Lasara; Neveah Rodriguez, Sr., La Villa; Indra Bernal, Fr., La Villa; Pauline Almazan, Fr., La Villa; Emma Garcia, So., San Isidro; Aracelly Nieto, Jr., San Perlita; Modesta Garcia, Sr., San Perlita

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Alexandra Parchmont’s presence on both ends of the floor for Brownsville Veterans Memorial was a consistent source of reassurance for first-year Lady Chargers coach Arnold Torres and his staff.

Getting a lockdown defensive effort from her night after night was such a sure thing that teammates Alexa Torres and Lizzie Garza couldn’t stand the thought of Parchmont not returning to be a part of a team that went on to a 32-win season and a District 32-5A title.

“Every game, I always play my heart out,” Parchmont said. “Nobody would play defense the way I would play it.”

And yet, the two-sport star who was also the libero for the Lady Chargers’ volleyball team considered skipping out on her senior season.

“(Alexa and Lizzie) were the ones who mainly forced me to join,” Parchmont said with a laugh. “Not only because it was my senior year, but I had friends who wanted to not only win district but get as far as we could (in the playoffs).”

Overcoming some of her own self-doubt and resolving off-court issues, Parchmont rallied around the support of family and friends, who encouraged her to make the most of her last chance to suit up for Brownsville Veterans for a season that she said was “the best one yet.”

“I did speak to (Parchmont) at the beginning of the season and told her we would really like her to be a part of the team,” Torres said. “Because everybody had a big piece in the success we had as a team this year. If it had been Alexandra or any of the other girls who decided not to join, it would have been a big difference in terms of the success the team had.”

To top it off, Parchmont was named The Brownsville Herald’s 2019-2020 All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

She said the support and mentorship of Torres, who was also her volleyball coach, helped her develop into a more complete player.

“I have been able to grow with him a lot over these four years,” Parchmont said. “So that was partially why I felt so comfortable coming back.”

Coaches put a premium on defense for a reason — the demand for defensive output doesn’t always match the supply they seek.

When a player’s eyes light up the way Parchmont’s do when fielding questions about her craft, it’s easy to see why Torres and his staff were so eager to ensure she could contribute to this year’s team.

She was the anchor of the Lady Chargers’ defense on the volleyball court as a libero, and as a versatile guard/forward on the hardwood that frequently switched on to the opponent’s top scorers.

“I love defense — the energy of just chasing someone and grabbing that ball,” Parchmont said.

She scored 6.3 points per game in district play and also grabbed 3 rebounds per game. Parchmont was the only Brownsville Veterans player other than junior point guard Juju Alvarez to record at least 2.9 steals and 2.9 assists per district contest.

At 5-foot-2, Parchmont bonded with the diminutive Alvarez over the defensive intensity the two brought to the table.

“Because of her size, and because she had that passion to want to do better,” Parchmont said. “Even though her height stopped her from doing half of the things that other girls are able to do.”

Her coach agreed, adding that Alvarez was “sneaky” on defense and had quick hands, which made her able to anticipate the arrival of the ball well.

“(Alvarez’s) contributions were just as important as everybody else defensively,” Torres said. “Her skills are probably just as good as Alexandra’s are, they just play differently.”

One of seven other seniors on an experienced squad, Parchmont took responsibility for what she felt was an initial lack of communication on switches early on in the regular season, and took it upon herself to heed Torres’ advice. The Lady Chargers surrendered just 33 points per game on the season and held all but two district opponents to less than 40 points in each of their 32-5A victories.

“This whole year was a good memory and an amazing feeling (to experience it) throughout the whole thing,” Parchmont said. “The girls themselves just made it a lot better. … You could tell on the court that we just loved playing with each other.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

COMBES — Harlingen High’s Rosa Zapata knew stepping into the point guard spot vacated by Ariel Leal — last season’s Valley Morning Star All-STAR Most Valuable Player — would be a significant responsibility.

The freshman was the engine that propelled the Lady Cardinals’ offense and emerged as one of the top two-way players in the Rio Grande Valley.

She is the Valley Morning Star’s 2019-20 All-STAR Newcomer of the Year.

“I was surprised when I got the award, because I had a lot of competition for it,” Zapata said. “But I worked hard to get it.”

Zapata led Harlingen High with 104 steals, at a clip of 2.7 per game, and averaged 4.3 points per game.

“Knowing that we could depend on (Zapata and sophomore Avery Hinojosa) made our team a little more balanced,” Harlingen High coach Ashley Moncivaiz said.

The Lady Cardinals’ floor general was the only player on her team to post at least 90 rebounds and 90 assists, grabbing 99 boards and dishing out 92 assists, respectively.

Moncivaiz described her point guard’s play as “attentive and aggressive.”

Zapata’s ability to thrive in Harlingen High’s system can, in part, be explained by her coach’s philosophy of teaching fundamentals to every player, regardless of what position in which they would traditionally be typecast because of their size.

“We have the kids that we have, and we work with them,” Moncivaiz said. “If I can mold my kid to be the best they can and make them believe they can play any position they can … our guards can be better post players sometimes. Sometimes our post players can be really good ball handlers.”

Zapata has a knack for delivering clutch performances in big games.

She posted a career-high 15 points, notching five rebounds and three assists in a 59-50 win Nov. 15, 2019, at Brownsville Veterans Memorial.

On Feb. 7 at archrival Harlingen South, Zapata poured in 13 points, six rebounds and two assists in a 56-47 victory over the Lady Hawks.

“I was playing with four fouls (late in the game against South),” Zapata said. “So I knew that I had to keep going, and we didn’t want to lose (the winning streak against South).”

In a bi-district playoff win over Donna North, she added nine points, six steals, four assists and three rebounds to help overcome the absence of Alexus Coto due to injury.

Zapata and Hinojosa will be at the forefront of the Lady Cardinals’ future, which looks bright with Moncivaiz at the helm and five other freshmen returning — three of whom had significant playing time in a 41-38 area-round loss to Laredo United South.

“(Having an influx of young talent) was a major help, especially when you lose a senior-led group,” Moncivaiz said. “And you have this young group come in and fill those roles that we needed.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Basketball has a special place in the hearts of those in the Torres family. The sport has helped to strengthen the bond between Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Alexa Torres, her brother, Isaiah, and her father, Arnold.

Her father and older brother helped coach her boys & girls club team, and growing up, the trio frequently put up shots on the hoop adjacent to their front yard.

“It was great, because I had two mentors,” Alexa said. “It was easy to respect him as a teacher, and as coach it’s even easier.”

She is The Brownsville Herald’s 2019-2020 All-Metro Newcomer of the Year.

Arnold, the Lady Chargers’ coach and The Herald’s 2019-2020 All-Metro Coach of the Year, started the next chapter of his career in alignment with the next phase of his daughter’s life, as she transitioned from middle school to high school with a familiar face on the practice court, at the dining room table and in her biology classroom.

Alexa’s father said he spoke with his daughter about the possibility of being her coach prior to the start of the season.

“Regardless of when the time came, I just wanted to watch her play,” Arnold said. “Whether it was on the freshman (level) or JV or varsity. … I just needed her to understand that, because there’s that fine line of, ‘Now, I’m your coach,’ and, ‘Now, I’m your dad.’”

Having her dad continue to be a part of her basketball development was greatly beneficial to her as she acclimated to the varsity level.

“It helps me on and off the court,” Alexa said. “I put in work (outside of) practice. Sometimes it might be a little weird because he’s my dad, but I respect him as a coach, and it’s been a great season.”

An injury to a returning senior starter gave the freshman an opportunity to prove she belonged on the Lady Chargers’ top squad.

Alexa’s confidence grew as she eased into her role, and she added she was grateful for the way she was embraced and brought into the fold by seniors Lizzie Garza and Alexandra Parchmont.

“I think they were great assets to our team,” Alexa said. “Their shoes are going to be hard to fill next year, but I think we can do it, and I like this group of girls. I think we could have gone (further in the playoffs), but things (played out differently).”

Alexa’s coach gave her a helpful reminder that she wasn’t alone in her position, and that she needed to depend on her experienced teammates just as much as they would come to trust in her. Arnold noted that while the transition to varsity happened sooner than he had expected, the fact that he was able to lay out the team’s expectations for her made the adjustment happen smoother for both father and daughter.

“When she did come in, the first thing I told her is to understand that we already have people coming back that had already played on the varsity team,” Arnold said. “What I told her was, ‘We need you to play the role, come in and give us minutes and play defense, take the open shot or make the extra pass when necessary.’ And I think she did a good job of doing that.”

She saw an increase in her productivity by the time District 32-5A play came around, averaging 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She was one of four Lady Chargers to average at least two assists and two steals per contest during the district slate.

Alexa set her career-high with a 11-point performance against Mercedes in Brownsville Veterans’ district opener, including three 3-pointers in a 50-27 win.

The returning varsity letterwinner is committed to being a critical part of the Lady Chargers’ success with a young team coming back for the 2020-21 season.

“I stayed ready and prepared for (any) game situation,” Alexa said. “This season was a great experience, and next year we’re going to have to come stronger and be ready for the playoffs.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

COMBES — In her seventh season as coach of the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals, Ashley Moncivaiz has done three times what her predecessor hadn’t done since the 2011-12 season — complete three undefeated District 32-6A campaigns, the latest of which was the cherry atop a 31-8 overall mark and a 10-0 record in district.

For her efforts in guiding a young team to her second straight district title and fourth in six seasons, as well as reaching the second round of the postseason, Moncivaiz is the Valley Morning Star’s 2019-2020 All-STAR Coach of the Year.

“Going into the year, you’re hoping you’re going to meet your goals and expectations,” Moncivaiz said. “For us, we’re just in the beginning process of our team and where we’re going to be at.”

She has never lost a first-round playoff game in her career with the Lady Cardinals, and this year’s squad featured just one senior and a platoon of underclassmen who stepped up in starting roles.

A trio of impact freshmen in Rosa Zapata, Juli Bryant and Emery Scoggins as well as sophomores Avery Hinojosa and juniors Callie Cervantes, Alexus Coto and Sydney Portillo made Harlingen High one of the most prolific offenses in the Rio Grande Valley, averaging 56 points per game and allowing just 40 points per contest.

The Lady Cardinals shined against some of their toughest competition of the season, including sweeps of rival Harlingen South and Los Fresnos. Harlingen High also picked up non-district victories over Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Weslaco High and Edinburg Vela.

A 53-point margin of victory in a bi-district playoff game Feb. 17 at Donna North was just the ninth-highest single-game scoring output for Moncivaiz’s squad, and in holding the Lady Chiefs to 15 points, they nearly matched their best defensive performance of the season, surrendering a mere 13 points in a Jan. 28 win over San Benito.

The Lady Cardinals’ coach said the energy and enthusiasm of this year’s team was what distinguished it from her previous rosters.

She and her staff were motivated by the opportunity to push her players to improve on the practice floor and apply those lessons as the schedule progressively became more demanding.

“I think that their love for the game was totally different,” Moncivaiz said. “I think they came in wanting (to win) and being passionate about it. We found ways to keep them competitive to transition (from practice to) game days.”

Moncivaiz said she’s tried to match the passion she expects from her players as part of her own internal drive to improve, modeling her approach after women’s college basketball coaching legends like Pat Summit and Geno Auriemma.

“If they see I’m buying into that same type of mentality, then they’re going to want to have that same hunger and same drive,” she said. “I always tell the girls: ‘I’m not satisfied where we’re at. We need to keep pushing.’ … They know that every day I’m wanting to do more than I need to (do to succeed).”

In order to establish a culture of success, Moncivaiz and her assistants begin preparation in earnest each summer to assess the team and match their style to their incoming personnel and its style of play.

“If we continue that phase of looking (at the team) in the offseason, preparing them on and off the court, I think that’s what’s going to make us successful in the next couple years,” Moncivaiz said. “When we start in August, we’re not trying to put pieces together, we already know what we’re trying to do. By the time the season starts in October, it’s just basically getting those reps and jelling together.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

At the start of the 2019-20 season, conventional wisdom would have suggested that Brownsville Veterans Memorial girls basketball coach Arnold Torres had a tough act to follow as he prepared to replace Valentin Paz.

As it turned out, Torres and the Lady Chargers made it clear that they were out to raise the bar from the jump — a standard he was eager to set and rejuvenate a program that had a temporary slip from its usual dominance in District 32-5A when it suffered a blowout loss in the area round of the 2018-19 posteason.

Coaching changes can sometimes bring about a series of sweeping reforms, but Torres instead focused on setting a tone to ensure he, his staff and his players were on the same page, commanding respect while also carrying with him a sense of humor and levity that quickly endeared him to his players.

It was this, among several other factors, that garnered him The Brownsville Herald’s 2019-2020 All-Metro Coach of the Year award.

“Coming into the year, I felt like there would be pressure coming into a program that had been so successful,” Torres said. “We knew the team would be good. We had a good group of girls coming back.

“I want to thank my wife and kids for all the support they’ve given me throughout the year,” Torres said. “They’re the ones who keep me in line and keep me positive, and always give me that confidence booster.”

Brownsville Veterans went 32-6 and 14-0 in district play, winning back the district crown outright, going undefeated in January and reeling off 21 consecutive victories.

“(Assistant coach Anthony Alvarez) and I were just along for the ride,” Torres said. “The girls had been here, the program had been successful and the coaching staff in the past had done well. We just wanted to do some things a little different that might help.”

Torres credited his team — particularly the seniors — for embracing him and Alvarez, and the improved player-coach dynamic helped Torres and his staff see that gradual changes in favor of radical ones were better suited to a team that already had solid on-court leadership and a good grasp of a system that encouraged frequent ball movement and a can-do attitude on defense.

Alvarez was a childhood friend and former Little League baseball teammate of Torres, who was coached by Alvarez’s father.

Their paths began to cross again more often during Torres’ 11-year run as coach at Brownsville Pace, when Alvarez had been coaching at Brownsville St. Joseph. The two reconnected once more when Alvarez joined Brownsville Veterans, and the pair was a natural fit on the bench together.

“Coaching with (Alvarez) has been a very big honor for me,” Torres said. “This award, I think, is as much his as it is mine for what he’s contributed to the program. It was a blessing for me to work with him and hopefully learn from each other throughout the year, and we can build upon this for the following year.”

Brownsville Veterans went 14-2 in non-district tournament play and turned heads by winning the Los Fresnos tournament. Along the way, it showcased the talents of Bryanna Buitereira, Caite Esquivel and Alexa Torres alongside established veteran leaders like Lizzie Garza, Alexandra Parchmont and Juju Alvarez.

The Lady Chargers are set to graduate six seniors, but with the core of Alvarez, Buitereira, Esquivel and Torres expected to return, Brownsville Veterans is poised to be a strong contender for the foreseeable future.

“We were blessed this year to have a good group of kids … that got along well, and they accepted their roles,” Torres said. “We had four or five different kids throughout the year be a high-scorer for the game, and the girls understood that, if they played unselfishly, that allowed us to have team success. I keep telling the girls that if you have team success, that will trickle down to individual success, and that showed in the recognition that the girls are getting.”