By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
RIO HONDO — After a six-year absence, Rio Hondo returns to the playoff stage Tuesday for a bi-district matchup against Sinton as one of the most improved teams in the Rio Grande Valley by a wide margin.
Coach Mike Alvarez guided the third-seeded Bobcats to a 9-5 finish in District 32-4A and a 20-14 overall record after ending last year’s district slate at 4-10.
“I think what they needed was structure,” Alvarez said. “And guidance on how to play the game and to simplify it into fundamentals. … Right now, we’re reaping the rewards from all the hard work they put in last year.”
Rio Hondo is led by senior captains Jabez Villarreal and CJ Leal, and senior Daniel Garcia.
A challenging non-district schedule that featured close losses to Harlingen High and Brownsville Veterans Memorial and a signature win over San Benito served as benchmarks along the way.
“Practice is a lot different (with Alvarez),” Leal said. “He really helps us a lot. … We’ve really improved a lot. Those games against those bigger schools, they’ve really helped a lot. I think we’re going to go into the playoffs thinking we’re going to win.”
The turning point of the Bobcats’ season was a road win over longtime rival Port Isabel. An overtime loss to Hidalgo also became a motivator for a hungry team eager to show it could hang tough with perennial powerhouse in 32-4A.
“We shouldn’t have lost that game,” Garcia said. “But after that, we knew this year was going to be our year. Beating (Port Isabel) was a big game for us, because it motivated us and we knew we could finish the season strong.
“The potential was always there. We just needed to come together.”
The Bobcats became a more cohesive unit in part because of the emergence of their top scorer, who has embraced his role as the go-to-guy in late game situations.
Villarreal is the eighth-best scorer in Class 4A, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Garcia also is averaging a double-double, at 10 points and 10 boards per contest.
“When we start to move the ball around, it gets us open shots,” Villarreal said. “It just happens to be that I end up taking over when I have to. …. It’s just a blessing. These guys believe in me and I’m so thankful for that. It’s the same for me, I can trust them and I have their back all the time. It’s a bond that we’ve built this year.”
Sophomore Zechariah Rios (10 points and six rebounds per game) and Leal (eight points and six rebounds per game) are part of a balanced group that emphasizes sharing the ball.
“We’re always sharing the ball constantly,” Garcia said. “(We’re) talking on defense, calling screens, and it’s all brought us closer like a brotherhood. (Our chemistry) has been a lot stronger this year.”
Rios said he and his teammates are relishing the opportunity to restore the program’s status as a contender.
“It’s a great group of guys,” Rios said. “We’ve improved tremendously as a team. … It feels good because we know the talent this school has and the students that have come in and out of here. It’s been better all the way around.”
The Bobcats and Pirates (14-8, 10-3 31-4A) are set to tip off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Harlingen High.