PROGRESO — When Raul Rivera made the move from Santa Maria to become the head boys basketball coach at Progreso, his goal was to turn around the program.
The Red Ants won eight games during his first season at the helm in 2018-19. Since then, Progreso has rattled off an 18-win season, a 16-win season, and right now, has put together a 23-8 overall record with a 10-2 mark in District 32-3A.
“It’s just playing disciplined and playing as a team. Our motto is ‘Play hard, play smart, play together’, that’s what we’ve been doing all year,” senior forward Isaiah Aleman said.
The Red Ants have been led by a senior group with Aleman, David Garcia, Sergio Moreno and Vlady Rivera, son of coach Raul Rivera.
Vlady Rivera averages a team-high 18.1 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals. Moreno is Progreso’s leading rebounder with 14.8 points, 6.6 boards and 1.5 blocks per game. Aleman is averaging 12.1 points to go with 6.1 rebounds and a team-high 2.1 steals.
“These seniors are a special group,” Raul Rivera said. “They’ve been playing together for four years. We have tons of experience, and hopefully that experience gets us to where we need to get and hopefully make a deep run in the playoffs.”
One more district victory secures the Red Ants’ spot in the state playoffs. The program hasn’t advanced to the second round since the late ’90s, according to Raul Rivera. This year’s team has the poise and potential to change that.
“We’re just trying to set the tone and tradition here for the younger kids coming in. We’re just trying to get to the playoffs and see what happens when we get there,” Vlady Rivera said.
The Red Ants are scheduled to face district leader Santa Rosa (18-7, 11-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Santa Rosa.
“We just have to be consistent both offensively and defensively, and come out each and every night ready to play and play hard,” Raul Rivera said.
COYOTES SHAKE UP 31-6A
La Joya High’s 53-52 victory over Edinburg North on Tuesday shook up the six-team district standings and created a three-way tie for the No. 1 seed in 31-6A between the Cougars, Coyotes and Edinburg High Bobcats, who all hold 3-1 records.
Ethan Moya led the Coyotes with 20 points against the Cougars, and Hunter Morales and Arian Quintanilla added 12 apiece. Big-man Eddie Gonzalez scored 19 points for Edinburg North (19-14, 3-1).
There’s one game remaining in the first round of league play before the three squads tied for first are set to meet again, starting with Edinburg High (20-9, 3-1) versus La Joya High (20-11, 3-1) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in La Joya.
VELA LEADS 31-5A RACE
Edinburg Vela sits alone atop District 31-5A following McAllen Memorial’s 67-50 takedown of Sharyland Pioneer on Tuesday, which put the Mustangs and Diamondbacks in a tie for second with 10-2 records.
The SaberCats, meanwhile, handled business against McAllen Rowe with a 71-46 win Tuesday to improve to 19-12 overall and 11-1 in district.
The SaberCats are scheduled to face district title challengers Sharyland Pioneer (19-12, 10-2) on Feb. 2 and McAllen Memorial (22-5, 10-2) on Feb. 14, the final day of the regular season.
EARNED HONOR
Brownsville St. Joseph senior guard Gerry Martinez earned Dave Campbell’s Texas Basketball Player of the Week award for Week 10 after delivering a standout performance during a 71-67 win over San Antonio TMI-Episcopal on Jan. 10.
Martinez posted a stat line of 45 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal to lift the Bloodhounds over S.A. TMI-Episcopal.
Martinez and Brownsville St. Joseph are in first place in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ Class 5A District 4 at 6-0.
The Bloodhounds are back in action against San Antonio St. Anthony at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio.
MMA POISED FOR PLAYOFFS
The Harlingen Marine Military Academy Leathernecks are set for the Texas Charter School Academic and Athletic League’s regional semifinal round of the playoffs against Mission IDEA at 7:30 p.m. Monday at MMA in Harlingen.
The Leathernecks finished first in their district with an 11-1 record and will attempt to reach the regional final round of the postseason with a win over Mission IDEA.