BY MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Edinburg Vela coach Lalo Rios insists that every player in his lineup has an equally important role in his 10-man rotation, in which he substitutes five players in at one time.
But the SaberCats seemed to struggle, in particular, when they missed one of their key cogs in the middle in Mark Castillo, a 6-foot-5 senior.
Castillo, who sprained his ankle earlier this month, is one of seven returners and four starters back in the mix for the 16-5 SaberCats. Other than his height, he’s given Vela a boost with his speed, allowing his team to press full court. When he sat out against McAllen High and McAllen Rowe, the SaberCats lost.
“It helped opposing teams take advantage of our lack of height,” Rios said of Castillo’s absence.
Sure, Vela has a secondary option with 6-foot-3 Luis Salinas in the middle, but Vela lacks much height after that, forcing its second unit to play small.
Castillo serves as that low-post presence, using his size to crash the boards for an average of 7.4 rebounds per game. He can also shoot from the outside, scoring 7.1 points per game. His shooting forced has defenders to step out to the perimeter to guard him, allowing Vela’s guards to attack the basket with more certainty.
“He plays a huge role because we’re not very tall, like last year,” Rios said. “Last year, we had a lot more height, and we got away with Mark not rebounding as much. But as coaches, we’ve seen how huge Mark’s role is, because when he was out, teams really take advantage of us down low, and we kind of paid a price for it.
“As a coaching staff, and the kids too, we have a greater appreciation for Mark and all the little things he brings.”
Castillo, whose offensive production comes more from his mid- to long-range shooting, returned to practice this week and is expected to play Friday when the SaberCats travel to take on Sharyland Pioneer in both teams’ district opener.
OPTIONS
La Joya High coach Rick Cantu hasn’t had a bench this deep in his previous seven years with the program. In years past, his options were limited. Now, he could turn to as many as 9-10 players on any given night.
Cantu’s confidence lies in his team’s experience. The Coyotes graduated only two players from last year’s team and returned a bulk that have been with the program for four years.
“For the most part, we don’t skip a beat,” said Cantu, who alternates point guards and has three reliable post players to turn to. “Fortunately for us, I’m not afraid to use my bench this year. Our starters play with confidence, but they know if they’re not on, they have other guys who could step in.”
La Joya High is better off for it. Already, they’ve surpassed last year’s win total. In 2013-14, the Coyotes went 9-25. This year’s team stands at 15-7 after beating Rio Grande City last week.
THE SECOND SEASON
District play begins Friday for the 6A, 5A and 4A schools in the Valley. District 32-6A, however, won’t get under way until Saturday.
Mission Veterans, ranked first again by RGVSports.com, opens at Roma at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Sharyland High, the No. 2-ranked team, will sit out. And Edinburg Vela, the third-ranked team, opens at Pioneer at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
District 32-3A action won’t begin until Jan. 16. District 32-2A, however, is already in progress.