By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Fueled by last year’s shortcomings, McAllen Memorial entered this season determined to do two things: win the District 30-6A title outright and advance beyond the opening round of the playoffs.
The Mustangs met the first of that proposition Tuesday by wrapping up district undefeated for the first time in program history. On Tuesday, they’ll take on Del Rio at Texas A&M International, hoping to avenge last year’s bi-district loss to Laredo Alexander.
“These kids are hungry,” Memorial coach Sam Cortez said. “It’s their senior year for a lot of them, and they want to go out with a bang. They’re undefeated (in district). They met that mark. But now they’re chasing my 2007 team.”
That group won the district title before advancing three rounds deep in the playoffs.
This year’s group, Cortez said, is determined to shatter every record in program history. His team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 by RGVSports.com, after winning its fourth district title in 13 years since Cortez took over the program.
Cortez credits a midseason move for the success. By plugging in 6-foot-4 Joshua Sanchez into the starting lineup, the Mustangs boosted arguably the tallest frontline in the Valley with brother Jonathan Sanchez (6-7) and D.J. Johnson (6-6).
Their bigs crashed the boards at a relentless pace, and they had enough speed to maintain their full-court press. Cortez said it helped his team go “from average to good” heading into their district slate.
FINDING STABILITY
Luis Rodriguez accepted the La Villa job understanding the program hadn’t made the playoffs in four years, that the roster lacked much size and the position had been something of a revolving door for coaches.
But after closing out the regular season with the fourth seed in 32-2A, Rodriguez believes the team is laying the groundwork for something positive moving forward.
“Wherever we go, people say La Villa basketball is a different program this year, and they ask what I’ve been doing,” Rodriguez said. “I tell them, it’s just the kids busting their tails.”
Rodriguez credits the leadership of seniors Macario Perez, a swingman, and Raven Garza, a defensive-minded guard, for encouraging players to hustle up and down the court and dive for loose balls.
“It means a lot, especially for the seniors and the upcoming juniors that they’re hoping to hand the torch down to,” Rodriguez said. “We’re just going to keep working hard and hope to make this tradition by continuing to make the playoffs.”
BATTLING FOR FOURTH
The fourth seed in District 30-6A will be determined Friday as a part of a two-day, two-game arrangement that features La Joya High, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and McAllen High.
The two La Joya schools will face one another at 7 p.m. Thursday at McAllen Rowe. The winner takes on McHi at 7 p.m. Friday to decide the final playoff berth in 30-6A. That sets up a bi-district battle against Laredo United, the top seed in 29-6A.
Should Juarez-Lincoln win both days, it would mark the program’s first playoff berth in their eight-year existence.
“The kids are focused and ready to give it their best like they’ve been doing all year,” first-year Juarez-Lincoln coach Albert Carrillo said. “We’re familiar with La Joya’s strengths, and we need to do a better job of finding a way to slow down their bigs.
“We’re ready to leave it all on the floor.”