By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
At 6-foot-5, Ramiro Puentes gives Progreso the type of size in the front court that it has traditionally lacked.
Last year, the Red Ants saw glimpses of it before before Puentes broke his foot in practice. He missed most of the district season, and Progreso gradually slipped out of the playoff picture.
Now healthy, Puentes gives Progreso depth in the front court with 6-7 big Cristian Chavez.
“He’s another guy who’s there to carry the load,” Red Ants coach Erick Quintero said. “We’ve never really had a true post presence that’s skilled the way that he is. He can post you up. He’s got a drop step, an up-and-under move, a hook shot. It’s tough to beat.”
Quintero hesitates to call Puentes “a surprise,” given his contributions last season. Lauding him as “the best big guy in our district,” Quintero said Puentes has been a force protecting the paint for the Red Ants.
“He’s going to be something that people are going to remember,” Quintero said. “And it’s not just because he’s my player. This year, he’s more confident. He’s taking charges; that’s rare for a big like him. He’s got a nice touch inside, and he’s learning how to find open guys. People collapse on him, and it frees up our shooters.”
His return is a welcome addition to the Red Ants, and Chavez, in particular. With Puentes in the mix, Chavez can focus on his outside shooting and attacking the basket. He’s already had a couple of 30-point games, helping the Red Ants come away as runner-ups in their tournament after losing to Kingsville King.
“We’re going to ride those guys until the end,” Quintero said. “They’ve taken the bulls by the horns, and they know we have a mission to get back to the playoffs. Last year, we had key injuries, and they know this year there’s no way we’ll be left out again.”
FINDING BALANCE
During a game against Beeville last week, Jonathan Muñoz scored 31 points for Weslaco East. At the Mission Thanksgiving Tournament, teammate J.J. Garza came away with MVP honors.
And Tuesday against Laredo LBJ, the Wildcats had five players score in double figures.
In his second year as coach, Jorge Martinez is beginning to see players settle into his system, with four players averaging more than 8 points per game this season.
“That’s what we’re striving for,” Martinez said. “We’re trying to be team-oriented.”
No longer are Weslaco East players second-guessing themselves. With a full offseason with the system, Weslaco East players have established some consistency in putting together a 13-6 record.
They have two games left — against San Benito and Roma — before they open district against Edinburg Economedes.
MAKING THINGS EASIER
The key to La Joya High’s early success is ball movement.
Coach Eric Montalvo, who is in his first year with the program, has urged his team to swing the ball around in hopes of making defenses shift.
“I tell them the ball needs to go from Point A to D, instead of A to B,” he said. “If we do that and move it cross court, we’re going to get wide-open shots instead of contested 3-pointers.”
The Coyotes are off an 8-6 start, and hoping end a near-decade-long playoff drought, Montalvo said.
“I talk to them about having a lot of pride,” he said. “There’s a lot of tradition at La Joya, and I emphasize to them that the program has been very successful, and making them realize that they could bring it back.”