By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen High Lady Cardinals were among one of the top teams in the Rio Grande Valley this season.
It had a mixture of youthful swagger, a fiery coach and sage veteran experience, all adding up to a 31-6 record along with a district title and a trip to the third round.
Senior Taegan Dickey wrapped up a strong career in a Lady Cardinals uniform, providing her offensive presence. The senior averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.72 steals and 1.7 assists per game.
With those strong numbers, Dickey was named the Valley Morning Star All-STAR Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year. Right by her side is coach Ashley Moncivaiz. The Harlingen High product, who is in her fifth year as coach, directed the ship and made another deep playoff run, and has been named the Valley Morning Star All-STAR Coach of the Year.
“Going into my senior year, I wanted to make it the best as I could,” Dickey said. “So this means a lot to me, and knowing that all my work paid off throughout the offseason and during the season.”
Dickey scored in double figures 21 times and dropped a season-high 20 points three times — against Corpus Christi Carroll, Brownsville Rivera and Harlingen South.
“Being able to go to the playoffs each year, and especially being able to make it to the third round as a senior, it was special.”
Dickey, along with the senior class, has helped reset the standard for the Lady Cardinals’ program. She feels their message was sent to the underclassmen.
“I feel we have set the tone for the upcoming years,” Dickey said. “We showed discipline, that was something we lacked over the last couple of years, and we showed the younger girls that you need discipline in order to go far in the playoffs.”
As for Moncivaiz, the fifth-year coach put together some of her best work yet. The always intense Moncivaiz has put together quite the resume in her time at Harlingen High.
“In the past five years, one thing I wanted to make sure I brought to the program was to continue the tradition and to bring that defensive style and excitement that we have always had,” Moncivaiz said. “These girls bought into that, and each year they show up and give that consistency on giving it their all and leaving a legacy of ‘Cardinal Spirit never dies.’”
She has gone 149-36 with three district titles, five bi-district titles and three area titles. Three times she has won at least 30 games and has won at least 25 or more games in each season.
This year’s 31-win season, which ranks as her second highest mark, the team went 10-0 in District 32-6A. She also went unbeaten with a 14-0 mark in winning the other two district titles.
“This means a lot, and one thing I have always told the kids was I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to prepare them to have a great season, so getting this award means a lot to me and the team, and it is a reflection of how our season went, and I appreciate that I was able to coach these girls and win this award. It is just a reflection of how our season went,” Moncivaiz said.