HARLINGEN — The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers started their District 32-5A title defense strong Tuesday night, showing no signs of a dropoff from the season before.
The Chargers graduated Catie Esquivel’s 13 points and 10 rebounds per game as well as Bryanna Buitureria’s 12 points per game and her ability to penetrate.
Brownsville Veterans returned Alexa Torres, Mariana Espinosa, Brianna Brackhahn, Annie Cisneros, Jordyn Rivera, Caroline Puente and has been boosted by newcomers.
The Chargers are going to miss their two great assets, but the team is figuring out how to play without them, Torres said.
“A lot of people are stepping up and doing their part,” Torres said. “We are not relying on certain people, but the team as a whole. We trust that each person is going to do their role on the team.”
| Brownsville Veterans Girls Basketball Team.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
The Chargers might not have the interior experience from the previous title run, but they can shoot.
Torres opened the season by winning a 3-point shootout at Weslaco’s Mid-Valley Classic and hit five 3-pointers in the district opener. “I like that we all can shoot,” Torres said.
Espinosa led the team in 3-pointers made last season with 52. Cisneros drained 22 as a sophomore.
“We are going to be a shooting team,” Espinosa said. “If we have the shot, we are going to shoot it.”
Brownsville Veterans, currently on a 15-game district winning streak, faces Brownsville Porter at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home.
2021-22 Playoff Teams
Donna High, Brownsville Pace and Mercedes joined Brownsville Veterans in the playoffs last season.
Donna High graduated four starters from last season’s team that finished second and picked up a 61-42 bi-district win over McAllen Memorial.
| Donna Girls Basketball Team (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
Senior Amariyah Matthews is the only returning starter from that team. Fellow senior Nicholle Moreno said the team is young and filled with underclassmen who are catching up.
Donna High opened with a 57-29 loss to Brownsville Lopez. The Bravettes look to bounce back against the Donna North Chiefs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Donna North High School.
Brownsville Pace finished third but graduated Ashley Gonzalez and her 19 points and 10 rebounds per game.
| Brownsville Pace (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
The Vikings opened district with a 54-22 win over Donna North. Senior Jocelyn Hernandez scored 17 points, and sophomore Katherine Raby added 12 points.
Mercedes defeated Edcouch-Elsa 40-28 in the most competitive district-opening game. The Tigers returned juniors Randi Lara and Leah Adame from last season. Lara scored 13 and Adame scored 12 to lead the Tigers past the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday night.
Mercedes faces Harlingen South at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mercedes High School.
The Hawks dropped from District 32-6A with Donna North. Harlingen South finished in third place in District 32-6A last season under first-year head coach Rebecca Littleton.
| Harlingen South Girls Basketball Team.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
But it is a new team for the 2022-23 season.
Senior Paige Montemayor and freshman Jiselle Montemayor are leading the Hawks in scoring so far this season. The freshman leads the team with 13 points a game, and Paige Montemayor is averaging nine points a game.
Missing out in 2021-22
Weslaco East, Edcouch-Elsa and Brownsville Lopez finished on the outside looking in during the 2021-22 campaign.
The Lobos won six of their last nine games before beginning district play this season. Brownsville Lopez carried that momentum with it Tuesday night by defeating Donna High 57-29.
| Brownsville Lopez Girls Basketball Team.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
Weslaco East also picked up a convincing win to start district by beating Brownsville Porter 57-22. The Lobos and Wildcats meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a battle of early unbeatens at Weslaco East High School.
Edcouch-Elsa looks to bounce back from the loss to Mercedes against Brownsville Pace at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Brownsville Pace High School.
Brownsville Veterans looks like the team to beat after only one game and small glimpses of tournament and non-district play, but there are still 17 games left in district play.