BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Two years ago, McAllen Memorial’s Josh Sanchez was a part of one of the best McAllen Memorial teams in recent history.
He was playing alongside his brother, Jonathan Sanchez, plus standouts DJ Johnson and Dorian Perez.
The Mustangs charged through the 2015-2016 season, claiming a district crown. They advanced to the third round of the playoffs.
“(Laredo) United has been around in my life for a couple years,” senior forward Josh Sanchez said. “I’ve been playing United since my sophomore year, when we lost to them in the third round. My junior year, we lost to them in the first round. This year, we are playing them again in the first round. So, I have history with them, and it’s a little more personal for me.”
McAllen Memorial will face Laredo United at 7 tonight at Roma High School.
“I know some players on United,” Sanchez said. “The coach has been there since the first time I played them, so he knows how I play. We lost to them my sophomore year, when my brother was on the team. It brings me back to that time, playing with my brother, so this is not just for our team this year, but for the last two years, as well.”
United is helmed by Arcadio Ramos, who has been the Longhorns’ coach since 2008.
Sanchez has been playing like a man on a mission all year. After missing the first eight games while he finished the football season, Sanchez never missed a beat. During the regular season, he averaged 14.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
“With Josh being a senior, he is more focused,” Memorial coach Sam Cortez said. “Being a captain for four years, I don’t want it to end for him. We are going to go as far as he takes us.”
Sanchez won’t be alone tonight. Senior point guard Chris Flores has developed into a player capable of guiding the Mustangs even if Sanchez is out. Add senior Chris Melendez, a sharpshooter who can heat up quickly, to that mix, and it’s easy to see why Cortez and the Mustangs are confident heading into a familiar pairing.
“(Flores) is actually one of my best shooters,” Cortez said. “Chris knows, I don’t run any plays for him. He knows, I always tell him, ‘You have to read it.’ When he gets the right read, he will get those 15-18 points per game, and without even running a play for him. He gets everybody involved.”
Flores modestly points out how easy it is to rack up assists playing alongside his teammates.
“Chris Melendez, Josh Sanchez and I are very close,” Flores said. “I think (Melendez) and Josh are the main reason why I get my assists.”
Still, Cortez said, Flores and Melendez have the capability to be X-factors tonight and swing the game. They displayed that ability when the Mustangs played Sharyland High on Dec. 8, while Sanchez was still out for football.
“(Melendez) had five 3s,” Flores said. “It was mainly transition threes, and I’m feeding him. When he gets going, he is a great shooter, and we need that on our team.”
Flores had 10 assists, Melendez scored 16 points, and the Mustangs topped the Rattlers 77-38.
Cortez has been the coach at Memorial since 2003, and the Mustangs have made the playoffs every year during his tenure, with the exception of his first year.
“Only three teams went back then,” Cortez said. “At that time, the top three teams in the Valley were Nikki Rowe, Pharr North and Economedes, and they were all in our district that year. So, we got fourth.”
Since that season, Cortez has led the Mustangs past the first round five times.
During that run, Cortez has gone against United many times. The Mustangs’ are familiar with the Longhorns’ system due to the recent history between the teams.
“The closest team we have played is, I want to say, Nikki Rowe,” Cortez said. “You know that dribble penetration and then a kick out? Basically, that’s what Laredo United does. But the whole game, they run one set. They are very disciplined. Coach is not going to change. You know what they are going to do, but you have to stop it. … You see it on film, but not until tipoff do you realize how quick they are, how tall they are. But, I tell these guys, ‘All we want to do is be aggressive, win the rebounds, get to the line and minimize our turnovers.’ If we win all those, we will win the game. If we lose, look at those categories, and one of them will tell you why we lost.”
Josh Sanchez approached Cortez before the year and said he was hoping to meet United in the playoffs.
“It’s weird, because until the last game, there was a chance for a three-way tie (in United’s District 29-6A),” Cortez said. “I’ve been here a long time, and it seems like we are always playing Laredo United or Laredo Alexander. If they get the two seed, we end up at three. Or something happens where there is a three-way tie for the district championship, and we end up playing them anyway. Talking to Josh, he mentioned that. A lot of people say, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ Well, you know what? I wished for this also. The way he started, I want him to finish on top. Like I said, he’s our captain. He gets everyone going. I think it is the year of the Mustang.”