By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
After a starting the District 32-5A season 1-4, the Porter Cowboys (10-14, 4-4) are on a roll and in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Porter has won three straight on its way into the playoff conversation, tied for fourth with Edcouch-Elsa and one game back of third-place PSJA High.
“We are playing with effort and confidence,” Cowboys coach Luis Garza said. “Moving the ball more. Less 1-on-1. Shooting the 3-ball much better also. Hopefully, we can keep it going over at Pace.”
The Cowboys’ streak includes wins against Donna North, Edcouch-Elsa and PSJA Southwest.
Albert Garza has played a big part in the Cowboys’ current success, with three double-doubles in district play.
Garza thinks sitting some of his players also has helped get the focus on the big picture: qualifying for playoffs.
“Maybe after sitting out three starters and three non-senior starters prior to our run had a positive impact on the urgency to play the right way, as Coach Pop (Gregg Popovich) and Larry Brown always said,” he said.
FIRST WIN: Port Isabel earned its first District 32-4A win this season by beating Raymondville 71-57.
The win marks the start of what coach Anthony Velarde calls Port Isabel’s “new season.”
“We hope to exact some revenge in the second half of district, but it was nice after of our close games to win one, and win one conclusively.”
“We are looking at the second half of district as a ‘new’ season,” he added. “We cut down on turnovers and focused on defense.”
The goal now for the Tarpons (7-18, 1-7) is to get wins and finish the season on a strong note.
“That’s always our goal,” Velarde said. “We fell short on some games we easily could have won last round. We want to continue to play hard and just clean up some stuff and keep getting better.”
IN THE RUNNING: A 70-69 victory over Alamo Macedonian has Brownsville First Baptist on pace for a postseason berth.
Coach George Solis says leadership and good solid team play have sparked the Crusaders’ solid form during district play.
First Baptist (7-3, 3-2 needs to keep its eyes on the prize if it wants to continue its level of play and maybe take the TAPPS 1A-District 6 crown.
“(We have to) keep focused on our goal,” Solis said. “Play team defense and make wise decisions. Tonight was big. They are a very good team.”
First Baptist is tied for third with Palmhurst Faith Christian Academy in the district. Each school has 3-2 district records.
Mission Juan Diego Academy, ranked 25th in the TABC TAPPS small school poll, leads with a 4-0 record in district and Alamo Macedonian is second at 4-2. First Baptist plays Mission Juan Diego at 7 p.m. today.
STATE TIME: Athlos Leadership Academy is state-bound after Saturday’s 40-38 win over San Benito IDEA.
The Titans face San Antonio KIPP University Prep in a TCSAAL state semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Buda Hays. A win in that game sends them to the state championship game, which will be played at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.