By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
The Rivera Raiders’ football team made it to the third round of the playoffs this year.
Normally, that wouldn’t impact the basketball team. However, a half dozen members double as Raiders basketball players.
With the seasons overlapping this year, Rivera coach Saul Villarreal has had to transition a large part of his team from a separate sport.
“We’ve got six players on this team that also played football,” he said. “We’re still trying to get those guys into basketball shape. The football team had a deep run this year.”
The six players are Abel Moreno, Chris Zuniga, Danny Elizondo, Edward Rubio, Joey Silva and Sammy Orive.
OVERCOMING SETBACKS: Luck is not on the side of Pace Vikings junior Angel Muñoz.
The starter fractured his wrist during a game against the Harlingen High Cardinals during the Brownsville Tournament early this season and has not yet been cleared to play.
Pace coach Jose Luis Ramirez said doctors think surgery most likely won’t be necessary, and he’ll be in a cast at least until Jan. 12, when he’ll be re-evaluated and possibly cleared to play.
Muñoz was a starter last season, too, but was injured around the same time, just before the beginning of the district season.
“It’s unfortunate for him, and it’s unfortunate for the team, too,” Ramirez said. “He seems to have a sort of dark cloud over him for some reason. We hope he gets healthy and can return to play some district games for us.”
A YOUNG TEAM ADJUSTS: Lopez Lobos coach Neil Shuster was an assistant with the team last season. Now in his first year at the helm, he is bringing in a new style of play.
With a roster chock full of younger players, Shuster is mixing up his defensive strategy in an attempt to give the Lobos an edge.
“This team has played a lot of zone (defense) in the past,” he said, “and a lot of teams tend to play zone. But we’re trying man-to-man (defense) this year, we need to be more physical.”
FINISHING ON A HIGH NOTE: The Los Fresnos Falcons wrapped up the non-district portion of their season Tuesday with a win over District 30-6A’s McAllen Memorial Mustangs.
The 72-66 win puts the Falcons on pace for Saturday’s District 32-6A opener against Harlingen South.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.