By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
District competition is one of the most challenging parts of the girls basketball season. It has begun or is just about to start for Brownsville-area teams.
The goal of every team is to reach the state playoffs with a strong showing in district play, and the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles are no exception.
Although the Hanna girls are 20-5 after Friday’s 65-52 non-district win at St. Joseph Academy, Lady Eagles coach Luis Gonzalez knows nothing will be easy when District 32-6A competition begins Jan. 4.
Still, he likes his team’s chances. It won’t be easy with the likes of Harlingen High, Harlingen South, Rivera, Los Fresnos and San Benito in 32-6A. Out of six teams in the district, only four will make it to the postseason.
“We take it practice by practice and game by game,” Gonzalez said. “It’s good that we’re 20-5, but our ultimate goal is to get into the playoffs.”
The Lady Eagles’ starting lineup boasts a proven scorer in four-year starter Mia Paz, a guard, plus a ball handler in Samantha Ramos, a tall rebounder in Odalys Gonzalez and all-around players in Ariana Arceneaux and Alexis Alvarez.
Paz is chasing the all-city scoring record set by former Hanna standout Alex Denson.
Earlier this month, Paz was honored as one of nine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association players of the week from around the country. The award is presented by MaxPreps. She won the award for Region 6, which consists of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico.
For the week ending Dec. 2, Paz averaged 28.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
“For me to get an award like that is just unbelievable,” said Paz, who hopes to continue her basketball career in college. “It’s probably one of the best awards I’ve gotten in my life.
“To this point of the season, we’ve really improved as a team since the first day we stepped on the court back in October,” Paz added. “I just love the girls, and we’ve become best friends. They’ve basically become family to me. Once basketball is over, I hope we continue to have that bond with each other.”
Gonzalez is glad to have Paz on the squad.
“Mia is a special player,” the Hanna coach said. “She’s probably an even better person than she is a basketball player. The points are nice, and the records and accolades are nice, too, but her ultimate goal is to get this team into the playoffs.”
Hanna begins 32-6A action on Jan. 4 at Rivera.
Here is a team-by-team look at other area girls squads:
DISTRICT 32-6A
Los Fresnos — Rebecca Valdez is in the midst of her second season as the Lady Falcons’ coach. She fields a team that can play an up-tempo style and run the court. Among the top scorers for the Lady Falcons are Ari Gallardo and Jovanna Adame. Gallardo, a junior point guard/forward, is a threat from outside, having recorded more than 40 3-pointers so far this season. Adame is a senior point guard. The Lady Falcons open district Jan. 4 at Harlingen South.
Rivera — Coach Willie Brown has a senior group on his Lady Raiders squad this season. It’s a team that has performed well at times and not so well in other games. “We are very inconsistent (right now),” Brown said. He said the team’s top player heading into district is Jacqueline Montes, a senior forward who averages about 15 points per game. The Lady Raiders begin 32-6A play Jan. 4 at home against Hanna.
DISTRICT 32-5A
Brownsville Veterans Memorial — The Lady Chargers are two-time defending champions in 32-5A. They’re off to a 2-0 start in district, which began last week. So far in 32-5A, they have wins against Pace (36-28) and Donna High (50-45). Top scorers for the Lady Chargers are Lizzie Garza, Caitlin Esquivel, Destiny Contreras and Alex Parchmont.
“I think it’s going to be a defensive battle with everybody (in 32-5A), and it’s going to take a team effort to win every game,” Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz said. “That’s what we’re stressing. It’s going to take everyone doing her part and fulfilling her role.”
Pace — Coach Eddie Lozano’s Lady Vikings have started off 32-5A with a 1-1 record. After their 36-28 loss to Brownsville Veterans in last week’s district opener, the Lady Vikings rebounded to win on the road 51-41 against Edcouch-Elsa on Friday. Leading scorers for the Lady Vikings are Lexy Arce, Sofia Espinoza, Rosa Salinas and Jennifer Oliveira. Arce, a senior point guard, is the team’s top ball handler along with Oliveira.
Porter — The Cowgirls are coached by Crystal Schmalzried. Porter is off to an 0-2 start in 32-5A this season. The Cowgirls have suffered setbacks against Donna High (60-17) and Mercedes (54-18). Among the players for the Cowgirls are Anahi Villarreal and Kladys Sandoval.
Lopez — The Lady Lobos are coached by Ray Montes. Lopez is 0-2 in 32-5A thus far following district losses against Edcouch-Elsa (38-29) and Valley View (60-25). The Lady Lobos will try to break into the win column when they travel to Pace for their next district game Tuesday.
OTHERS
St. Joseph Academy — Veteran coach Nora Zamarripa is fielding a young team during her second season of guiding the Lady Bloodhounds. Top scorers for the SJA girls include Maria Del Pozo, Gisele Sampayo and Lucia Gonzalez.
“We’ve gotten a lot better,” Zamarripa said of her team. “We have five freshmen (on the varsity), and we’re playing mainly freshmen and sophomores. There are three seniors. These girls are working really hard, and they’re improving. It’s just that sometimes they play like freshmen and sometimes they don’t.”
SJA plays in TAPPS Division II. District play starts Jan. 9.
Jubilee Brownsville — The Lady Titans, coached by Victor Venegas, have started district play with a 4-0 record following Friday’s 72-8 win over San Benito IDEA. Jubilee Brownsville competes in the Texas Charter School Academic and Athletic League. Jubilee Brownsville played in the Border Bash Tournament in McAllen and took third place in the Silver Bracket. The Lady Titans played in La Feria’s Tommie Wiseman Tournament and reached the consolation championship, going 2-2 in the event.
“My best players right now are Mariana Espinosa, who averages 15 points per game, and Paola Vargas, who averages 12 points per game,” Venegas said.
Port Isabel — The Lady Tarpons are off to a fairly solid start in their quest to reach the playoffs out of District 32-4A. Hannah Burleson is the team’s second-year coach. Port Isabel is 1-1 in district with a 52-44 setback at Zapata in its 32-4A opener and a 60-31 win Friday at home against Progreso. The Lady Tarpons have a steady ball handler and 3-point shooter in sophomore point guard Sabrina Gonzalez. Another standout for the Lady Tarpons with an ability to drive to the basket is Gabby Murchison, a senior guard/forward.
Brownsville IDEA Frontier — The Lady Chargers are coached by Victor Leija and compete in District 32-3A along with eight other teams, including Brownsville IDEA Riverview. The IDEA Frontier girls started off district with a 3-0 record.
“We’re hoping to make noise this year in basketball with our girls and boys teams,” said Alberto Alanis, the IDEA Frontier athletic director.
Brownsville First Baptist — The Crusaders play in TAPPS Division III District 5. They have an away district game coming up Jan. 15 at the HOPE Home School team of McAllen.