By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
A trio of Metro-area girls basketball players are among the best players in the Rio Grande Valley .
Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Briana Cortez has earned first-team honors for the 2015 RGVSports.com All-Valley team, and teammate Jordan Rudd earned a place on the second-team along with Port Isabel’s Kelcie Swink.
“It’s a privilege to be on that team,” Cortez said. “Because there are a lot of talented basketball players (in the Valley).”
Each received a handful of awards this season. Cortez, a junior, was The Herald’s All-Metro MVP and earned first-team honors for District 32-6A. Rudd, a sophomore, was an All-Metro first-team selection and was the District 32-6A Offensive Player of the Year. Swink, a senior, was also an All-Metro first-team selection and was the District 32-4A Offensive Player of the Year.
Despite their excellent seasons on the court, Rudd and Swink were taken back by the honors.
“It’s very humbling and exciting to be a part of that,” Rudd said. “Because there is a good amount of talent in the Valley, and that is an accomplishment in itself.”
Swink added, “It’s awesome. Ever since I was a freshman I always wanted to do the best I could, and I’m happy that hard work paid off.”
Cortez led the Lady Chargers in scoring with 10.3 points per game and added 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 steals. Rudd scored 10.1 points and posted 5.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Swink led the Lady Tarpons in scoring with 12.6 points, grabbed 9.2 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game.
The three girls will soon be teammates on the East All-Star team for the RGVSports.com and Rio Grande Valley Vipers All-Valley Showcase on April 4 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo.
Cortez and Rudd led the Lady Chargers to the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
“I’m proud. I’m very happy for both of them,” Brownsville Veterans coach Valentin Paz said. “Both of them have worked very hard. We’ve told them, ‘We’ll go as far as you both take us. You have to set the tone, not by just what you do but by how you lead.’ I think they’ve set that (example) well for the rest of the team to follow.”
Swink led the Lady Tarpons to a postseason berth in her final season.
“I wish I had three more years with her,” Port Isabel coach Blake Ramsey said. “She was a leader on our team. Not only statistically, but off the court and in practice. She was everything a good leader should be.”
The trio is among a wealth of talent on the RGVSports.com All-Valley list.
Angela Villarreal of Weslaco High is the most valuable player, Sami Quilantan of Harlingen High is the defensive player of the year, Jayla Santa Maria of Edinburg High is the newcomer of the year and Randy Bocanegra of PSJA High is the coach of the year.
Cortez is joined on the first team by Samantha Gutierrez (La Joya Palmview), Ariel Rodriguez (Edinburg Vela), Ruayda Bouls (Harlingen South) and Summer Vento (Mercedes).
Rudd and Swink are joined on the second team by Ashley Smith (Mission Veterans Memorial), Belle Palacios (PSJA North) and Mayda Garcia (McAllen Rowe).
Paz said he is looking forward to further success next season with his dynamic duo.
“The quiet demeanor of Briana to Jordan’s more outgoing, outspoken way,” he said. “Jordan’s going all out, full tilt, and Briana is more steady and under control. I just like the way they complement each other.”
Ramsey said it would be hard to replace Swink’s leadership next season.
“Anything that we needed to be done, she could do it,” he said. “(Kelcie) was always motivating her teammates, she led by example. She was the star and everyone knew that, but she didn’t act like it, she was very humble.
“All those intangibles, besides the numbers are what we’re going to miss the most.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.