SAN BENITO — Harlingen South’s Steven Ortegon was always going to be the go-to-guy on a 2022-23 Hawks team that had graduated a heap of starters and key players the year prior.
Ortegon needed to step up his junior season and did, plus some. Ortegon is the Valley Morning Star’s Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season.
The now-senior, Ortegon helped the Hawks capture a District 32-5A title by scoring 24 points per game and contributing with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals every time he suited up for head coach Brian Molina.
“It was a good year,” Ortegon said. “We did not finish how we wanted. We won a district championship for the first time in five or six years, but it was a fun season to play with my team. We had some seniors graduate, that I am going to miss, but we have basically our whole team coming back next year. It should be fun.”
A 43-41 loss at the hands of McAllen High in the playoffs put a damper on a terrific season by the Hawks, that saw them win 13-straight District 32-5A games en route to a title. The Hawks went 20-13 on the season and 15-3 in District 32-5A, averaging 52 ppg.
Ortegon averaged 24 of the team’s 52 points per game, nearly half of the scoring each night. Syill, the 6-foot guard remains humble about his role on the team. Ortegon understands that he needs to help his teammates become more involved offensively and even continue to improve his own individual game.
“It could be better,” Ortegon said. “I have my moments. There are some shots that I miss, that I know I should have made, but that is what I am trying to work on this summer. I am trying to expand my arsenal. I want to try and score different ways, get different looks to try and get buckets more.”
Ortegon has a smooth shot, great form – elbows always tucked when he elevates. Ortegon nailed 116 3-pointers this season, shooting an outstanding 49% from beyond the arc.
It should only take Ortegon half of his senior season to eclipse the illustrious 2,000 point mark. Ortegon is going to be sitting on 1,675 points when the Hawks begin running games in 2023.