By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDCOUCH — Jesus Ortiz sprung up and down the court Thursday, showing the type of exuberance that Weslaco East could have used with more consistency last year.
It was only the Wildcats’ third game of the season — their first at the Twin Cities Tournament — but Ortiz was eager to prove that last year was an anomaly. By his own admission, he didn’t work hard enough in practice in 2014-15. His shot was shoddy, at best, and his stats were largely forgettable.
“Not good,” he said. “Not good at all.”
Now a senior, Ortiz is determined to leave a different impression — that of a do-it-all player for Weslaco East.
He scored 19 points during the Wildcats’ 55-50 victory over La Joya High on Thursday, displaying range in his offensive game. He buried shots from mid-range, the post and three from 3-pointers, as Weslaco East improved to 2-1 at Truan Jr. High School.
“We’re hoping he leads us to the playoffs,” second-year coach Jorge Martinez said. “This year, he’s gotten stronger, he’s worked on his shot, and he’s improved tremendously.”
Deemed too short to play exclusively in the post, the 5-foot-11 Ortiz splits time between the guard and wing positions. As a junior, he crashed the boards and set screens. Now he plays on the perimeter, taking spot-up jumpers and finding players as they cut to the basket.
“Wherever coach needs me to be, that’s where I’ll go,” Ortiz said. “I have to do what I have to do the help the team get better.”
The difference this year, other than his responsibilities as one of the team’s leaders, is that “we come in to practice wanting to get better.” Last year, the Wildcats were in transition with a new coach and a new style of play.
They lost down the stretch to Edinburg North, which nabbed the final postseason berth. This year, there are expectations to get in the playoff picture.
Ortiz has bought into the plan that East players should practice hard so that the games come easier to them. And it helps, too, that the players appear to be jelling well. They’re used to increasing the pace now, trying to out-hustle players, and swinging the ball around for open teammates.
“Last year, it was a get-to-know-the-new-system type of thing,” Martinez said. “By the end of the year, they were totally comfortable. But this year, they’re a lot more comfortable with it from the beginning. Hopefully we could have some success with that.”
Just as much as wins and loses, Martinez is harping on his players competing for four quarters. They opened a double-digit lead midway through the third quarter Thursday following Ortiz’s 3-pointer, but La Joya High was able to close the gap down the stretch.
Ortiz buried another 3 late, and Weslaco East managed to escape.
“We just need to work on our defense,” Ortiz said. “If we do that, we’ll be fine by the time district rolls around.
“I mean, we do have a good team. We have (Jonathan) Muñoz at the point. Felix (Jimenez) and J.J (Garza) are shooting the ball well. D.J. (Ramirez) is hustling and getting boards. Our bench is doing good. Everything’s coming together and everyone’s contributing. We have a good attitude, and we’re hyped.”