By MARK MOLINA, Staff Writer
With a senior year full of success and honors on the basketball court, it was only fitting that Pace defensive specialist Crystal Eureste ended her senior year by extending her playing career.
Eureste now will get to hit the basketball court for four more years after signing her scholarship letter to play at Central Christian College of the Bible Tuesday morning at Pace High School.
Upon signing, the senior defensive player said she appreciated her supporting cast and head basketball coach Eddie Lozano.
“It started during the summer where I trained really hard and it was nonstop in the weight room with coach Lozano,” Eureste said. “He pushed me throughout even when I was the only girl during those summer workouts. I’m very excited about this opportunity and I just want to thank God, family and friends who supported me through all this.
“It’s been a tough year to get to where I’m at, but I accomplished it.”
While Eureste had option, she decided that the opportunity to sign with the Moberly, Missouri college was too sweet a deal to pass up.
“I had other offers from out-of-state schools, but I received full scholarship tuition for four years,” Eureste said. “They also offered me a spot right there and then after they saw my video with my highlights. I just thought ‘go for it.’”
Eureste averaged 6.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, but was known for her defensive prowess.
She averaged 3.5 steals per game and racked up 48 pass deflections as she was named to the all-defensive team in District 32-5A and was named The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year after the season.
Lozano said Eureste’s heart and abilities will serve her well at the next level.
“She was a big part of our team this year and I’m very proud of her,” Lozano said. “Some thing you really can’t coach is effort and she’s going to bring that every day. That translates to her defense and that’s her thing … they’re very lucky to have her.
“With her work ethic and dedication — she’ll definitely succeed next year.”
Eureste now is set to join a solid program in Central Christian, which is a DII college in the National Christian College Athletic Association.
The Saints play in the Midwest Christian College Conference and are coming off a 14-16 record during the 2016-17 season.
They made the finals of their conference tournament and the second round of the NCCAA DII Southwest Region Tournament.
While Eureste has the nerves and jitters that come with a big step, she knows it’s part of the process.
“It’s going to be different going from Texas to Missouri and the techniques will be different,” Eureste said. “I will miss a lot of people and it’s not the same. I do have nerves, but we all start somewhere.”