ALAMO — For as long as PSJA Memorial’s doors have been open, the Wolverines boys basketball program has qualified for the playoffs just once.
That was two seasons ago under now fifth-year head basketball coach Eric Steinbrunner.
But while the Wolverines missed out on the postseason dance in 2019, their 2-0 start in district this year has PSJA Memorial looking like a team ready to break through to becoming a consistent threat on the hardwood.
“We’re trying to create a history here at PSJA Memorial where teams look at us and they worry about us, and they actually have to scout us. Hopefully we’re there, but we got to continue as a program to where it’s every year and we’re consistent,” Steinbrunner said. “We haven’t been like that, but hopefully we’re going that direction. I like our future here.”
And the immediate future is bright for the Wolverines.
On their current roster, 12 of the 13 players are seniors. That experience of not only playing together, but growing together on and off the court, has developed into the right recipe for this year’s Wolverines.
“We got a lot of seniors, and I think with the seniors comes a lot of cohesiveness. They’ve played together for so long now, they know exactly what they’re doing off the court and on the court, they’re a brotherhood,” Steinbrunner said.
Leading the Wolverines is their Jonathan Martinez, a four-year letterman and the squad’s point guard. He said being close outside of basketball is key to helping grow as a team.
“We’ve been having team-bonding, watching movies and going to each other’s houses, so we’ve been getting along, not just on the court, but off the court.”
On the court, the Wolverines have battled every time out.
“We’re just coming together and not giving up early,” Martinez said. “We just keep attacking, even when our shots aren’t there, so we’re hitting late in the fourth quarter.”
Senior small forward Chris Sierra said the benefit of having played together for years has helped this group tremendously.
“It’s just our ball movement, the chemistry that we have with these guys,” Sierra said. “Most of us are seniors; we’ve been playing with them for four years. So it’s just our team chemistry — you always know where they’re going to be.”
One of the changes from last season to this year has been the team’s play on the defensive end of the floor. Steinbrunner said he likes his team to create chaos for opposing offenses.
“Defensively it’s been a big year for us,” Sierra said. “We were not good defensively the past couple years, but now we’re playing good defense. Teams do hurry up and it gives us more possessions and chances to shoot and score.”
Martinez is one of the players who spearheads the Wolverine defense from his point guard position.
“I make sure I play tight defense on anybody and try to stop them from scoring,” he said. “I know not a lot of people like to play defense, but I do. I take it very personal. I like playing defense, it helps me get my momentum going.”
And that’s one thing PSJA Memorial has in its favor — momentum.
The Wolverines improved to 2-0 in District 31-5A action Tuesday with a 64-45 win against La Joya Palmview. Memorial also rolled in its district opener with a 54-31 victory against PSJA Southwest.
“This school, in its entirety has only been to the playoffs once, so we’re just trying to shoot for that spot, shoot for the playoffs,” senior power forward Barac Garcia said.
The Wolverines have taken their licks this season with losses against Edinburg Vela and a San Antonio Cornerstone team coached by former San Antonio Spurs player Bruce Bowen.
But they’ve also flashed the potential of a playoff team with victories against PSJA North and San Perlita.
Those early season battles have prepared the Wolverines for what’s to come in District 31-5A.
“We try to play those tournaments where we’re going to see a lot of good teams and it’s prepared us. I preach that every day what we do in the preseason doesn’t really matter, it’s what we do and transfer it over into district and learn from our experiences in the preseason that’s going to make us district champions or a playoff team,” Steinbrunner said. “The competition that we’ve faced has prepared us well for our district, because top to bottom, our district is loaded.”
Those early season tests helped the Wolverines prepare for their next challenge — a road game against last year’s 31-5A district co-champion Sharyland Pioneer.
“They’re (Pioneer) an extremely good team, they’re extremely well-coached. Hopefully what we’ve done in the preseason has prepared us for tomorrow night’s big atmosphere going in there at Pioneer,” Steinbrunner said.
Tip-off between PSJA Memorial and Sharyland Pioneer is slated for 7:30 tonight at Pioneer High School.