By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
HIDALGO — As Miguel Coronado approaches the midcourt stripe before each game, nerves begin to set in.
At this point last year, Coronado watched the opening tip from a folding chair alongside the Hidalgo sideline, devoid of any of the responsibilities that have largely come to define his senior year. His playing time was scarce, his opportunity unpredictable.
But Coronado never voiced any frustration, for his role provided one distinct advantage.
“I got to see everything,” Coronado said. “Yeah, I wanted to play, but sitting on the bench I got to see what was going on. So when I got in, I got more points.”
The two-year apprenticeship with Carmelo Reyes, a former All-Valley selection, served as the backbone for Coronado’s breakout season. The senior post learned how to defend, rip balls away and attack the basket. But never did he anticipate matters would unfold the way they have — with Hidalgo coming within a win of a fifth straight district title, and the team gearing up for yet another area-round appearance.
“Are we surprised? Yeah, because we only have two guys that were in the Sweet 16 two years ago,” Coronado said. “But we work hard. Like, really hard.”
Much of that work ethic stems from his time with last year’s senior-laden team, which featured three All-Valley selections leading the Pirates into the fourth round of the playoffs. Losing that core put the Pirates in a bind, but coach Gus Sanchez insists it didn’t curb expectations.
He asked players to prepare as they normally would, by dieting properly and shooting regularly. Coronado specifically was tasked with improving his vertical leap.
An undersized center, Coronado has been the catalyst for the Pirates’ workmanlike mentality. He labored during the offseason to overcome any height disparity, lifting weight and embracing fundamental drills, even as he entered his third varsity campaign.
His favorite drill — two-on-two sets where players jostle for position underneath the hoop — have been a staple of Hidalgo’s practices as of late.
“Without that, we’re nothing,” Coronado said. “I mean, I’m not that tall. I don’t have that much hops. So we have to work on boxing out. It’s all about boxing out.”
A year after averaging 7 points and 5.5 rebounds, Coronado is posting a near double-double (10.9 points, 8.5 boards) on a nightly basis.
Where last year Hidalgo had 10 players capable of playing at or around the basket, the team now has to make do with two. And while he hesitates to call Coronado or any of his frontline players “big,” Sanchez has been impressed with their efforts, particularly in the bi-district round against Rockport-Fulton, which had three towering figures 6-4 or taller.
“I thought they played their hearts out, having to overcome that size,” Sanchez said. “Our kids have to play for 32 minutes, and they have to give everything they’ve got. Not that we didn’t last year, but a lot of times we took advantage of having Frankie (Sanchez) and Mike (Espinoza) — some of those (All-Valley) athletes we had — and just give them the ball.
“Now, we have to scrap for everything we get.”
The Pirates began to develop that identity when they beat a Houston Wharton team that was responsible for its playoff ouster in 2015. That Hidalgo was able to win against the state’s No. 8-ranked team at the time, without its previous core unit, only renewed their confidence.
Considering Hidalgo has qualified for the postseason for each of the past 15 years, Sanchez said anything short of a second-round appearance “would have been a disappointing season for the kids.”
“There are some people that doubted us, but I thought we had a great shot of making it,” point guard Jacob Anaya said. “Our goals are high, no matter who we have. A lot of people thought we wouldn’t make the playoffs, but here we are.”
At times, Coronado looks back to the previous two seasons with a slight hint of envy. Part of him wishes he was back on the bench at the start of games, allowing him enough opportunity to watch everything unfold.
By the same token, Coronado’s newfound role has him in the center of it all, and he’s cherishing that opportunity for as long it lasts.
“He was a big part of our team last year, but he’s really gotten an opportunity to showcase what he’s got now,” Sanchez said. “He knows the odds were stacked against us because of our youth, and yet he still wanted to do well because he’s been a part of those (Sweet 16) teams.
“No matter who we’re playing, he works hard, and he’s managed to teach guys how it’s done.”