BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Rio Grande City looked to make a statement Friday. With one of Valley’s best players in Jocy Amaya on their side, the Lady Rattlers aimed to topple Sharyland High and validate their status as a title contender in District 31-5A.
Instead, Rio conveyed a decidedly different message: They’re not ready yet.
Behind a flat offensive performance, RGC fell to a bigger and more balanced Sharyland High team 40-25 at Sharyland High School. Friday’s loss marks the second in a row for Rio, who have demonstrated uninspired play in each of its most recent defeats.
“Everybody thinks we’re one of the top teams, but it’s tough,” Rio coach Gustavo Valenciana said. “Sometimes they’re mentally ready, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes we look confident and sometimes we just don’t.”
Rio (19-8, 4-2) looked ready during the early going. Thanks to a pair of assists from Amaya, RGC took a 5-4 lead over Sharyland. But Sharyland, patient and methodical in the halfcourt, regained the lead and kept it for good on a layup from Anna Marshall, who scored a game-high 14 points.
Marshall was one of three players to appear in Friday’s game who average a double-double on the season. The sophomore post averages 15 points and 10 rebounds while teammate Maddie Garza averages 10 and 10. Amaya, the Valley’s second-leading scorer, averages 20 and 12.
But it was the post play of Sharyland (21-6, 6-0) that overpowered Rio. Marshall and Garza combined to score 21 points and hauled in 25 boards. Amaya and teammate Gina Villarreal each scored just seven points while shooting a combined 4-of-24 from the floor.
Amaya spent much of the second quarter on the bench in foul trouble. During that span, Rio was outscored 14-5. When Amaya did see court time, however, she was flustered by Sharyland’s defense.
“Whenever any (Rio big) was in the post, I was fronting,” Marshall said. “I’d been watching film on them. (Roxy Morales) was their only player that could shoot from long range… She was the only one we guarded on the wing. Everyone else are drivers. We had the whole game mapped out.”
While Marshall fronted Amaya, Maddie Garza hounded the paint from behind — oftentimes sandwiching Amaya and limiting her rebounding opportunities. Marshall and her 6-foot-1 build may be Sharyland’s most important player, but Garza possess the team’s most versatile skill set. Aside from contributing seven points, she added 13 boards, four assists and a steal.
Though Sharyland’s one-two punch from the post is paramount to its success, the team’s win over Rio marked one of its most balanced wins of the season. Aside from Marshall, no other player scored double digits, and 19 of the team’s points came from its guards.
Nany Carrertero and Aydee Hinojosa chipped in six points each, while Sonia Trevino added five and Nataly Almasri scored two. Carretero and Trevino combined for a trio of makes from downtown.
“I just think, through practice, they’ve been getting better,” Marshall said. “If we’re not open, we pass it out and they shoot. They’re shooting with confidence right now.”
While Sharyland was in control aside from 17 turnovers, Rio remained hurried and rushed and trailed by as many as 24 during the second half. Several possessions resulted in little ball movement and rushed jumpers, a plan that deviated from Valenciana’s vision for the game.
“I tried to tell my girls to be patient,” he said. “If we had to make 20 passes to get a good shot, then make 20 passes. We didn’t want to take quick shots and then run back the other way, and that’s what we did. We took too many quick shots, didn’t make them and they were going the other way and having their way.”