BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
MISSION — Coming into a game against Rio Grande City, most teams will focus on senior forward Rodrigo Nuñez.
It is hard to blame them when the 6-foot-8, 255-pounder opens the season with 20 points, six rebounds and four blocks on opening night.
But if opponents aren’t careful, guards like junior Jaime Covarrubias will make them pay.
“He’s down there in the paint, and we are on the outside,” Covarrubias said. “If they double-team him, it’s a kick out and it’s an easy 3.”
Covarrubias proved that theory true on Tuesday night, as he helped lead the Rattlers to a 74-60 win over Mission High at Mission High School.
“It’s a good win,” first-year Rio coach Juan Aldape said. “We are still far away from what we want to accomplish, but it’s a good win. I will take 1-0 any time.”
Covarrubias finished the night with 10 points, including two 3-pointers, and his hustle on the glass caught his coach’s eye. Covarrubias had seven rebounds, often fighting through taller post players to snag the boards.
“That kid, throughout the offseason, has been something else,” Aldape said of Covarrubias. “Him and No. 2, those two guys are our workhorses. I am very happy with his performance.”
No. 2 is sophomore guard Aaron Marroquin, who finished with 13 points.
The Rattlers hit six 3s on the evening, including three from Nuñez.
“Yeah, that’s something I can do,” Nuñez said. “I have been practicing it over the summer.”
Aldape has been hesitant to give Nuñez the full green light on his perimeter shooting.
“He knows he has two 3s, and he better hit both of them,” Aldape said. “He hit two today, so he was granted that third. He missed his fourth, so he went back down to the block.”
Just when opponents think they have Rio sorted out, one of the Rattlers’ best perimeter players is crashing the glass, and possibly the best post player in the Valley is spotting up from deep.
“We have been working hard,” Covarrubias said. “Crashing the boards is really important. Offensive boards and defensive boards, as long as we keep getting the boards, pushing the ball, it means a lot. … We have also been practicing shooting 3s all offseason. We have a lot of shooters this season. And there is a lot of focus on Rodrigo, so that is where we step up.”
Mission High proved a tough foe to begin the season. The Eagles never went away and the played tough defense throughout.
“They brought it hard, and we just had to come through under pressure,” Covarrubias said. “We all did a good job, and we came through.”
At the end of the third quarter and later in the fourth, Mission High employed a full-court press that proved tough to beat.
“It was good experience because, that Laredo district is tough,” Aldape said. “Our boys have worked hard enough to be able to break that press and feed off scoring off that press.”
Sophomore guard Eddie Rivero and junior forward Louie Garcia each had 12 points to lead the way for Mission. Senior Yan Martinez added 10.