SAN BENITO — Rio Hondo’s Eliza Rodriguez was the exception to the sport.
The senior guard did not start playing basketball until middle school. Some could say she joined the sport a little late in the game, but Rodriguez was a quick learner and developed into one of the most exciting girls ballers not just in the Harlingen area, but the whole Rio Grande Valley.
Rodriguez is the Valley Morning Star’s All-Star Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season.
Rodriguez helped the Bobcats to the fourth round by averaging 29 points a game. Rodriguez also was a key playmaker for her 3-point shooting teammates and was awarded District 32-3A MVP.
“It feels good that I was able to produce points for my team, just to be able to have a shot,” Rodriguez said. “It felt really amazing going deep, especially because it was my senior year. Going to the Sweet 16 was pretty good.”
Rodriguez said if the Bobcats would have went into that game confident against Lytle, they could have made it the Class 3A Region IV final.
“I think we should have done better,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez played all four years at the varsity level at Rio Hondo. Rodriguez said she was honored to be able to play all four years at that level. The point guard did not start playing basketball until the seventh grade, just two years before becoming a four-year varsity starter.
“I put in the work, honestly,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez played volleyball and ran track as well, but stopped once she became a freshman so she could focus only on basketball. Rodriguez attributes her ability to pick up the sport quickly to her athleticism.
The four-year varsity athlete was invited to multiple all-star games this offseason and was not considering playing college basketball at the end of the season, but Rodriguez said it was still up in the air if she wants to play college basketball as she prepared to graduate in late May.
“It was a great ride and experience,” Rodriguez said. “I am going to miss my team.”