BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
McALLEN — There’s little question that McAllen Rowe is one of the Valley’s better boys basketball teams.
But when the Warriors are playing like they did Tuesday night — firing like sharpshooters and igniting fast breaks with solid defense — it’s easy to see why the Warriors could be destined for a deep playoff run.
Senior Daniel Sotuyo scored 25 points and freshman Derek Luna added 16 more and 6 rebounds as Rowe (16-5 overall) throttled Harlingen South 68-44 in what may have been Rowe’s best team performance to date. The Warriors’ shooting was dripping wet from inside and out. Rowe’s bigs controlled the paint against the smaller South squad, and the Warriors played team defense, creating havoc with tipped passes, blocked shots and steals.
This Christmas vacation game wasn’t close, even at the start. Rowe’s domination led to a 16-1 first quarter lead, and it was downhill for South from there. Rowe’s complete game was enough to please Warriors coach Jose Luis Yebra.
“Our kids were focused and ready to play,” Yebra said. “Defensively, we were able to control the boards and get out and run the break like we usually do. We were just ready to play today.”
Yebra said unlike the last time his team played Harlingen South — a tough 39-34 Warriors win — Tuesday night one of the focuses was driving to the basket. The Warriors, who have a slew of guards with range, rarely attempted a 3-pointer in the first half and only made five in for the entire contest.
Warriors guards, especially Sotuyo and Luna, charged past Hawks defenders, penetrating the lane for mid-range jumpers or kick-out passes to the 3-point arc. With Rowe’s speed and ball handling ability — and South’s lack of size — the strategy was nearly flawless.
“Our mindset was to attack the basket to score, and if it’s not there, dish out,” said Luna. “Freddy (Ayala) and Dom (Dominic Clarke), I give them all the props for being our big men. That’s what their role is on our team. To play defense and get boards.”
The 6-foot-1 Ayala collected 20 rebounds and scored 7 points. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-3 Clarke had 8 boards and 9 points. Rowe also played safe with the ball. After the first quarter, the Warriors had just six turnovers — 12 for the entire contest.
Harlingen South coach Brian Molina yanked all five starters midway through the first quarter as the Hawks trailed 16-1. With that move, Rowe smelled blood and attacked, going up 26-8 as the first quarter ended. South played with more energy in the second and third quarters, but the Warriors extended their lead to 62-37 after three.
“Playing a team like this, in Rowe, at their place, and very well coached, they just came out with more energy than us tonight,” Molina said. “With that said, we had to play a lot of catch up ball, and that hurt us tonight. Once they got a lead on us, they did a good job of breaking us down.”
Molina added that he deliberately schedules difficult teams to prepare his team for district. He had hoped for a better outing from his squad, but he said his players learned from it.
Noah Perez led Harlingen South with 11 points.
Rowe coaches and players said they have worked hard to prepare for district play, which begins on Friday at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, and believe the win on Tuesday over South was evidence that they are ready to compete for a district title.
Rowe junior point guard Adrian Bernal recorded 8 assists.