BY JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
Following a two-week absence, Edinburg High re=enters the RGVSports.com Top 10 Rankings after a 40-37 overtime win against Weslaco East on Tuesday night. The victory was the 20th of the season for the Lady Bobcats, and moves them into third place in District 31-6A.
After stumbling in a 40-22 loss to Edinburg North on Jan. 2, the Lady Bobcats have regrouped and won three-straight.
“Our backs are against the well every game in this district,” coach John David Salinas said. “I strongly feel, and I’m sure other coaches do as well, that 31-6A is arguably the toughest district in the Valley.”
The numbers back up Salinas’ claim. The seven teams of 31-6A have combined to win 62 percent of their games, a mark 11 percentage points higher than any other district comprised of 6A and 5A teams.
Making Edinburg High’s success all the more impressive is the youth on its roster.
“Reyna Del Castillo and Jennifer Galvan are the only girls coming back from last year that had productive minutes for us,” Salinas said. “We’re all young.”
Del Castillo, a junior, is averaging 8.5 points per game, second on the team to Jayla Santa Maria’s 12.1. Galvan, also a junior, is averaging a team-best 9.7 rebounds per game.
“We don’t have that one girl,” Salinas said. “But we have a lot of girls who can contribute, and that’s something special. As the season goes along, our girls are getting a lot of experience.”
The Lady Bobcats will have to rely on their budding experience Friday as they travel to PSJA North to face the district-leading Lady Raiders (22-3, 5-0).
“Everyone is beatable,” Salinas said. “We do a decent job playing defense. You give us a chance to play and we can play come decent defense and convert our high-percentage looks.”
Finish with a bang
The first round of District 31-5A competition comes to a conclusion Friday with a battle of unbeaten district teams. Mission Veterans (16-9, 5-0) travels to Edinburg Vela to take on the Lady SaberCats (16-8, 5-0).
“We saw (Vela) play Sharyland earlier this season,” Mission Veterans coach Rafael Cantu said. “They’re quick enough to score points quickly.”
The teams are alike in build, both feature quick guards who light up the scoreboard and generate turnovers, and each has an inside presence that cleans the glass.
“I feel like we match up really well with Vela,” Cantu said. “Man-for-man, we’re just as good as anybody on any night. If we play together, every player can contribute what they’re capable of.”
Ashley Smith leads the Lady Patriots with 15.8 points per game, and is a key part of Cantu’s desire to play press defense.
“We always hang our hat on our defense,” he said. “We know that’s an area where we’re going to have to be strong.”