By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
The Brownsville Pace Vikings learned to play every game like it could be their last in 2020, and they used that mentality to pick up a dominant 69-43 win over District 32-5A foe Edcouch-Elsa.
Pace kept its foot on the pedal from tipoff to the final buzzer, using a suffocating defense to generate a lights-out shooting performance. The Vikings made nine 3-pointers, were 14-for-16 from the free-throw line and were efficient from mid-range to handily take the victory.
“Every game that we get to play is a blessing at this point and every win is even more special, so this one does feel good” Ramirez said. “We go out there and lay it all on the line because we’re playing for today, that’s our motto, and that’s what we’re trying to do every day. ‘Down 20’ mentality, you see it on our uniforms and in everything we do. We play like we’re down 20, and these kids bought into it. All the credit goes to the kids that we have, and their heart and hustle.”
Edcouch-Elsa opened the game by hitting two shots from behind the arc to take a 6-0 lead. But the Vikings responded with a 12-0 scoring run, aided by two 3-pointers from Alex Agado and solid rebounding by Dax Delgado and Tyler Rudder.
Pace pushed the tempo of the game by controlling the boards and running a suffocating full-court press. The Vikings converted on second-chance shots and used long passes after defensive rebounds and steals for easy transition layups and open looks for the long ball.
“We always want to set the tempo with defense, that’s what our coach preaches,” Pace’s Cristian Guajardo said. “It’s our defense that feeds our 3s. If we’re able to pick them up full-court and tire out the team, they’re not going to get back on defense. All of us can shoot, all of us can score, and we’re working and ready to light it up when we can.”
Agado led all scorers with 23 points and hit four 3-pointers. His effort on both ends of the court helped the Vikings take a 21-11 lead after the first quarter. In the second, it was Guajardo’s turn to run things. He scored eight points during the frame and was 6-for-6 from the charity stripe as he relentlessly drove to the basket and drew fouls. Pace held a 37-23 advantage at halftime.
Edcouch-Elsa came out of the locker room determined to put up a fight and had its best offensive quarter in the third. Deandre Pantaleon (15 points) and Brayden DeVoe brought the energy and kept the Yellowjackets competitive. They showcased solid ball-handling skills to get through Pace’s press and half-court setup, and used their speed to pressure the Vikings defensively. Nico Rios and Joey Suarez battled in the paint and slowed down Pace’s offense at times with their physicality.
Despite the strong third quarter from the Yellowjackets, Pace maintained a 53-37 lead heading to the fourth. The Vikings tightened things up defensively during the final eight minutes and held Edcouch-Elsa to six points as they continued to bring the pressure. Agado, Guajardo (14 points) and Delgado (eight points) each hit 3s in the final frame, widening the points gap to 26 points.
“(Three-point shooting) is a pretty big aspect of our game,” Agado said. “We like to take a lot of shots out there, but we also like to mix it up inside, too. We just like to keep a good balance. (Our defense) is very beneficial because it allows us to get the looks we want. We practice the press all week, and we’re just able to score off that press.”
Though the Vikings were happy with the dominant win, Ramirez knows the team won’t be satisfied with its performance. And that desire to get better every day is what has the Pace coach excited for the rest of the district season.
“I’ll go in the locker room right now and they’ll be disappointed because they had so many open looks and they missed,” Ramirez said. “It’s always a good thing when they leave something short because it keeps them hungry. They love to work, and they know they can get better. … We have special players. There’s guys on the bench that could probably start at other schools, so we know we’re blessed with the quality of players that we have and the fact that they’re willing to do whatever it takes for the team. We’re looking forward to keeping it going and to continue growing.”