RE-PETE

I want to start by giving a shout out to Michelle Cantu, wife of Mission Veterans coach Rafeal Cantu.

She is a regular reader of my high school blog. I’m trying to write more in order to get more readers. You can also read my RGV Dorados blog at www.themonitor.com. The link is http://re-pete2.freedomblogging.com/. I appreciate Michelle’s readership. 

I had a very interesting phone conversation with Michelle the other night. She said I should write more about the Lady Pats. I haven’t given them as much coverage as an undefeated team in district should get. But I thought I would be covering them a lot during the final weeks of the season but they have run away with the district title

 I didn’t expect them to go undefeated, not because they are not good but because they play in a tough district. Michelle seemed to suggest that the team was motivated by a comment an opposing coach made in this story: http://www.rgvsports.com/sports/lady_1225___article.xml/mission_district.html

Coach Arredondo from Valley View said that she didn’t believe anyone in district would go undefeated. It was an early district meeting, and the Lady Pats haven’t forgotten. It seems that comment has been a rallying cry for Mission Vets this season.

If they do go undefeated, I think she deserves some credit. Arredondo could still be right. Vetereans survived some scares during league play, including both  games against Valley View.

Despite winning the district title, there is still some work to be done. The Lady Pats need one more win to finish undefated. They play second-place Roma on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

I was just looking at Tuesday’s box score and I noticed their leading scorer Brandi Taylor was curiously missing from the box score.

I wanted to blog about this two weeks ago when I attended the La Villa Lady Cardinals basketball game against Santa Maria … forgot, sorry.

If there was someone who started a petition for a new gym and football stadium, I would be the first to sign it. I know I should be reporting on something like this not giving my opinon, but I can’t help but feel bad for the student-athletes at La Villa.

School district’s have the important task of working with a budget. I am sure eductaional costs come first. But maybe in the next few years someone should try and find money to better their athletic facilities

La Villa has a tiny gym with only four rows of bleachers. You have to litterally walk is front of the team benches to get to get from one end of the bleachers to the other. Imagine that happening at a Class 5A school.

Their football stadium is makeshift at best. Last I checked no one was allowed in the press box for fear it might fall a part .

I know La Villa is a tiny Class A school and money might be tight but can we find a way for new facilities.

By the way, I noticed La Villa got a new fancy new Valero gas station on the southwest corner where the only stop light in town is located.

Kudos to PSJA Memorial for notching its first district win of the season, beating PSJA High 49-498 on a 3-pointer. Its been a tough long season for the Lady Wolverines.

McAllen High beat Sharyland to claim the outright District 30-5A championship (10 district titles in 11 years). If that isn’t league domination, I dont know what is.

Hidalgo Victoria Gonzalez’s scores 50 points against Rio Hondo …. craziness. Most in by a girls bball player this year. Anyone know the record? 

PLAYER TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Rowe FRESHMAN forward Brittanie Nelson (her first name has given me trouble since volleyball season) provided the only last-second shot I have seen this season. You can find the story here: http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/game_1388___article.xml/nelson_rowe.html

Just sitting here thinking …. Edinburg High gave Harlingen South its best game of the season. From what I understand the Lady Bobcats trailed by only three with 2 mins left.

I wonder — if healthy and if the game was at Edinburg High — if EHS would have won this game. 

The Lady Bobcats have played good basketball as of late and are well coached. They have  a balanced team. Injuries early in the season may have only helped EHS. With girls out, others were able to gain valubale experience.

 With Yadira Salinas back in the lieup, she provides a much-needed post presence.

I believe if EHS comes out with the second seed in district, that would set up a potential meeting with McAllen High in the second round on the playoffs. That would be interesting.

The Lady Bobcats would be huge underdogs. I still think McHi is too strong but that is why they play the game.

I am waiting for coaches to call me with basketball stats … not my most favorite part of my job. But I understand coaches are busy teaching. Most have to actually break down film. I appreciate the coaches that do call. Makes my job easier.

I have receieved a couple e-mails and phone calls about the lopsided games McAllen High and Harlingen South have been involved in. People think these coaches should not be running up the score.

It’s a tough situation. Obviously, McHi and South are the best teams in the Valley so most expect them to win big, especially against teams that are struggling. Some think it is in poor class.

People have to understand these teams have high aspirations. I am not sure if benching their star players/starters in the second half is beneficial. These girls need to know what it takes to play a full game, maintaining the same intensity throughout, because they will need to play an entire game during the postseason.

A team like McHi has a deep bench. Some of these girls can start on other teams. I am not sure it is fair to ask these girls to come into a game and just hold a lead. They practice just as hard.

Basketball is not like football where you can run out the clock by just running the ball. It would be strange to ask someone to just hold the ball in basketball.

I have covered both McHi and South. And in each game I dont remember either coach calling a timeout in the second half to design plays. Now that would be mean.

I think the only concern the coaches should have is risking injury. It is a possibility.

While Jason McDaniel and I were filming our weekly web cast last week, he asked me an interesting question. H e wanted to know who I thought would go the furthest in the playoffs.

Obviously the two top-ranked teams in the Valley (No.1 McAllen High and No. 2 Harlingen South) should be in the Class 5A regional tournament. No questions asked in my opinon.

( I am not sure how the bracket shapes up in basketball. This is my first year covering high school basketball. But I think the only way McHi and South would play each other would be in the regional final. If anyone knows, let me know).

After that, the Lady Bulldogs have the clear advantage. I think if they played the Lady Hawks, McHi would win.

McHi has a legitimate shot at reaching the state tourney no matter who they played. McHi making history looks promising considering their outstanding showing in both the Jostens and Broder Bash tourneys.

They have depth, coaches only dream of. I think what sets them a part from the rest of the Valley and South, for that matter is their size and experience. These girls have been playing together for some time and have the size to be physical inside. Their starting five is loaded with talent and you dont really get any better than Andi Garza as a leader.

Can McHi finally be the first girls team in any sport from the Valley that breaks throughto the state tourney? There is stiff competitionat at regionals but I think it looks promising. What do you think?