PALMVIEW -- Two weeks ago the Palmview Lobos were at unprecedented heights for their boys basketball program. Due to a solid non-district record which was then followed by a 2-0 start in District 30-5A play, head coach Andy Saenz’s team rose as high as number two in the Valley Freedom Poll.

However, the team then faced Sharyland and Nikki Rowe—two of the district’s best—losing to the traditional powerhouses. Despite the quick fall back to .500, the Lobos responded with a dominating win over Donna last Friday and now have a chance to prove their ability to compete with the big boys by taking on McHi in tonight’s “Big Six” Game of the Night.

Read more: “Big Six” Tuesday Game of the Night: McHi Bulldogs at Palmview Lobos

Today’s “Big Six” Rankings:

Boys Basketball

Read more: Monday’s “Big Six” Boys and Girls Basketball Rankings

All year long Eric Montolvo has been telling his team they have to at least win their home games to give themselves a shot for the postseason. On Friday night the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies did just that, taking down the Rio Grande City Rattlers in overtime, 80-77. Guard Jesus Salinas led his team with 30 points in the District 32-4A matchup.

“Stressful. Just stressful,” said Montolvo of his team’s win.

Read more: Big Six Friday Game of the Night: Juarez takes home OT win over RGC

Perhaps it is a bit ironic that adding one player—a freshman at that—can entirely change the way outsiders view a basketball program. However, that was the case at Sharyland High School when Jesse Pistokache appeared on Coach David Keith’s roster. The appearance prompted the media here in the Rio Grande Valley to choose the Rattlers as the Valley’s top team entering the season.

To an extent, the high expectations were not out of line. Pistokache is regarded as a future big-time college recruit—almost unheard of here in South Texas—and has proved his play by competing for national championships on his AAU squad, the Texas Titans. Add in interviews with Slam Magazine and prestigious camps on the East Coast and you have an expectation accompanying your name. Freshman or not, a number one ranking was stamped on Shary before the team had even begun to prove itself.

To Coach Keith, the top ranking was ironic since his team the year before was a more veteran squad with more playing experience. This year’s team no longer had all-district point guard and captain, Fred Ramos, or Matt Ramirez or Brendan Quinn. Last year’s team finished fourth in district play and lost in bi-district to Laredo United.

Read more: Sharyland beginning to groove, overcoming distractions

For the second year in a row the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies are fighting for a playoff spot. Last year’s basketball team competed hard but still fell two places short of a playoff spot in District 32-4A. The one team ahead of them was Rio Grande City, tonight’s opponent a year later.

At just 2-6, the Rattlers’ chance of a postseason appearance is all but out of reach. However, for the Huskies every game counts, including tonights.  Currently tied for fourth but in a dead heat race with Edcouch-Elsa and Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Juarez is forced to beat the teams it is supposed to while pulling an upset here and there.

Read more: Big Six Friday Game of the Night: Rio Grande City at Juarez-Lincoln

Veterans Memorial High School senior JeNeva Jimenez just finished playing her final season of high school volleyball, where she led the Patriots to a 25-7, 16-2 season record, a second place finish in District 32-4A and a Bi-District appearance. In December, the district’s Offensive MVP as well as a second team All-Valley performer, decided to take her skills to the next level by signing with Lindenwood University in Belleville, Illinois. We were able to catch up with the outsider hitter to ask her about her future.

Ten Questions

Read more: “Big Six” Q&A with JeNeva Jimenez