At V.F. Neuhaus Gym Tuesday night, Mission High School honored two coaches who both retired last year after having spent 16 years working side by side as the head coach and assistant coach of the Lady Eagles basketball team, Rene G. Garza and Lucy Guerra.

Read more: Mission High honors coaches Garza and Guerra

Lady Patriots’ Briana Casas gets control of a rebound away from the Lady Rattlers’ Monica Salinas. Progress Times photo by Luciano GuerraWith eight seniors on last year’s squad, the 2011-2012 Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) Lady Patriots were as experienced as they come. Their 16-2 record earned them second place in District 32-4A and a bi-district playoff berth against Corpus Christi Moody. Unfortunately, Moody defeated VMHS 51-47 to bring their senior-packed season to a sudden end.

With so many starters having graduated last year, Lady Patriots’ fans will have lots of new players to cheer for this season. For VMHS Head Girls Basketball Coach, Rafael Cantu Jr., the challenge will be to prepare a mostly young and inexperienced group of girls for varsity level play.

Read more: Lady Patriots prepare for district action

The cold, steady rain that fell at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco may have been falling on both sides of the field, but by the end of the first quarter it must have felt colder and wetter to the Harlingen Cardinals than to the Sharyland Rattlers.

Sharyland struck hard and often, scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the opening period of the 5A Division 1 area playoff game last Friday evening. As the evening progressed, so did the lopsided score with Coach Ron Adame’s Rattlers hammering the Cardinals with a 42-2 victory.

Read more: Rattlers rain on Cardinals’ parade, advance in playoffs

MISSION – In the midst of Sharyland’s Class 5A Division I football playoff run, senior quarterback and pitcher/catcher Tres Barrera signed a letter of intent to play baseball at The University of Texas-Austin next year.

“It’s incredible, all my friends, family, coaches and teachers, they’ve backed me up all the way,” said Barrera after the signing at Sharyland’s Main Gym. “It’s been a great experience.”

Read more: Sharyland baseball standout Tres Barrera signs with UT-Austin

Sharyland’s Christian Martinez breaks into the open field after making a reception during the first quarter of the Rattlers’ 72-30 bi-district playoff game victory over Laredo United. Progess Times photo by Bill LeidnerMISSION – All season long Sharyland dreamed of getting some payback against Laredo United for their quick exit from the playoffs last season, and they got what they wanted.

The Rattlers crushed the Longhorns 72-30 in their Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff game to advance to the area round of the postseason against Harlingen on Friday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Rattler Stadium.

Read more: Rattlers get redemption; Crush Laredo United in bi-district, ready for Harlingen in area round

Significance of Game: 5A Division I Area Football Play-Off Game
Teams Involved: Sharyland Rattlers vs Harlingen Cardinals
Home Team: Sharyland Rattlers
Date of Game: Friday November 23rd, 2012
Site of Game: Weslaco ISD “Bobby Lackey Stadium”
Start Time of Game: 7:30 p.m.
Gates will Open at: 5:45 p.m.

Read more: Sharyland Div. 1 Area Playoff Game tickets and details