Big 7 teams looking for improvement in ’17-’18

District action tipped off on the hardwood Tuesday night for the six 30-6A girls’ basketball teams and so begins the race to secure a playoff spot. Here’s a look at how the Big 7 teams in 30-6A stack up against their competition.

Palmview Lady Lobos

The Palmview Lady Lobos, who finished third in 30-6A last season, are back and reloaded with a talented group with big game experience. The Lady Lobos (11-8, 1-0) and Head Coach Anisa Reyna have qualified for the playoffs three straight seasons, but this year, they’re after a district title.

“Every year we’re chasing the district championship, this is the year to get it done,” Reyna said. “We’re very ambitious. We don’t get a lot of credit, which is fine, but we have our own goals and expectations of what we want done. It’s something we haven’t got done in the past and we’re trying to correct those wrongs for this year, as much as possible. This is the year to get it done with this group.”

Leading this year’s team is a pair of seniors and a pair of juniors who have helped make Palmview into a force in 30-6A girls’ hoops.

Senior post Cyndar Magallon and senior guard Brittany Cano provide Palmview with veteran leadership on the court, while junior guard Renee Flores and junior post Krystal Bocanegra have grown into consistent contributors.

Magallon was named First Team All-Defense and Second Team All-District for her play a season ago, and is averaging a double-double through 19 games this year. She poured in 20 points against McAllen High to lead the Lady Lobos to a 42-40 win in their district opener.

Flores was named First Team All-District for her ability to create offense for herself and the rest of the Lady Lobos. If this year’s team hopes to make a run at the district championship, it will lie on the shoulders of the group of four returners.

Palmview is back on the court tonight as they prepare to face off with the La Joya Lady Coyotes at 7:30 p.m. at Palmview High School.

La Joya Lady Coyotes

The Lady Coyotes (8-15, 0-1) tied for the final playoff spot in 30-6A a year ago, but missed out on the opportunity to take part in the postseason as they dropped a play-in game against Rowe, ending La Joya’s season.

This year, the Lady Coyotes are out to earn their way into the postseason led by a pair of seniors in Karina Casanova and Monica Garcia.

Casanova, a power forward, leads the Lady Coyotes in scoring, while Garcia, a guard/forward, leads La Joya in rebounds and steals. The combination of the two Second Team All-District players from a year ago gives the Lady Coyotes a dynamic duo on the court who can come up big when needed.

Junior point guard Giselle Villarreal will also be leaned upon to initiate the La Joya offense and set up Casanova, Garcia, and the other Lady Coyotes in their hunt for a playoff spot in 30-6A.

The Lady Coyotes dropped their district opener 54-47 to Nikki Rowe on Tuesday, but will be looking to right the ship when the take on Palmview at 7:30 tonight at Palmview High School.

Mission Lady Eagles

The Mission Lady Eagles have put non-district play in their rearview mirror and Head Coach Roy Garcia II has his team looking ahead and hoping to improve as District 30-6A action gets underway.

“I truly believe that if we come each and every night with the mentality of giving all-out effort, leaving everything on the floor from tip-off to final buzzer, that we’ll give ourselves a chance each game,” Garcia II said. “While improving each game during district, I believe we have a chance to sneak in to the playoffs.”

Sitting at 5-18, the Lady Eagles return seven players from last year’s squad, including five seniors.

Senior Brittney Garza enters her fourth year as a starter on varsity, while Ariel Sanchez, who just returned to the court from injury three games ago, begins her third season a starter. The duo earned Honorable Mention All-District honors a year ago, and are looking to build off that this season.

Garza is the team’s best post player, while Sanchez brings athleticism to the floor for the Lady Eagles. In addition to Garza and Sanchez, other valuable assets are seniors Ashley Sanchez and Jannet Moreno, and junior Natally Montoya. Garcia II said Ashley Sanchez has shown tremendous growth, while Moreno, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, brings an outside threat. Montoya rounds out the group with her toughness and grit on the defensive end of the floor.

The Lady Eagles open up district play tonight when they host McAllen High at 7:30 at Mission High School.

Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies

Last year was a struggle for the Lady Huskies, but this year’s team enters district action with confidence and belief in themselves that Juarez-Lincoln can compete within 30-6A.

Head Coach Adrian Treviño said a 53-47 win over La Joya earlier this season in tournament action and a district victory over Rowe last season has shown the Lady Huskies can play with 30-6A competition.

The Lady Huskies also dropped a tournament game against Rowe by just two points in November, and if Juarez-Lincoln hopes to make a run at a playoff spot, they must beat teams like Rowe, La Joya and Mission.

“I think beating Nikki Rowe last year in district has us believing that these things are possible,” Treviño said. “It gives me confidence in them, I know what I’ve seen from them. I think when we go into La Joya, when we go into Nikki Rowe, they’ll have it in their back pocket that they can beat these teams. That’s one thing this year’s team has over last year’s team, we’ve got more confidence and we’ve got more people to score points.”

Senior forward Diana Bustos was named an All-District Honorable Mention as a junior. Now, in her final year, Treviño said Bustos has come into her own as a difference maker and scoring threat all over the court as the Lady Huskies’ leading scorer.

Junior post Yolanda Hernandez was voted ‘Newcomer of the Year’ as a sophomore and returns to hold down the paint for Juarez-Lincoln with her presence down low and ability to lock up most rebounds.

The Lady Huskies will travel to take on Lyford in non-district play at 7:30 tonight at Lyford High School. The Lady Huskies will get their second taste of district action on Tuesday as they prepare to square off against Nikki Rowe at 7:30 p.m. at Rowe High School.