Hoopers’ Hopes

Coyotes and Huskies look to build identities

 

 

As the RGV high school basketball season ramps up, teams across the Valley are building on past success and forging new pathways to victory. Every team hopes those efforts result in championship success. Two teams, the La Joya Coyotes and Juarez-Lincoln Huskies are the opposite ends of that spectrum, one an established power and the other an emerging program aiming to break the glass ceiling.

 

Last Friday night, the La Joya Coyotes defeated the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys’ basketball team in an intra-district competition, winning 64-30. The road victory was the Coyotes’ third of the year, ending a two-game losing skid after close defeats to the Nikki Rowe Warriors and Sharyland Rattlers in consecutive contests. The victory comes at a crucial juncture in the Coyotes’ season, as they struggle to remain afloat in their non-district schedule ahead of district play next month. The Huskies, on the other hand, are still searching for a breakthrough, especially amid the controversial departure of their former head coach this past offseason.

 

After establishing themselves as perennial contenders on the 6A RGV basketball scene thanks to three consecutive playoff appearances, the Coyotes are forming a new identity as they pick up the pieces following the graduation of star players like PG Daniel Trevino and front-court contributors Hunter Morales and Santiago Vera. On Friday night, one holdover from their prestige era, athletic big man Aydin Wilder-Bey was a driving force in the Coyotes’ demolition of the rival Huskies. He, along with guard Anthony Romero, stretch four Owen Benoit, and lead guard Dante Perez combined to give the Coyotes the edge over the fledgling Huskies.

 

“Any win is always important for kids and confidence. Any win we can get, we’ll take and build from that and keep getting better. That’s just how we look at it,” Coyotes’ head coach Eric Montalvo said following his team’s victory.

 

 

The Coyotes’ quartet finished with 53 of the team’s 64 total points, with Wilder-Bey and Benoit leading the way by scoring 20 and 16 points, respectively. After a somewhat slow first-quarter start, the Coyotes dominated the Huskies and pulled away to end the first half thanks to Wilder-Bey’s athleticism in transition. He took over where Romero left off and widened the Coyotes’ lead before the half. His ability to take advantage of cross-matches in transition and finish over/power through smaller defenders fueled the Coyotes to a 15-9 closing first-half run.

 

“Owen Benoit shot the ball well. Aydin is a force on the block. And we got our point guard back today for the first game. He did well trying to push the ball and passing the ball ahead like we like to play. So, we’re just going to continue getting better,” Montalvo said about his top performers.

 

Benoit scored 9 of the Coyotes’ 17 third-quarter points by drilling a trio of three-pointers. Benoit’s ability to stretch the floor created much-needed space for the Coyotes to operate in the half-court as each successive three-pointer demoralized the opposition.

 

 

“It feels good to get a win with my brothers. We put in a lot of work during practice, so when it pays off, it feels good. We’re practicing very, very hard and trying to give our fans what they come to see. We’re going to progress throughout the season and hopefully get some more wins,” Benoit said.

 

As the Coyotes get healthier and re-acclimate key football players like Perez and Benoit, their success should increase. Despite losing to the Los Fresnos Falcons on Tuesday night, the Coyotes are focused on maintaining the standard of success they’ve become synonymous with over the past three seasons. The Coyotes will begin their district schedule on January 16, traveling to face the formidable Edinburg North Cougars.

 

“Got some guys back from injury and from football, so we’re just trying to get them going. The expectation is always to win the district, get into the playoffs, and win in the playoffs. We’re a program now where people don’t take us lightly. They know we’re gonna come ready to play. The expectation is always the same. Win, win at a high level, and get after it every game,” Montalvo said about his squad’s progress and the expectations in the future.

 

Juarez-Lincoln may not have won, but there’s a lot to like about this year’s Huskies squad. Lanky forward Erick Sanchez and aggressive point guard Carlos Nieto carried the Huskies all night with persistent perimeter defensive pressure and tough playmaking in transition and in the half-court. Nieto finished with a team-high eight points while Sanchez chipped in an additional 7 points. Under first-year head coach Rene Gonzalez, the duo will be crucial to carrying the Huskies to places they’ve never been.

 

 

“It’s a process. It’s a lot of teaching and coaching. So, I’m just laying down the foundation with these kids. The main thing is to try to compete in games. I gave them two words. One word is in practice: how to grind in practice and work hard. Nothing is given; everything is earned. Everything starts in practice. In games, we have to learn how to compete. They’ve never had an intense and passionate coach like me, but they understand what I’m trying to do with them,” Gonzalez said about his early efforts to establish a new culture with the Huskies.

 

The Huskies are focused on fundamentals and on increasing their basketball IQ as they grow under their new head coach. Aside from creating offense off the dribble, the Huskies’ coaching staff will emphasize effort and making the right basketball plays as Gonzalez molds his squad into a contender. A contender that doesn’t just win games on the court, but one that practices the lessons basketball teaches off the court as well. The Huskies are currently 1-9 ahead of their first district game Tuesday against the Laredo Cigarroa Toros.

 

“They’ve got a lot to learn, but that’s what I’m here for. God brought me to Juarez-Lincoln for a reason. Not only to teach them about basketball, but to teach them about life. The boys are willing to learn, and they’re very coachable. They wanna learn the game of basketball. They’re hungry,” Gonzalez said.