Vela hosts Pioneer in basketball doubleheader
Tuesday night at Robert Vela High School, the Vela Sabercats hosted an eventful basketball doubleheader against the Pioneer Diamondbacks. The evening kicked off with a showdown between the Lady Sabercats and the Lady Diamondbacks followed by the boys’ teams taking the court.
Lady Diamondbacks vs Lady Sabercats
Progress Times photo by Joe Vela
The first place Lady Diamondbacks took on the third place Lady Sabercats in a game that lived up to the expectations. The Diamondbacks started strong, with Anika Fleischmann and Ebonie Chatman sparking an early 14-7 lead in the first quarter. The Sabercats responded with defensive pressure, allowing GG Betancourt and the Sabercats to claw their way back into contention. By halftime, the Diamondbacks held a slim 25-23 lead over the Sabercats.
The Sabercats came out firing in the second half. They quickly tied the game and then took a six-point lead, 35-29. The Diamondbacks stayed composed. Behind a lockdown defensive effort, they trimmed the deficit to one point entering the fourth quarter. A three-pointer on the Diamondbacks first possession shifted momentum and the team never looked back. They went on an 18-5 run in the fourth quarter to put them over the Sabercats with contributions from Kassandra Garcia, Vyannhe Cranford, and Natalia Gonzalez. The Lady Diamondbacks would then seal the victory by a final score of 52-40.
Diamondbacks’ Kassandra Garcia finished with 12 points. Vyannhe Cranford finished with 12 points. Ebonie Chatman finished with ten points. Anika Fleischmann finished with nine points. Natalia Gonzalez finished with seven points and Danica Gonzalez finished with two points.
After the game, Kassandra Garcia talked to Progress Times about her team’s chemistry and growth this season, “All the practices, all the hard work, all the time spent working with each other and building the chemistry. We lost a lot of seniors last year, and this year we’ve been building with a younger group.” Garcia continued, “I try my best to put my teammates in good situations to score or move the ball the best that I can. Not everyone is perfect, but we’re trying to get there.” Tonight, the girls will be at home for their next matchup against the PSJA Memorial Wolverines.
Head coach Nicole Sandoval highlighted the team’s increased intensity in the second half of the game, “We needed to apply more pressure. They [the Lady Sabercats] were able to get to the basket easily. We had to have some sense of urgency.”
She credited a pivotal loss earlier in the season against the Sabercats as a turning point for the season. “After that loss, the dynamic in our practices changed. It hasn’t come from the coaching staff. It’s coming from the girls. They said, ‘We’re not losing again.’” Since that opening loss, the Lady Diamondbacks have gone 8-0 and sit atop District 31-5A, tied with the PSJA North Raiders, also at 8-1.
Diamondbacks vs Sabercats
Progress Times photo by Joe Vela
The boys’ matchup featured an electrifying duel between Sabercats’ Jordan Bustamante and Diamondbacks’ Muhamed Shaath. The Diamondbacks started strong with Shaath leading his team to a 22-16 first-quarter lead. However, the Sabercats turned the tide in the second quarter fueled by Bustamante’s standout play. They outscored Pioneer 20-8 to take a 36-30 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Sabercats took control. The Diamondbacks could not repeat the success they found in the first quarter. Despite a few Pioneer runs, the Sabercats defense and efficient scoring proved to be too much. The Sabercats capped off their dominant second half with a 17-point fourth quarter to secure a 63-44 win.
Diamondbacks’ Muhamed Shaath finished with 22 points. Dustin Duty finished with eight points. Gael Resenez finished with four points, William Goodloe finished with four points, Nathan Reyes finished with three points, Matthew Maldonado finished with two points and Adrian Bautista finished with one point.
After the game Muhamed Shaath talked to Progress Times about his team’s resilience and focus heading into the second half of district play, “We prepare hard in every practice. We played hard today but didn’t execute this time. We have a good game coming up and want to dominate.” The boys will be at home for their next game tonight against the PSJA Memorial Wolverines.
District Standings
Following Tuesday’s slate of games in District 31-5A girls basketball, the Lady Diamondbacks atop of the standings. The Diamondbacks, aiming for their second consecutive district championship, are in a prime position to achieve that goal. They are tied for first place with the PSJA North Raiders, followed by the Vela Sabercats in third and the Memorial Mustangs in fourth. Just behind them are the Sharyland Rattlers in fifth place. The Rattlers, coming off a tough loss to the Mustangs, are still in contention for a playoff berth. A strong second round of district play could pencil in the Rattlers for a postseason run.
In District 30-5A, the Lady Palmview Lobos hold the top spot as they look to build on last season’s historic first ever district championship. They are followed by the Nixon Mustangs, Cigarroa Toros, and Martin Tigers. The teams from Laredo have demonstrated their dominance this season, but the Mission Eagles and Veterans Memorial Patriots are not far behind. The Eagles are currently one seed out of the playoffs in fifth place while the Patriots sit in seventh and are working to climb the standings.
In District 31-6A, the Weslaco Lady Panthers are in first place, followed by the Edinburg Bobcats, Edinburg North Cougars, and PSJA Bears. The district, which features six teams, has the La Joya Coyotes and Economedes Jaguars currently outside of playoff contention. Despite that, there’s still plenty of games left to play, so the Coyotes could still make a push for a postseason spot.