The 2018 Texas high school basketball playoffs begin next week. District 32-6A proved to be one of the toughest districts in the Valley this season followed by district 31-6A. The two districts will meet Tuesday in the bi-district round.
Despite injuries and loss, Cards clinch playoff berth: After missing the postseason last year, Big Red qualified for the big dance on Tuesday even though they fell to Brownsville Rivera in their regular-season finale.
The Cards ended the season with a 9-5 District 32-6A record and enter the playoffs as the fourth seed. They travel will now face Edinburg North in a Class 6A bi-district round game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Edinburg.
The Cards are hoping to get the services of Jeremy Vasquez and Rene Castillo back into the starting lineup. Matthew Sesler returned to the lineup last Friday and also played in Tuesday’s game.
Junior Michael Arellano has provided the spark in the Cardinals offense all season long as he averaged 19 points per game this year and is looking to build off a 27-point performance against Rivera.
Hawks just miss out on postseason: Harlingen South coach Brian Molina is in unfamiliar territory.
In his 19-year coaching career, he had never missed the playoffs. That is until now.
Molina spent seven years as an assistant at Weslaco High before taking the head coaching gig at South, and for the first time in his 12 years as South’s coach, the Hawks failed to qualify for the playoffs.
“It’s bittersweet because anytime you win 20-plus games you’re expected to make the playoffs,” he said. “We didn’t meet our expectations and having this group for the last four years, it’s hard to say goodbye. I’m really proud of what they did here at South and the legacy they left behind.”
Despite not making the playoffs, the Hawks finished with a respectable 8-6 league record. The Hawks will lose a core of seniors in Aaron Briones, Chanz Love, Sean Turrubiates and Brandon Bennett. However, the Hawks will bring back sharp shooter Grant Lowery and big man Brady Bennett.
Lyford, San Perlita preparing for postseason: Lyford will wrap up the regular season with a matchup against Edinburg IDEA Quest on Friday. If Lyford is able to pick up a win, the Dogs will play Santa Gertrudis in the bi-district round at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Bishop High School.
Meanwhile, San Perlita claimed the outright District 32-2A title with a perfect 8-0 league record and will now play Monday at Kingsville High against Benavides with the tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m.
