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McALLEN — Alyssa Cantu’s skills were never in question going into her first year at McAllen Rowe. The freshman guard spent several years honing her skills against elite talent in AAU circuits prior to arriving on campus.
For Cantu, the biggest question during her debut campaign was where she’d fit among a deep Warriors lineup. After a few weeks or practice and tournaments, Cantu found her place, emerging as one of the Warriors’ top offensive threats.
By season’s end, she had cemented her place in the Warriors’ starting five, ranking third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game, while chipping in 4.3 assists and 3 steals.
Her contributions helped guide the Warriors to a 32-5 overall record, including a 14-0 record en route to the District 31-5A crown.
Cantu’s breakout campaign earns her The Monitor’s 2021-22 All-Area Girls Basketball Newcomer of the Year.
“It’s awesome. I’ve never gotten chosen for anything and it’s only my first year, so it was unexpected. But with hard work, everything falls into place,” Cantu said.
Cantu’s confidence grew once she found her role in the Warriors’ rotation, never shying away from any moment no matter how big.
During a District 31-5A contest against Sharyland Pioneer, Cantu went toe-to-toe with last year’s All-Area Player of the Year, Jordan Bravo, trading buckets with the senior combo guard during the second quarter. Cantu scored 10 of her team’s 17 points during the quarter, while Bravo netted 13.
The same game, Cantu came up with a pivotal steal with 50 seconds remaining, helping set up a pair of free throws to secure the victory.
“It took her a couple of weeks to get going,” McAllen Rowe head coach Alex Robles said. “Once she figured it out and realized she didn’t have to take all the shots she did in the past, it began to show the basketball player she could become, a full basketball player. Her defense was lights-out. She hit big 3s when we needed it. She made big shots when we needed them. Her growth throughout the year was an amazing thing to see.”
After finding her groove during the regular season, Cantu looked more comfortable in the postseason. During her playoff debut, Cantu finished second on the team in scoring, netting 11 points during a 60-23 blowout victory over Mercedes in the bi-district round.
In the second round, she nearly led a Warriors comeback, helping McAllen Rowe erase an 18-point deficit with a barrage of 3-pointers before falling 54-48. Cantu finished with a team-high 12 points that contest.
“My coach and my dad played a big part in my that,” Cantu said. “They always told me no matter how many shots I take, always shoot them with confidence even if I miss them.”
With one season under her belt, Cantu is ready to take the next step, hoping to play a bigger role during Year 2.
“I want to be a team leader,” she said. “I know the girls and I feel comfortable with them. I want to help them and be a role model to the girls coming up next year.”
