Tournament champs — The Rio Hondo Lady ’Cats are shown after winning the Lyford Tournament last weekend. Players in numerical order are Abigail Atkinson (1), Klarissa Padilla (2), Carlie Rodriguez (3), Evan Ayala (5), Ximena Gonzalez (10), Jillianna Sauceda (11), Erin Ayala (15), Izabella Zuniga (21), Rhianna Villarreal (23), and Samantha Flores (24). (Courtesy photo/Lady Bobcat Basketball)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
SANTA ROSA, TX—The Rio Hondo Lady ’Cats won their second of two basketball tournaments, exacting revenge against the Lyford Lady Bulldogs last weekend.
It was a form of revenge because Lyford was the only team to defeat Rio Hondo in a title game late last month by 10 points at a Santa Rosa High School tournament.
At Lyford High School, the host team squandered that opportunity as the Lady ’Cats won, 57-48.
Sophomore Carlie Rodriguez was named tournament Most Valuable Player, and teammates, sophomore Evan Ayala and senior Abby Atkinson, were on the All-Tournament Team. Rodriguez scored 24 points against Lyford, with Ayala adding 21 points.
To advance to the title game, Rio Hondo beat La Villa (49-38), Harlingen JV (60-35), and then Zapata (51-50) in the tournament semi-final. In the latter game, Rodriguez scored 30 points, with Ayala contributing 15 points.
“The girls played together and overcame some adversity throughout the tournament and found a way to get it done,” Rio Hondo Head Coach Victor Sauceda said. “I am really excited and proud of the progress we have made throughout the season and look forward to seeing how much we grow from the experience.”
Rio Hondo improved to 12-1 on the season and began district play at home against IDEA Frontier, Tuesday.
The Rio Hondo Bobcat Basketball Team, meanwhile, lost three of four games at the Hidalgo Tournament last weekend. They have played only a few games, with just six games under their belts so far, and hold a 2-4 record.
At the tournament, the Bobcats’ lone win was against the Donna North Chiefs, 65-39.
They lost to Vanguard Academy Beethoven, 54-43. Their other close losses were to the Edinburg Economedes Jaguars, 38-35, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Bears, 45-36.
Rio Hondo played a non-district game away against the Mercedes Tigers on Tuesday.
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