(Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO, TX—The Lady Bobcats continued to run roughshod against their district opponents and Tuesday night at home, the Progreso Lady Ants were the latest to fall victim by a 93-9 score.
The win improved Rio Hondo’s District 32-3A record to 3-0, and is now 9-1 on the year.
Four Lady Bobcats scored in double figures against the Lady Ants, including freshman Evan Ayala (23 points), freshman Carlie Rodriguez (19 points), junior Rhianna Villarreal (16 points), and junior Abby Atkinson (15 points).
Eight of nine players scored.
This week’s victory is similar to the wins the Lady Bobcats staged last month against district foes La Grulla (66-24) and IDEA Frontier College Prep (84-4). They are now on a four-game win streak that includes pounding the Raymondville Lady Bearkats, 72-40.
The loss against St. Joseph Academy, 58-42, is the lone blemish so far.
Rio Hondo Coach Victor Sauceda didn’t fret too much about the loss against the Brownsville private school, which has even defeated Class 6A schools.
“Playing against great programs like SJA helps us sharpen our basketball IQ; and, in turn, makes us play smarter and make better decisions,” Sauceda said. “They say you learn more from a loss than a win, learning to play with adversity builds character in these girls and will only help them down the road.”
Prior to the loss, among the teams the Lady Bobcats defeated were IDEA Edinburg College Prep (105-12), Brownsville Lopez (40-31), Port Isabel (61-25), IDEA Weslaco Pike (75-23), and the PSJA North JV team (84-16).
When Sauceda was asked how he measures his players even in convincing victories, he said: “I ask them to work on specific things during games to help us down the road. Incremental gains are our keys to success.”
Against Progreso, Rio Hondo played against a Lady Red Ant team that had trouble setting up offensive plays. Defensive presence was part of it as the Lady Bobcats had a 26-0 first quarter lead, and at halftime, 40-0.
When Progreso finally put the ball through the net, the scoreboard read 60-2.
Rio Hondo is comprised of three seniors and even more underclassmen.
“I have a group that has been committed to basketball as young girls, playing year round, and it’s coming to fruition this season,” Sauceda said. “They’re competing hard as a team, and they’re getting more comfortable with each other every day.”
The following are players on the 2024-25 Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats’ varsity team by jersey number, name, and classification: 1-Abby Atkinson, Junior; 3-Carlie Rodriguez, Freshman; 5-Evan Ayala, Freshman; 10-Jillianna Sauceda, Sophomore; 11-Victoria Garza, Senior; 12-Izabella Zuniga, Sophomore; 23-Rhianna Villarreal, Junior; 24-Samantha Flores, Sophomore; 30-Emily Molina, Senior; 32-Joselyn Gallegos, Senior.
Meanwhile, the Rio Hondo Bobcats traveled back home through a torrential downpour, but not before reigning down on the Progreso Red Ants, 67-34.
The victory snapped a two-game losing streak, and gave Rio Hondo a 1-0 record in the District 32-3A standings.
Bobcats’ Coach Mike Alvarez said there were three players who scored in double figures, including Caleb Sandoval who scored 14 points, and Devon Garcia and Michael Lopez, each with 10 points.
The Bobcats also evened their record to 4-4.
Rio Hondo’s two-game losing streak came against Mission Pioneer (51-43) and London (47-28).
The team’s other victories came against Lasara (73-42), IDEA Frontier College Prep (82-37), and San Perlita (48-31).
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