By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO, TX—For the sixth consecutive season, the Lady ’Cats’ Varsity Basketball Team clinched a district title.
As is customary after the game, Rio Hondo Head Coach Victor Sauceda allowed the Lady ’Cats to cut down the net as a reminder of the incredible feat. The district clincher came in a 69-29 victory over the Santa Rosa Lady Warriors at home.
Rio Hondo went undefeated following 14 games in District 32-3A play, with two remaining.
Following the victory, RHHS improved to 25-1 on the season and was ranked No. 1 in the Texas Girls Coaches’ Association state poll.
Coach Sauceda let one player at a time climb a ladder and cut a piece of the net – seniors first, followed by juniors and sophomores.
“It’s been a true blessing being district champs all my four years; I couldn’t have asked for a better coach and great teammates,” senior Abigail Atkinson said following her 23-point game.
Atkinson also drained five three-pointers.
Teammate sophomore Carlie Rodriguez added 28 points and continued to show her prowess as the team’s leading scorer by average.
Over two years on the varsity team, there is pressure to continue a championship tradition she saw in middle school.
The victory over Santa Rosa was last Friday, and on Tuesday, in an away district game, RHHS handled the Raymondville Lady Bearkats easily as well.
In fact, RHHS, in both of its second games against Santa Rosa and Raymondville, posted much wider margins of victory due to its defense.
The Lady ’Cats won 73-45 after winning the first time by four points. Santa Rosa fell to RHHS by 14 points the first time, as compared to 40 the second go-round.
“I’ve seen what it takes to keep the streak going and winning to give us these titles,” Rodriguez said. “Coach Sauceda helps us play as a team and do the best that we can. He plays a big part in all of this.”
Among the players on the district championship team in numerical order are: Abigail Atkinson (1), Klarissa Padilla (2), Carlie Rodriguez (3), Evan Ayala (5), Ximena Gonzalez (10), Jilliana Sauceda (11), Erin Ayala (15), Izabella Zuniga (21), and Rhianna Villarreal (23).
The Rio Hondo Bobcats, meanwhile, kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Raymondville Bearkats, 45-41, at home on Tuesday.
The win improved their District 32-3A record to 8-6, ahead of Raymondville (7-7), but the Bobcats remain fifth with four games remaining.
The top four teams advance to the postseason.
Both San Benito basketball teams didn’t compete Tuesday, but have important District 32-6A games at Brownsville Veterans Memorial on Friday.
The Greyhounds are still winless in district after four games. And last Friday, had the dubious honor of allowing the Los Fresnos Falcons to score 101 points a second time. SBHS scored 65 points last week and, early in the season, scored 55 points in tournament play.
They will have played four times this year, twice in district and twice during tournaments.
The Falcons (4-1) are fighting for the top district spot against the Harlingen Cardinals (5-0).
The Lady Greyhounds will try to bounce back from a 39-36 loss to the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons last Friday.
SBHS is 3-3 in district play, ranked fourth, and will clinch a playoff berth.
The Brownsville Hanna Lady Eagles are 0-6 and mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
Still, SBHS is tied for second with Veterans Memorial and Los Fresnos, each at 3-3.
Harlingen is first with a clean 6-0 record.
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