Boys Basketball Preview: Avila returns to lead McHi

The target on J.J. Avila’s back gets bigger every year. In fact, the target hangs on the entire McAllen High Bulldogs team for that matter.

After Roy Swift took over for the 2006-07 season, McHi basketball would never be the same. In a good way, as the Bulldogs won their first district title in 26 years upon Swift’s arrival, then repeated last season behind the play of Avila, arguably the best all-around player in the Valley the past couple of seasons.

Avila and the Bulldogs return in 2009-10 looking for the three-peat. To accomplish that feat, it’ll have to be done without key players such as Cory Pace and Hutton Edwards, who have been lost to graduation. Both were key cogs in the Bulldogs success the past couple of seasons.

McHi will also be with out the services of Nick Garza, a standout football player on the Bulldogs football team. Garza, who’s UTSA-bound to play football, is out indefinitely after having calf surgery toward the end of the Bulldogs’ football season.

So it’s Avila’s turn to shine, but he’s got help in the form of senior guard Nevin Franks, who doesn’t have ideal size but plays and sees the court like past All-Valley MVP Uriel Segura of Weslaco High.

Then there’s the tall, lanky but tough Ryan Evans.

Other seniors like Joey Pompa and Julio Oyervides played a lot of minutes last year and will be in the mix with Avila and the boys as the ’Dogs go for triple.

"We’re anxious to get started," Avila said. "There’s a lot of expectations from everybody but there’s also a lot of expectations from ourselves. We’ve got a lot of experience and I hope we can go good this season."

McHi reached the Region IV-5A tournament for the second straight season last year but came up short to Converse Wagner. It was one of those games for the Bulldogs — nothing went right early and it never got better.

"We’re always talking to each other and getting after each other at practice," Avila said. "Especially when we don’t do the little things right. We know those are the little things that are going to come back and bite you."

Avila said the team’s chemistry gets better every year. And while he’d love to go out with McHi on top, he knows there’s a solid foundation in place for years to come.

Even the community’s bought into the team’s success. Gyms fill to capacity and resemble college scenes when the Bulldogs are in town. The top draw is Avila.

"It’s awesome," Avila said. "We get big crowds and everyone has huge expectations for us. But we also can’t concern ourselves with the expectations of others. We have our goals and we just have to practice and play 100 percent every time."

DENSON LEADS GOLDEN EAGLES

From Roy Garcia to Robert Capello, coaching legends are at a premium in the Rio Grande Valley.

There’s plenty in the making. PSJA North’s Jaime Gongora comes to mind, as does Santa Rosa’s Johnny Cipriano.

But if it’s made legends you want, San Benito’s Garcia and Edcouch-Elsa’s Capello are on top of list, along with Hanna’s Don Denson.

Denson has recorded more than 600 wins as coach of the Eagles, and he’s looking for a few more as he enters his 31st season at the helm of the program.

"Each year is a new challenge and I really enjoy it," Denson said. "It’s really rewarding working with the kids and seeing them develop each season."

As Denson prepares for the start of the 20009-10 season, he’s got three pretty goods cagers waiting to take aim at the District 32-5A crown.

Mario Castañeda, a first-team all-district selection one year ago, leads the trio of returning starters for Denson, and Anthony Garza, who had a breakout season for the football team at receiver, was also a first-team selection a last season.

Castañeda and Garza are joined by junior Ryan Jordan, last season’s newcomer of the year. Hanna enters the season ranked No. 4 in the Valley Freedom Newspapers’ preseason top 10 poll and also are favorites to win the 32-5A crown.

"Each year you work hard for that success, and each year it’s different," Denson said. "But when it comes down to it, you can only take it one game at a time. There’s a lot of outstanding team in 32-5A. It’s a highly competitive district. And winning a district championship for anyone is going to tough."

Denson said last year’s success, a second-place finish, will go a long way in helping the Eagles reach their goals in 2009-10.

"We did well last season and we know what it takes," Denson said. "We’ve got some experience back and that’s always good."

Denson said the football team’s winning ways might even be a good sign of things to come during basketball. Hanna won the 32-5A football crown this season.

"You know when football does well everyone does well," Denson said. "We’ve got a lot of great athletes at Hanna. And if we can pick up two or three more players off the football team, that’ll only help."

WARRIORS RETURN TALENTED TEAM

Theirs was like a fairy tale last year.

They were the Hoosiers of the Valley.

For one week, the Santa Rosa Warriors were on top the world.

After defeating UC-Randolph in the Region IV-2A finals, the Warriors moved on to play in the state tournament.

It was the first time for a Valley team since Roma did it two straight years from 1975-77.

The Warriors season ended in Austin against Ponder that cold and wet early March morning.

But out of the despair of magical season ending arose an unwavering desire to go back.

Only one of the starters graduated. The other four are back along with arguably the Valley's best sixth man.

Mark Cordero, Dario Mendoza, Rick Cavazos, Ruben Lopez and Aaron Ramirez all shared in a moment in Valley basketball history.

And as the 2009-10 season gets under way this week, the Warriors Fab Five are ready to do it again.

"A lot of people are expecting a lot out of us," head coach Johnny Cipriano said. "We put a target on our backs. We just have to stay disciplined, play together and keep that team chemistry."

Chemistry might be a concern of Cipriano's. Talent shouldn't.

Cordero was the Valley's fifth-leading scorer last season with an average of 18.9 points per game.

The shifty guard also led the Valley in steals with 6.8 per game and was among the valley leaders in rebounds (6.3) and steals (4.3).

The rest of the Fab Five were among the Valley leaders as well.

Mendoza scored 16.6 per game with 3.5 steals and 2.8 assists an outing.

Lopez scored 11.5 per game to go with his8.4 rebounds per contest and 3.7 steals per game.

And Ramirez? Well the superb cager played one of is best games in the state semifinal against Ponder.

Ramirez scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two blocks.

The 6-foot-4 forward is definitely the future of the Warriors.

But they still have to play the games first. And Cipriano doesn't expect anything handed to them just because they're the defending Region IV champs.

"The kids have a good attitude," Cipriano said. "All I can do is coach them and try and get better every game."

Eladio Jaimez covers boys basketball for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 430-6285 or via e-mail at eladioj@valleystar.com.

Valley Freedom Newspapers’ Preseason Top 10

1. Santa Rosa

2. McAllen High

3. Edinburg High

4. Brownsville Hanna

5. Harlingen South

6. McAllen Rowe

7. Mission Veterans

8. Harlingen High

9. Mercedes

10. PSJA North

10 other Rio Grande Valley players to watch

Nevin Franks, McAllen High

Aaron Olvera, Edinburg High

Rico Herrera, Harlingen South

Mack Sanchez, Harlingen High

Ben Gonzalez, Mission Veterans

Anthony Garza, Brownsville Hanna

Albert Chavez, Mercedes

Raul Villarreal, McAllen Rowe

Chris Preciado, San Benito

Alex Aleman, PSJA North