McHi tabbed the Rio Grande Valley's No. 1 boys team

McALLEN - McAllen head coach Roy Swift remembers the ride back from the Region IV-5A tournament last spring.

A feeling of disbelief filled the bus that day.

Disbelief that a memorable and magical season was over.

But along with the disbelief there was a glimmer of hope.

Aahh hope.

It's hope that always keeps dreams and goals alive.

It's hope that motivates and inspires people or teams to keep going or to strive for one more shot.

And hope is exactly what best describes the 2008-09 McAllen Bulldogs.

Entering the season, no other team seems more likely to return to the regional tournament in San Antonio than Swift's Bulldogs - at least on paper.

And Swift knows there's a certain level of expectations on his team from more than just themselves.

"We want to make a statement," said Swift, in his third season with the Bulldogs. "When we went to regionals last year, we knew we'd be back because we played with so many sophomores and juniors then. We're looking to get back there but at the same time you have to keep the whole season in perspective.

"You have the tournament season, non-district and then district. But we have to be ready to play. And if you approach it like that, everything falls into place."

DISTRICT 30-5A: there's McAllen and then there's everyone else in this district.
The Bulldogs' 6-foot-6, junior J.J. Avila is probably the best all-around hoopster coming back from this season and he leads a team of good-sized talent.
Senior forward Corey Pace (6-3) and junior guard Nick Garza (6-3) compliment Avila very well.
Garza might be the strongest player on the team.
Swift doesn't have a player under 6-3 this season and feels that size advantage will play a huge factor in the teams' success.
"We're probably the tallest team in South Texas," Swift said. "The sky's the limit we'll know more after our first game but right now the kids are ready to get back to work."
McAllen Rowe and McAllen Memorial will be much improved and ready to challenge the Bulldogs for the league title.
Sharyland is always strong and Rio Grande City could be a sleeper this season.
Donna, La Joya and La Joya Palmview should bring up the rear end of 30-5A.
>>District champion: McAllen

DISTRICT 31-5A: this is a district of change.
At least in the coaching ranks.
Edinburg, PSJA Memorial and PSJA all have new coaches but they're familiar faces.
The biggest storyline in this district might be who's not on the court when the season starts this week.
Longtime Edinburg head coach Joe Filoteo stepped down as the Running Bobcats head coach to take over as athletic director.
Former longtime assistant Zeke Cuellar took over as head coach and will lead a very talented Edinburg team this season.
In San Juan, Roy Garcia II takes over as Bears head coach after a short but successful stint at Raymondville.
The son of the legendary Roy Garcia is no stranger to hoops and looks forward to rebuilding a proud Bear program.
In Alamo, former Harlingen standout and assistant coach Jimmy Jauregi gets his first shot as head coach.
When Gus Cavazos took the football coach at Memorial, Jauregi was one of the first he contacted for the basketball gig and Jauregi took the offer.
But Jauregi faces a touch challenge as the district is littered with amazing talent.
Aside from Cuellar's Edinburg squad, look for Harlingen South and PSJA North to be as strong as last year if not stronger.
Look for Edinburg's Jaime Acuna, PSJA North's Adrian Rodriguez and Harlingen South's Joseph Bedford to be among the district's top players this season.
South also picked up Rico Herrera, last year's All-Valley newcomer of the year, this offseason. Herrera transferred from Rio Hondo.
At Harlingen, Greg Yates saw his top player in Michael Cantu transfer to Calallen during the offseason.
But Yates still has plenty of talent back in 2007-08 newscomer of the year Alejandro Pallares, D.J. Nieto, Rick Elizondo and Mack Sanchez were also key to the Cards last season.
Edinburg North and Economedes will also compete for playoff spots.
>>District champion: PSJA North

DISTRICT 32-5A: can you say dogfight
That's exactly what 32-5A will be like come late January and into February.
Brownsville Hanna returned to glory last year as district champ but there won't be a clear cut favorite this time around.
Hanna and legendary head coach Don Denson are definitely in the hunt with guys like Mario Castaneda and Javier Villarreal back.
But so will everyone else.
Weslaco seems to be one of the more talented teams returning with senior Marcus Cabrera, Danny Ryan and Eddie Cantu back for their third season varsity.
>>District champion: Weslaco

DISTRICT 32-4A: Roma head coach Homer Garr has the Gladiators ready to roll again this season.
Roma has had success this summer during some of the summer tournaments its participated in and that success looks to run into the regular season.
Roma had one of the strongest junior classes last year with guys like Tyler Garcia (6-4), Julio Garcia (6-2) and Cornelio Alvarez (6-5) leading the way.
Of course the Gladiator will have some stiff competition from traditional favorites like Mission Veterans and Edcouch-Elsa.
>>District champion: Roma

DISTRICT 32-3A: a couple of old favorites join the party this season with a really old friend coming along too.
Raymondville and Lyford are back in 32-3A along with traditional power Zapata.
The eight-team league figures to be just as competitive during basketball as it was in football.
Rio Hondo lost Herrera, who transferred to Harlingen South and will be wearing the target as defending champs.
Look for Port Isabel and Hidalgo to compete for the league title.
Lyford and head caoch Ruben Zambrano also return five lettermen from last season's playoff team
Raymondville is under new leadership as Steve Cantu took over for Garcia II.
Some players to watch in the district include Raymondville's Skylore Janes, Lyford's C.J. Moreno, Joshua Perez, Rio Hondo and Hidalgo's James Rubalcava.
>>District champion: Lyford.

SUB-3A: just because they don't have the numbers like the big schools doesn't mean they don't have the talent.
For years Class 2A Santa Rosa has been one of the premiere programs in the Valley and this season is no different.
Santa Rosa will compete with traditional powers like Premont and Hebbronville.
In Class A, Division I, Santa Maria has had some success in recent years too. Kingsville Academy and La Villa should put up the biggest fight.
And San Isidro has been strong in Class A, Division II.
Not much should change this season.
>>District champion: Class 2A: Santa Rosa; Class A, Division I: Santa Maria; Class A, Division II: San Isidro.

Eladio Jaimez covers boys basketball for Valley Freedom Newspapers.

RGV Top 10

1. Mcallen
2. Roma
3. PSJA North
4. Edinburg
5. Weslaco
6. Brownsville Hanna
7. Los Fresnos
8. Harlingen South
9. Edcouch-Elsa
10. Lyford