The First Family of Rio Grande Valley Hoops

Santa Rosa's Ruben Vela III uses solid work ethic to garner success

By ELADIO JAIMEZ
eladioj@valleystar.com
956-430-6285

Ruben Vela III already had talent, drive, a competitive spirit and a great work ethic.
Add a little motivation and the Santa Rosa senior was destined for greatness.
And in the Rio Grande Valley, Vela was pretty great.
Vela was the Valley's leading scorer averaging 27 points per game in 35 games this season.
In 12 District 32-2A games, Vela's average went up to an average of 31 points per game.
Vela got criticized all season for playing on the 2A Santa Rosa Warriors.
He couldn't possibly be as good as other players from across the Valley? At least that's what many thought.
As it turned out, he was. He was the best, actually, according to the Valley Morning Star as Vela earned the VMS' Most Valuable Player honors on the 2007-08 All-Valley basketball team.
"It means a lot," Vela said. "I worked hard over the summer. It seems like too many people don't pay attention to us because we're a small school. So that pushed me to work harder."
And small school or not, Santa Rosa produces quality cagers year in and year out.
Vela is the fourth Warriors hoopster to win All-Valley MVP honors and joins the likes of Anthony Romero (2004-05), Placido Ayala (1993-94) and Martin Salinas (1989-90).
Despite the recognition, Santa Rosa still has its share of doubters. And now with the popularity of RGVsports.com, negative comments made about Santa Rosa basketball and Vela are more noticeable by fans across the Valley.
"No one gives us credit because we're just little Santa Rosa," Vela said. "But we practice just as hard as any big school. And we'll play anyone, any time."
All season long, Vela's critics downplayed the shooter's scoring noting the competition (other small schools).
But all that criticism and hating only fueled Vela, the Warriors and head coach Johnny Cipriano.
There's nothing the eighth-year head coach Cipriano can do about the district schedule.
That's where the Warriors belong and they play their games. This year, 11 resulting in a win.
But there are things Cipriano - a former All-Valley Coach of the Year in 2005-06 when Vela was a sophomore - can help.
And when it comes to non-district, Cipriano tries to play the bigger and better schools.
"We see them as big brother," Cipriano said. "We can play little brother all year and have a good record and then play little brother during district. But if we play big brother (during non-district) we're going to be more than ready to play little brother in district and we're going to dominate."
And that's what the Warriors and Vela did this season - even against the big schools.
Santa Rosa played five 5A schools six times this year and only won once. The Warriors beat Weslaco at the Sharyland tournament. Vela scored 28 points.
In other games against "big schools," Vela did just as well.
Vela scored 30 against San Antonio powerhouse Reagan High at the Keillor Classic in Harlingen. Vela also scored 30 in a game against Brownsville Porter. He scored 28 twice in games against Los Fresnos and 26 against San Benito in another game.
Vela averaged 29 points against 5A schools this season. Reagan, Los Fresnos and San Benito were playoff teams this season.
"Sometimes before a game, other teams would laugh because we were a small school," Vela said. "But once the game started, you could tell they were a little scared. That motivated all of us and showed we could play with anyone."
Vela's highlight this season came against Riviera when the senior scored 60 points in a 121-51 win against the Seahawks.
Vela is joined by five 5A ballers and one from 3A on the All-Valley first team.
Rio Hondo sophomore Rico Herrera averaged 22.8 points per game and 5.8 assists an outing to earn Newcomer of the Year.
Edward Casarez led Brownsville Hanna to one of the Eagles best season's in recent history and was in consideration for MVP honors.
Casarez averaged 17.2 points per game for Don Denson's group.
Harlingen South's Steven Garcia trailed Vela most of the season as the Valley's leading scorer.
Garcia finished the season averaging 24.2 points per game.
Edinburg's Esteban Arriola helped the Bobcats to a berth in the Region IV-5A tournament and a near upset of San Antonio Madison, 78-73.
McAllen sophomore J.J. Avila averaged 19.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. Avila helped the Bulldogs to their first district title in 26 years and first regional tournament appearance since 1996-97.
Finally, PSJA North's Neo Sanchez finishes a stellar career at North as the Raiders' all-time leading scorer with 2,181 points. Sanchez averaged 26 points per game this season.

Harlingen South's Bianca Torre wins second straight MVP award

By PAUL CONATZER
paulc@valleystar.com
956-430-6286

Bianca Torre has a gift.
Anybody who has seen the Harlingen South junior on the basketball court could tell you that.
And Torre herself knows she is good.
But she hasn't let the ability that allowed her to lead the Valley in three categories go to her head.
"God gave me a gift," she said. "So I try and play my best to give thanks."
So after a season in which playing her best resulted in Torre averaging 25.6 points a game, 8.6 assists a game and 11.2 steals a game and the Lady Hawks reaching the regional semifinals, it should be no surprise that Torre is the 2007-08 MVP for the Valley Morning Star's All-Valley Girls basketball team.
It's the second straight MVP for Torre and the third appearance on the team for her.
However, she's quick to divert attention away from herself.
"Everything we did, we did as a team," she said. "We worked hard and we accomplished a lot. But, it would have been better if we had done more in the regional semifinal."
After romping through the season, the Lady Hawks fell hard to San Antonio Madison in the regional semifinals.
It was the only mar in an excellent season for Torre and the Lady Hawks.
It was a season where Torre attracted national attention. She was selected as the national player of the week by the web site Maxpreps.com after she had 22 steals in a game against PSJA Memorial, which is also believed to rank second nationally. Her 11.2 steals a game ranked second in the nation according to Maxpreps.
South head coach Dawn Engleman knows how special Torre is.
"She is just so humble and grounded," Engleman said. "I think a big part of it is her faith. Being a Christian and believing in God really is a big part of her life. I feel so lucky to have a player with the type of character she has."
But, humble or not, Torre is starting to attract attention from some Division I schools, including Texas Tech and Texas-Pan American.
"I would just like to play college ball somewhere" she said. "I think Division I is nice, but I don't want to sit on the bench. I'd go to a smaller school if I could play more."
Torre became a big part of the Lady Hawks' setup as a freshman when she became part of a varsity unit that featured standouts like Chrissey Cruz and Natalie Garcia.
She's grown since then both as a player and a leader.
"When I was first on the varsity, I just kind of was a follower," she said.
She became a little more of a leader as a sophomore, but admitted she could have done more.
This season, she became more vocal, even though it goes against her nature.
"I started talking to the other players more. I know I had to take my role and be a real captain."
For somebody, who lets her ability do her talking on the court that probably wasn't easy.
After all for all her ability and absolute fearlessness on the court, Torre is not a showboat.
"I think it's ugly," she said. "I'd rather just walk-the-walk."
Joining Torre on the first unit are:
McAllen's Andi Garza, Garza was the leader on the Valley's other dominant team. She averaged 21.2 ppg and 10.4 rpg. She was the MVP of District 32-5A.
San Benito's Jillian Briones, who averaged a double-double for the Lady Greyhounds and came up big for San Benito when needed. Briones averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds a game.
"She was our go-to-girl," said San Benito head coach Tomas Garcia.
La Feria's Amie Rodriguez came up big in the playoffs as the Lionettes made a run to the regional semifinal for the first time in more than a decade. She was the Co-offensive Player of the Year in District 32-3A.
Hidalgo's Victoria Gonzalez was among the top posts in the Valley, she was the District 32-3A MVP and the top offensive option for the Lady Pirates.
Pace's Vanessa Beltran was the District 32-5A MVP and helped lead the Lady Vikings to the District 32-5A title.
Santa Rosa's Diamond Caballero, a freshman, is the Newcomer of the Year. Caballero was the Lady Warriors point guard and defensive player of the year in District 32-2A.