District split

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | January 12, 2023

PEARSALL LADY MAVS BASKETBALL

PEARSALL DOWNS CARRIZO SPRINGS, FALLS TO PLEASANTON IN HOOPS ACTION LAST WEEK.

Alyssa Garcia blocks a shot during recent action for Pearsall. Garcia had four blocks in the Lady Mavs’ win over Carrizo Springs last week. (CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

A still short-handed Lady Mavs squad evened its district record at 2-2 this week after splitting games with Carrizo Springs and Pleasanton.

Pearsall opened league play with a 43-24 loss to Floresville but bounced back to crush Uvalde 64-47.

In action last Tuesday, Pearsall rolled past Carrizo Springs 52-32 before losing a 44-31 decision to Pleasanton on Friday night.

“It’s been tough because we still have four injured players,” PHS Head Coach Victoria Rodriguez said. “Two of them have started for us in several games through the season and the other two are freshmen that have been playing with us as role players.

“Technically you only need five to play and against Pleasanton, that’s all we really had. We played with five varsity players and two JV kids who haven’t played any varsity minutes before. Having them there allowed us to give the varsity players rotations of about 30-45 seconds of rest.”

Despite the thin roster, Pearsall had its chances in the second half against the Lady Eagles but shooting woes hurt the team.

“The girls didn’t play bad. We were tied at halftime but in the third our shots just refused to fall and it was difficult to maintain the intensity that we like and need to play with,” the coach said. “God-willing, by the time the second round (of district) comes around we will have some of those players back. Anything will help at this point.”

Alyssa Garcia paced the team in the win over Carrizo Springs with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and a steal. Kristen Morales and Sarah Brady both had 12 points. Morales added 17 rebounds, an assist and a steal while Brady had three boards, two assists and a steal.

Emily Valle added eight points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals for Pearsall.

“The girls have been playing hard and we will continue to put in the work,” Rodriguez said. “So much of basketball, especially the way we play, is a mental game.

“Some things just are not going to fall in your favor and you have to be prepared to keep putting one foot in front of the other and change your gameplan to fit the current situation. That’s my job, it’s not for our girls to worry about, they just need to continue to compete everyday on the court.”

Things get no easier for Pearsall this week as they host Devine Tuesday evening in a critical league outing and then hit the road on Friday to take on unbeaten Somerset.

Pearsall sits tied with Pleasanton and Devine at 2-2 in the league standings but the Lady Eagles hold a head-to-head edge on Pearsall with their win last week. Somerset is 5-0 in the 29-4A standings. The Lady Mavs need a win over Devine to keep pace in the playoff chase.

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