Mavericks win two straight; top Ingram, Dilley

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | December 20, 2023

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Rodriguez, Rendon pace Pearsall in pair of non-district victories.

PEARSALL’s Leon Martinez goes up and under the hoop for a reverse layup as Dilley’s Charles Morales contests the shot during the Mavs’ 59-29 win over the Wolves last Friday. Martinez finished with six points in the win. (CURRENT photos: Manuel Azocar III)

In what has been an up-and-down season so far, Pearsall snapped a two-game skid and has now won two consecutive outings following victories over Ingram Tom Moore and Dilley last week in non-district basketball play.
Pearsall has alternated wins and losses this season, struggling to win more than two games in a row and losing no more than three straight as they have now evened their overall mark to 11-11 for the year.
“Right now, I think we are playing good basketball,” PHS Head Coach Jeffery Viesca said. “Being able to practice and getting much needed rest I feel has been helping us, and guys stepping up as well.
“Jeremy Rodriguez has been huge for us and has been stepping up for us lately, he has been doing a great job and was a huge help against Dilley.”
Pearsall used a big first period to build a seven-point lead on Ingram on Tuesday, December 12, and carried it to a 53-46 win over the Warriors.
The Mavs had 32 points off of turnovers and 14 second chance points and committed seven fewer turnovers in the win.
Xavier Rendon and Rodriguez paced the team as each finished with 17 points for Pearsall. Rendon added 17 rebounds, three assists, four steals and four blocks while Rodriguez also finished with six rebounds, an assist, five steals and three blocks.
Leon Martinez added nine points, seven boards, two assists and three steals. Zac Anzua also finished with five points and two rebounds.
In their win over Dilley, the Mavs took command early, going up 16-8 in the first and then outscored the Wolves 12-3 in the second to build a 28-11 halftime lead.
The Mavericks would then outscore Dilley 31-18 in the second half to roll to the 59-29 win.
Rodriguez had a big night for Pearsall, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds and four steals. He also hit six three-point shots in the win.
Rendon was limited to ten points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals while Martinez added six points, seven assists, four rebounds and five steals.
Elijah Luna had eight points, Nathaniel Rodriguez tallied seven points and Marcus Woodard had six points for Pearsall in the win.
Dorian Aranda paced the Wolves with nine points while Jacob Lopez added six points. Alex Ayala also nailed a pair of three point shots and also finished with six points.
Pearsall hosted San Antonio Kennedy Tuesday evening in their final non-district outing of the year. The team opens league play on Friday, December 29 at Uvalde in a 1 p.m. contest.
“In district, if we can keep playing Maverick basketball and keep running and gunning like I know we can, our names should be up their at competing for a district title,” Viesca said. “We are very capable, we just have to play our game and take it one game at a time.”
Dilley played host to Karnes City Tuesday evening and will be off until Friday, December 29 when they hit the road to take on Knippa in a non-district tilt.
The Wolves will open district play on Friday, January 12 at Lytle.