Tough Split

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | December 3, 2025

PEARSALL MAVERICK BASKETBALL

Mavs fall to Crystal City, top Poteet in non-district action over Thanksgiving holiday.

Pearsall bounced back from a rough stretch at the Maverick Invitational tournament by splitting a pair of non-district outings prior to the Thanksgiving holiday last week.
The Mavs dropped a 67-57 decision to a tough Crystal City squad on Monday, November 24 but then came back the next day to trounce Poteet 79-20.
“I think the team is looking good right now with a record of 5-3,” PHS Head Coach Jeff Viesca said. “The season is still young, we just got our football guys back, and we also have some new faces that we added this year.
“With the three losses, I think we just hurt ourselves with either to many turnovers or not shooting well. That is expected; we truly only had about maybe two days of practice together as a whole team before our tournament. The good part is we know, as a team, those losses were on us and now we have regrouped with more practices under our belt, so I am excited to see what we can do now.”
Aiden Saldivar paced the Mavs in the Crystal City loss with 14 points, six rebounds and an assist while Ayden Rodriguez added 13 points, five rebounds an assist and three steals.
Leading scorer Jeremy Rodriguez was held to 11 points, but added ten boards, four assists and three steals. Devin Castillo also added 11 points, ten board and an assist.
The Javelinas took advantage of a quick start, jumping out to a 23-6 first period lead in the win. Pearsall outscored Crystal City in each of the next two periods but could not make up ground, trailing 51-44 going into the fourth. There, the Javelinas outpointed Pearsall by three to hold on for the ten-point win.
Pearsall turned things around the following day, utilizing their own quick start to pull out to a 44-8 halftime lead on the Aggies.
The team coasted to a 59-point victory in the second half.
Ayden Rodriguez led the way with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and ten steals while Saldivar added 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four steals.
Jeremy Rodriguez finished with 14 points, seven boards, four assists and seven steals.
Jared Leal added nine points, 13 rebounds and an assist while Cristian Rojas had six points, seven steals, two assists and a rebound.
Nick Rendon and Devin Castillo both posted five points. Rendon added 12 rebounds while Castillo also had seven boards.
Pearsall improved to 5-3 for the season and was at Eagle Pass Tuesday evening as they returned to action. The team will then be at the George West tournament December 4-6.