By HENRY MILLER

The Mercedes Enterprise

It wasn’t talked about a lot throughout the season – not with that perennial juggernaut Brownsville Veterans still in the district.

It was also known that Donna had a majority of its players back and were going to contenders so talking about the future was for behind doors at best.

It was whispered. The whisper gradually turned into a roar and now the Mercedes Lady Tigers are district basketball champions.

Now, of course, they want more.

“Winning district has been a great accomplishment,” said head coach Santiago Rivas. “Last year we ended the season on a sour note, losing to Rio Grande City in the first round. Then, before this season started, we were predicted to come in four in our district.”

There was no doubt that the girls felt a little disrespected and they had something to prove. They took their beating from tams like Harlingen, Harlingen South and PSJA North. But after each loss, a tougher, wiser Mercedes team took the court. Then the breakthroughs followed.

“We won the La Feria Tournament, which may have been the first time a Mercedes team won it,” Rivas said. “We knew Brownsville Vets and Donne were going to be our toughest opponents in district.”

And they beat them both.

Both times.

“Our district was very competitive and we had several close games but the girls were able to pull out those wins and finished district 13-1,” Rivas said. “This team is a special group of young ladies who always put the team first.”

The team is especially varied and has players who can make a difference at every lineup position.

“We have girls like Jazmine Flores who is a fierce competitor, who runs the point, plays great defense, leads the Valley in assists and the team in steals,” Rivas said as he went down the list. “Sellie Gonzales leads the team in scoring, can attack the basket and shoot from the outside. Mike Vento is very athletic and leads the team in rebounds and blocked shots and can play just about anywhere.

“Mallory Noriega leads the team in 3s and is just a sophomore but has made key shots in big games. Reeana De La Torre is another sophomore who plays tough underneath and out hustles opposing players.”

The combination of inside-outside play, a tough defense and a good rebounding has Rivas and the team ready for a rematch with Rio Grande City – this time as district champs.

“We’re hoping to make a deep playoff run,” he said.