Hoopsters take advantage of summer league

Although basketball season doesn’t officially start until November, several area athletes are getting ready.

Members of the Waelder boys, Waelder girls, St. Paul girls and Shiner girls basketball teams are participating in summer basketball leagues. The Waelder boys compete in the Schulenburg League, while the Waelder, St. Paul and Shiner girls are in the Shiner League.

The Schulenburg League plays every Monday this month, while the Shiner League participates on Tuesdays. The Shiner League resumes play today at Shiner and Moulton High Schools and the Schulenburg League resumed play Monday, but the results were not available at press time.

Schulenburg League

Incoming freshman Keyshann Fields had quite an introduction into high school basketball. He played quality minutes in Waelder’s losses to Moulton and Columbus June 4, and found out there are a few differences between junior high and high school basketball.

“In high school, the game is a lot faster and more physical,” Fields said. “You have to work harder than in junior high. I have a taste of what it takes now though.”

The Wildcats were at a disadvantage on June 4. Not only were a couple of key returning players absent, but it had been several weeks since some of the Waelder players had worked out in the gym.

“I’m out of shape,” incoming senior Tiburcio Blanton said. “I feel like I’m 50-years-old.”

Since the actual head coaches cannot coach during summer league play, Rocky Quintero serves as the Wildcats’ summer league coach. Quintero noticed a few things his team needs to work on.

“We were rusty and haven’t played in a while,” he said. “We also have a lot of new faces on the team, and we need to get familiar with each other. We’re looking to improve each week and our goal is to be competitive.”

Although it was his first action as a high school player, Fields held his own against the older competition. He and fellow incoming freshman Aaron Lee Watson both fared well as did incoming eighth-grader Tracey Moore.

Burton and fellow incoming senior Clay Orona provided the bulk of Waelder’s scoring, while incoming sophomores Jeremy Gonzales and Caleb Ibarra took turns running the offense. Incoming seventh-grader Jordan Ellis also saw some quality playing time.

Things were better for the Wildcats on June 11 as they picked up their first win of the summer. Waelder defeated Smithville, 45-40, in its first game that day before dropping a 36-34 heartbreaker against Rice Consolidated.

Quintero was much more pleased with his team’s outcomes on June 11, especially from the perspective of frontcourt play and defense.

“Our frontcourt did really well,” he said. “I also was pleased with our defense. If we can hold opponents to 40 points or less, we like our chances.”

Quintero pointed out that he was pleased with the play of frontcourt players such as Fields, Moore and Joseph McCook. McCook, a senior-to-be and returning starter, was absent on June 4.

“Having Joseph in the lineup really helped,” Quintero said. “He brings a lot to our team, especially from an inside presence.”

The Wildcats resume play Monday at Schulenburg High School.

Shiner League

Many of St. Paul’s returning starters were not present June 5 for summer league play. But their absences gave some of the new Lady Cardinals a chance to hone their skills.

St. Paul won both of its games – 35-30 over Hallettsville and 47-3 over Waelder – at Moulton High School. The Lady Cardinals had nine players present – five of them will be newcomers.

Among the newcomers was Yoakum transfer Jacy Pawelek, who had a team-high 14 points in St. Paul’s win over Waelder. Incoming freshman Shaelynn Malatek also had 10 points against Waelder.

Other new players participating for the Lady Cardinals were incoming freshmen Natalie Jackson and Kenzie Vargo and Yoakum transfer Morgan Long. Returnees for St. Paul who participated were Kourtney Knesek, Bethany Pokluda, Alexa Schaefer and Christina Squyres (7 points against Hallettsville).

Although the Waelder Lady Cats did not win on June 5, they did improve from their first game to their second. After its setback against St. Paul, Waelder held Moulton to six points in the second half of the Bobkittens’ 29-4 win.

Marissa Ramiez and Courtney Orona were defensive leaders for the Lady Cats. Tatiana Garcia and Jackie Garcia led offensively.