(McAllen, Texas)-Probably, one of the best must-see-games tonight will take place at Corpus Christi Miller High School, when the 31-5A McAllen Bulldogs (30-8) tangles with 29-5A Victoria West (19-12) Warriors at 7:00 p.m. Bulldogs head coach, Ryan Flores is bidding on returning back to the UIL State 5A Quarterfinals, a repeat from 2021. “It’s still long road and we must remain focus,” Flores told HSSM after their win over Brownsville Veterans on Tuesday night. “We played great defense, but we have to connect better on offense.”
Other must-see-games tonight, will be 31-6A Edinburg Vela (30-7) vs 30-6A Laredo United (16-12); Brownsville Pace (34-4) vs Flour Bluff (24-9) at Calallen HS; and Harlingen (20-14) will be traveling west to meet Laredo Nixon (25-8) at Roma High School. All games tipoff at 7:00 p.m. tonight.
High School Sports Magazine’s No.1 ranked team, McAllen Bulldogs are the best-predicted team from the Rio Grande Valley that could advance to the third round of the University Interscholastic League 5A playoffs but, the Warriors will be the Bulldogs biggest test this season. Should the Bulldogs win, they will meet Brownsville Pace or Flour Bluff in the regional quarterfinals next week. The remaining teams in the Region IV-5A upper bracket are SA Lanier vs SA Johnson and SA Jefferson vs Boerne Champion. With just two games remaining before either of these teams face each other in the regional finals, that winner will meet the lower bracket predicted winner, Liberty Hill or maybe, Corpus Christi Veterans Eagles. The 29-5A Eagles (29-7) will play 31-5A Sharyland Pioneer (21-12) at 6:00 p.m. tonight at Alice High School.
The McAllen Bulldogs will bring plenty of talent tonight. Tonight’s line-up is led by junior point guard Darren Manriquez 5’10, sophomore Danny Canul 6’0, senior Robert Canul 6’2, and seniors 6’3″ twin brothers, Jordon Chappell, and Jaylon. On the bench, 6’4 Nyles Dos Santos De Oliveira and Isaiah Solano will be ready. Victoria West does match up well against the Bulldogs with 6’4 Jayden Smith and 6’2 Darrian Lucy. (HSSMImages)
Here are tonight’s UIL State pairings from the Rio Grande Valley…
University Interscholastic League Boys Basketball Playoffs-Area Playoffs Dates and Times with Pairings (Please send updates)February 25th
Class 6A-
32-6A Harlingen South (22-13) vs 29-6A SA Warren (27-8) at Gregory Portland HS Friday 7p
32-6A Harlingen High (20-14) vs 30-6A Laredo Nixon (25-8)at Roma HS Friday 7p
*Winners meet in regional quarterfinals
32-6A Weslaco High (26-10) vs 29-6A SA Brennan (28-8) Friday 7p at Laredo United
31-6A Edinburg Vela (30-7) vs 30-6A Laredo United (16-12) at Zapata HS 7p Friday
*Winners meet in regional quarterfinals
Class 5A
31-5A McAllen High (30-8) vs 29-5A Victoria West (19-12) at CC Miller Friday 7p
29-5A Flour Bluff (24-9) vs Bro Pace (34-4)at Calallen HS Friday 7p
*Winners meet in regional quarterfinals
31-5A McAllen Memorial (20-13) vs 30-5A Laredo Martin (20-16)at Rio Grande City HS Friday 7p
29-5A CC Veterans (29-7) vs Sharyland Pioneer (21-12) at Alice HS 6p (main gym) Friday
*Winners meet in regional quarterfinals
Class 4A
30-4A Crystal City vs 32-4A Rio Hondo at Alice HS Friday 7:30p (aux gym)
29-4A Somerset vs 32-4A Port Isabel at Alice HS Friday 8:00p (main gym)
*Winners meet in regional quarterfinals
Class 3A
32-3A Santa Rosa (23-10) vs 30-3A Santa Gertrudis (17-6) at Falfurrias 7:30p Friday
Winner plays Bishop HS in reg qtrs
*Winners meet in the regional quarterfinals
Class 1A32-1A San Isidro (3-13) vs 29-1A North Zulch (10-14)
32-1A San Perlita (14-10) vs 29-1A Calvert (22-4)
*Winners meet in regional quarterfinals