BROWNSVILLE — Momentum is a powerful asset in February, and the Raiders carry plenty of it into the postseason.

“A step ahead of last year. We lost seven seniors last year, so that was tough to overcome. The kids bought in and believed in what we do. Playing in late February is always special. I tell them all the time, 70 percent of Texas is already home, and we’re still lacing them up,” Head Coach Jesus Alvarez Jr. said.

“We are very successful as a program in all divisions. Back-to-back playoffs for the varsity, a 13-5 record for the JV, and 23-0 with the freshmen. We are blessed with over 80 kids in the program. Raiders Basketball is great right now. Our motto when we took over was—Creating a Culture.”

Coming off a thrilling 79-73 come-from-behind victory last Tuesday at home against Edcouch-Elsa, the Raiders now turn their focus to the Class 5A Division I playoffs. The win capped a strong regular season in which the Raiders finished 13-5 in District 32-5A, earning a third-place berth and punching their ticket to the postseason.

“Saved the best for last.... we finally believed and found out how to play for each other. That kind of basketball was the meaning of playing like a Raider.” Alvarez said, “Hopefully that carries into the postseason.”

Next up: a road trip to Edinburg on Tuesday for a bi-district clash with the Edinburg Vela Sabercats, who also secured third place in District 31-5A with an 11-5 district mark.

Clark’s Historic Season Powers Raiders

A central force behind the Raiders’ success has been sophomore standout Reggie Clark. Earlier this season, Clark eclipsed the 1,000-career point milestone in a home game against Porter, further solidifying his place among the Valley’s elite scorers.

“Leader. Team captain. Leads by example. Loves to play the game. Lives for the moment. Competitor. Fearless. A coach’s dream. Charismatic… just special. One thousand points is just the beginning — the best is yet to come.” Alvarez said.

“Love that kid. We have a special bond. He tells me he loves me and that he’s got my back every night.”

Clark currently leads District 32-5A in three-pointers made with 92. That total ranks No. 8 in Class 5A and No. 32 overall in the state of Texas. He is averaging just under 21 points per game and remains the primary offensive weapon heading into the postseason.

Senior Leadership Anchors the Rotation

The Raiders’ identity, however, extends beyond one scorer. The roster features eight seniors, giving the team experience and maturity in high-pressure situations.

Senior three-year letterman point guard Angel Montoya serves as the floor general. Montoya ranks No. 2 in District 32-5A in assists, averaging just under four per game. A pass-first guard, he takes pride in finding the open man and leads through effort and consistency.

“Angel Montoya, team captain — “Old School” is what I call him. Very high basketball IQ; he sees the play before it happens. Relentless defender. Competitor. Mature, never-quit mentality. He’s a warrior and will not come out of the game no matter what.” Alvarez said.

Senior two-year letterman Cristian Vergara has been a constant presence on the glass. Vergara finishes the regular season as the district’s second-leading rebounder at just under eight boards per game. Offensively, he stretches the perimeter — finishing in the district’s top ten in three-pointers made — while also contributing nearly two steals per game.

“Cristian is another one of our captains and a top 10% student. He has come a long way confidence-wise. He was asked to join the starting rotation late last year and has never looked back.”

“He is a rim protector and a rebounding machine. His length is an asset defensively with steals and blocked shots. He has developed into a 3-point specialist as the season progresses. He is the third brother to go through our program.”

Senior one-year letterman Logan Hinojosa closes out the regular season as the team leader in field goal percentage. Whether it’s a crucial rebound, a timely block, or a clutch three, Hinojosa has been a reliable contributor in key moments.

Four-year letterman Job Martinez provides steady production whether in the starting lineup or off the bench. Martinez ranks among the team’s top three in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks — a versatile presence who impacts all facets of the game.

“Logan is a transfer student that we gave an opportunity to, and he did everything we asked of him. Bashful in the beginning, but we had our talks and he just became a monster for us all around. He immediately gelled with our team.”

“Job is a four-year letterman for us and is a very versatile player. He can do it all. Job can score it from everywhere. We are definitely going to miss these two guys next year—do-it-all kind of guys.”

Depth and Youth Add Balance

Sophomores Dominic Gonzalez and Ramon Cortina have cracked the starting rotation and logged crucial minutes off the bench throughout the season.

The senior class is further rounded out by Rene Rodriguez, Jose Avonce, Santiago Leija, and Juan Gay — players who have stayed ready and delivered high-energy performances when called upon.

“Senior-heavy — those guys hold the fort. Especially my gremlins; those guys have so much energy and give me 100 percent every chance they get. Experience is key in the postseason.” Alvarez said.

Juniors Eric Ramos and Jesus Ramos complete the playoff roster. Both traveled with the varsity earlier in tournament season and helped guide the JV Dark squad to a third-place finish and a 13-5 record, adding depth and future promise to the lineup.

A Familiar Playoff Foe

The matchup marks a rematch of last season’s bi-district contest, when the Edinburg Vela Sabercats entered as the Rio Grande Valley’s No. 1 seed and defeated the Raiders 74-50 at Rivera.

This year, the Raiders hope the outcome — and the margin — will be different.

“Kids are excited to have another shot at Edinburg Vela, which is a power down here in the Valley with great tradition. Our boys are taught to respect everybody but fear nobody. That’s just the Raider way.” Alvarez said.

The Sabercats are led by senior standout Jordan Bustamante, who leads the state in Class 5A scoring at 27.7 points per game. Bustamante is a complete player, pacing Vela in field goal percentage, rebounds, assists, and steals.

“Numbers don’t lie—Jordan is a special player. Last year’s MVP, can do it all. You cannot stop a player of that caliber; you just hope to slow him down a bit. Tough to defend—hopefully we can do that Tuesday night.”

“We have to defend and rebound. Those are key anytime you enter a contest. If we can do those things well, I think we have a shot.”

Playoff Intensity Awaits

With a senior-heavy roster, a proven scorer in Clark, and a full rotation capable of contributing on both ends, the Raiders enter the postseason battle-tested and confident.

“We have done something that has only been done once before at Rivera: back-to-back playoff appearances. This team is united and confident in each other. They play for each other and love the game.”

Tuesday night in Edinburg will test their composure, discipline, and resilience — but after last week’s comeback performance, the Raiders have already shown they are comfortable fighting from behind.

Now, the goal is simple: extend the season and rewrite last year’s playoff script.

“Leave it all on the court, give it your all, and that’s all we can ask of them. There is no doubt in my mind that these Raiders will fight until the end. These guys know we’ve got their backs, and they definitely have ours. Exciting times for our team, school, and community. Raider Basketball is growing, and we love it.

Alvarez added, “Come out and support our boys in Edinburg at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. It will be fun—the boys will not disappoint.”