San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Antonian back to finish the job
After just missing second straight state title, loaded Apaches set for another run
With four returning starters and two newcomers, Antonian boys basketball coach Rudy Bernal believes the Apaches have a shot at a banner season.
The Apaches came close last season, losing 51-48 to Plano John Paul II in the TAPPS Class 6A state championship, denying Antonian back-to-back state titles.
“I think by the time we get to January and February, we have a great shot to get back where we were,” said Bernal, who enters his 37th year as a head coach and his sixth at Antonian.
The good news is the Apaches (35-8 last season) are loaded again. They also have tons of incentive after losing last year’s title game.
“We’re definitely going to take that as motivation to make sure we never feel thatway,” said Antonian senior guard Gavino Ramos, who is committed to St. Edward’s. “Also, wewant tomake sure we come out ready toplay every game. That cost us a state championship.”
Ramos is referring to the Apaches falling behind17-7 after one quarter in the state championship, a cushion John Paul II maintained over the next two quarters. Anton ian made a spirited run in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough.
“We started off slow, and that put us into a hole we couldn’t crawl out of,” Ramos said. “Sitting in the locker room after the game, we had a great group of seniors, so hearing them talk to the younger guys, everybody was getting emotional. That’s something we didn’t have to experience my sophomore year, and it’s something we don’t want to experience against this year.”
Two seasons ago, the Apaches hoisted the state championship trophy after outlasting Plano Prestonwood 70-67 in overtime.
“It’s probably been my favorite part of the high school experience,” Ramos said.
It was Antonian’s seventh state title and its first since 1999. This season, Antonian is after its second in three seasons.
Ramos, an Express-News Super Team member last season, will lead theway. The fourth-year starter averaged 23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.7 steals last season. He’s also been an allstate selection the two previous seasons and has topped the career 2,000-point mark.
The 6-foot-2 Ramos can switch between the point and shooting guard.
“He sees the floor great,” Bernal said of Ramos. “He understands when he has to score, but he’s always looking for the open man as well.”
Other returning starters include senior 6-3 guard/forward Bryon Armstrong, a two-time all-state selection, who averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals. He can play
“We’re definitely going
to take that as motivation to make sure we never feel that way.” Antonian guard Gavino Ramos, on last season’s loss in the TAPPS
Class 6A state championship
anything from point guard to power forward.
Sophomore 6-4 guard/forward Santiago Ochoa averaged 12.7 points, 5.0assists, 3.5rebounds, 1.8 steals in his first varsity season. Senior 6-4 forward Freddy Amaro averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.
“The guys who were with me, who are coming back, they know we got to that last game, and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Bernal said. “The ones who won a state championship two years ago, they understand. They know what’s it’s going to take to get us back.”
The Apaches add two transfers to the mix, including junior 6-0 guard Xavier Martinez (Churchill) and senior 6-7 center/forward Seth Thomas (Reagan). Martinez, an Express-News Class 6A All-Area pick, averaged 17. 0 points, 7.0assists and 4.0 steals.
Martinez will switch off guard roles with Ramos. He believes that will open things up.
“I think we feed off each other well,” Martinez said. “I can be his outlet. A lot of times last year, he was getting double-teamed, and I can be the relief guy and can get people the ball or score the ball myself.”
Martinez has a connection to Bernal. His father, Josh Martinez, played for Bernal at Lanier in2000 and 2001when the Voks made UIL Class 4A (now 5A) state runner-up appearances.
In 2001, the Voks downed Chris Bosh-led Dallas Lincoln in the semifinals before losing to Kendrick Perkins-led Beaumont Ozen in the final.
“I’ve heard a lot of stories, from practices to playing NBA players,” Martinez said. “I’ve heard the whole thing.”
Early on, the Apaches will be without Armstrong, Amaro and returning guard Chance Felix, who also play football.
Bernal said those early games will be a great chance to assess his team’s depth. It also will be a challenge.
The Apaches have beefed up their schedule considerably, hoping it will pay off with a state run.
Antonian, No. 2 in the ExpressNews preseason rankings, has scheduled eight games against Class 6A squads. Several are in the Express-News preseason top10, including No. 1Wagner, No. 3 Judson, No. 5Warren and No. 7 O’Connor.
“We’re going tohave a lot of closer games than we’ve had in my past three years, but that’s what we want,” Ramos said. “We want good games, good teams, so we can show people what we can do.”