HIDALGO – The Lady Pirates couldn’t wait to get back on the court, and why not? After going three rounds deep in the playoffs last year, this team is pumped up to ball out again.

“It felt really good,” said junior guard Vanessa Espinoza. “It felt like we’re going to have a really good season. We’re going to come and fight for our wins.”

“It was great,” said junior post Elisa De La Pena. “I’m pretty sure a lot of people are excited to come back into basketball. I hope the best for everybody’s season.”

The Pirates made the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. That taste of success has left the team hungry for more.

“It was a great year for us,” said coach Saul Arjona. “We put our expectations high and I think we accomplished a lot of the expectations, but I kind of feel that there’s something that we need to conquer. We have some unfinished business there.”

While Hidalgo lost two starters to graduation, they return nine varsity players.

The Pirates say they’ve got experience and confidence.

“This year is just going to be as good,” said junior post Soleil Garza. “We still have the same girls. We’re going to still have the same chemistry and I just feel like it’s going to be another amazing year.”

The year begins with a game against PSJA North November 4th.

Until then, the Pirates will continue their preseason preparation.

“We’re going to be working every day, every practice,” said Espinoza. “We’re going to go hard.”

“We’ve always been kind of like a pressure team,” said Arjona. “We’re going to continue pressuring teams and just run. Run and shoot the ball and just get better in every aspect.”